Posts by froberger

Congratulations John:

Marvelous work and masterful response to the challenges this model posed. From the kit cover, it seemed an ungainly big thing, but you've succeeded in making it very elegant and clean, as always.

I always have mixed feelings about the end of your construction reports; looking forward to the satisfaction of the completed work, and missing the unfolding of the progress.

David

Fascinating. That sounds a bit heavy just for some card and paper. But maybe your model is sturdy enough.

Try some Gounod or Massenet, that'd be just the ticket. If not that, improvise.....

I was thinking getting the dome to be even all around will be hard to say the least. Maybe when I build it I'll build the two halves of the dome at the same time and use some template to get it even.

Strange that at the top of the dome before the thingie that sit on top there seems to be a ring of blank paper. Wonder why they designed it that way.

David

John - it's a delight to have you back. This build is fascinating; such a huge piece, and I guess difficult to come together just right. If anyone can do it, you're the man.

Do you have appropriate opera playing while you build?

David

John:

Do you use cardboard backing on all of those huge flat surfaces? Everything looks so straight and flat.

Have you ever found the cardboard backing to warp over time?

It all looks terrific.

Thanks, David

John:

Impressively clean work. I'm glad you've chosen to take up this subject. It's an unusual one. I look forward to watching it develop.

Thanks

David

Many thanks for the excellent photos.

Was that impressive french galley scratch built, or a kit? Wonderful work.

Ricardo:

Wow! Incredible work. It looks beautiful. I've been amazed at how fast you were able to do all that repetitive work. Your precision, as always, is marvelous. Maestro.

Thanks

David

Welcome back, John!

I've been missing your build reports, and wondering what interesting model you'd pick next. I look forward to another edifying and fun project!

David

John:

Very nice work, as usual, and well presented. If you're still pondering what to select for your next project, I have a spare copy of an interesting Japanese temple model I would be happy to send you.

David

Great artwork; it should be a beautiful model. I look forward to watching it develop.

David

Yes, my admiration of your builds has no bounds....

I made the Elbel-Golsdorf - a really lovely train, and I'm almost done with the Arcivevedo Karel, fine too, which is in the book. I'll post when I get a chance to take pictures.

Happy holidays!

This one apparently was published by Albatros - there's a copy of that on a czech auction site now.

I love the ingenuity of Richard Vyskovsky; everything from the style to how the parts and folds are designed, and even how they are laid out on the paper is artful. Very satisfying to build. But hard to start cutting.

Ricardo: I agree, the recessed windows are great, and it's a shame when they windows are just two dimensional - even though it's quicker. I can't wait to start on Pardubice, but I don't feel ready yet. I'm makigna couple of his locomotives for more practice.
Thanks for the nice comments.

David

Ricardo:

Beautiful craftsmanship. It's hard to believe how well this turned out, and in such a short period of time. Another terrific construction report.

Have you tried Merino's Mezquita de Cordoba? That looks like a very interesting, and unusual one.

David

In architecture then, as with many other arts, proportions played a huge role in designs. The golden mean, and all that. Interesting to discover those relationships through modeling, eh?

Your construction reports remain a joy to watch. Thanks.

David

Last week I made this charming castle, from an old issue of ABC magazine. The paper was relatively thin compared with what I'm used to. I had to reinforce the walls and roofs with a lightweight cardstock. Some bits were challenging; especially the facade tops with the semicircular repeating patterns.

I especially like the small interior courtyard with the detailed recessed windows, and the tunnel from the entrance to the courtyard that really only the builder knows is there. Very finely designed, and everything fit extremely well.

David

John:

If you're casting about for a build, have you thought about Schreiber's Petersdom?

It's clear you enjoy and do wonderful things with Instant Durable. I humbly suggest Mont St Michel or the Opera de Paris for a change of pace.

I just finished my first Vyskovsky model; Cervena Lohta from an ABC magazine. Challenging but not too complex. It needed plenty of card reinforcement. A practice piece before I tackle something truly special, like Postorne or Pardubice.

There are some really interesting older Vyskovsky models you might really enjoy. The temple of Zeus and the Olympic Temple are very unusual and and both present great detail challenges in a small model. I believe you can still get them from papermodelworld.net in Illinois.

Cheers,

David

Beautiful work, Ricardo. Superlatives simply aren't good enough.

Many thanks for the progress reports and great photography.

David

Ricardo - sensei:

Amazing work.

I didn't understand your post about curves and delaminating the card. I must be dense. Do you glue the paper to card (0.5 or 1.0 mm), then peel 3 or 4 layers off and then glue them back together? I can't imagine how that could be done without a mess of warping and fuzz - not the clean arched curve in your photos. Could you clarify?

Thanks

David

Awesome.

You seem to work fast, or anyway get a lot done in just a couple of days.

Dave

Dieter:

Thanks! Paper modeling seems a pretty rare thing in the US. I feel like an anchronism. But really, mine look better from a few feet away. I'm working on my detail...

No, never seen that one. Big anniversaries are a great excuse for someone to design something, though.

Any building fans - try the book Brunelleschi's Cupola (I think published in several languages). Fascinating exploration of a genius architect and the structural/engineering marvel of the Duomo.

David

I agree; the model is a bit too simple, and doesn't convey the awesome impression of size and mass that the real building has. It's one of the architectural wonders of the world.

There are some great books on this building detailing the architectural innovations, the history of the construction and genius of the builders and architect, and its current condition. I highly recommend reading about this great building. It's fascinating.

John:

The flawlessness is really impressive. I can see that there's just not even the slightest crookedness, warping, or twisting at all. From your building reports I think I can cumulatively get a sense of how you do things - but it might be a public service if you could do a 'tutorial' thread on techniques and tools sometime.

When I started I had no idea how to do things well, and have been picking up things bit by bit from this forum.

I'm guessing you change blades a lot, have tons of patience, and check for fit and level/straightness constantly, use formers and molds often. Anything else? Laser vision?

I'm envious.

Dave

I have to admit I much prefer the Schreiber models for their paper and artwork, but the Duomo in Florence is such an architectural marvel I had to build it - and then went to see it in person.

And some more:

My buildings had a tea party the other day and we caught a few photographs while they weren't looking:

John:

That's such incredibly precise, beautiful work. Your contruction reports are very instructuve, not to mention inspiring.

David

How was the Tokyo convention?

I'd love to see some pictures, and hear anything interesting.

Were wives allowed?

I have a keen interest in architecture models, especially traditional asian buildings - which are very hard to find in the US.

Are these available anywhere anymore?

David

These are my first sad attempts at digital photos and uploading. Apologies for the poor quality. I need to work on this.

The cute little church is a very fine simple model I made last weekend; Martinskirche, by Bastellbogen. It's available from moduni. Very nice printing and coloring.

The others are easily recognizable Schreiber models; I built Stephansdom, Kolner Dom and Himeji a few years ago, and Burg Eltz last month.

Dave, in Berkeley California