papercraft Tomb Raider III RX-Tech Mines vignette WIP 6: Final build start

If you ever built one of my papercraft models (except the really early ones...) you'll know that I like to take pictures during the final build to use as instructions. I always start with an overview of the tools you can use to build your own version:

Essential tools:

• Thicker paper to print the parts on: if you use 120, 160 (what most people seem to use) or even 200 gsm (what I like to use personally) paper, not only will the final paper model be stronger, I always feel it is also actually easier to shape and handle the parts, because you can use the stiffness of the paper to help the parts keep their shape better. gsm stands for "grams per square meter" (also abbreviated as g/m²). 120 gsm paper is about 1.5 times as thick as regular printer paper, which is usually about 80 gsm. 160 gsm is about twice as thick, and 200 gsm about 2.5 times.
• A sharp knife: you can really use any sharp knife, as long as it has a fine point. I like to use an X-Acto knife with a #11 blade, but a lot of people also like to break a simple break-away knife.
• A cutting mat: to protect your tabletop from cuts when you cut the parts from the paper. Preferably self-healing so that you can use it a loooong time.
• Glue: to glue the parts together obviously once you've cut them from the paper and shaped them the right way.

Not-really-essential-but-helpful/to-make-the-final-paper-model-look-better tools:

• A toothpick / thin metal rod: useful to make small, curved parts (by bending the part around the toothpick or the metal rod) but also to reach inside thin parts; parts always stick together better when you press them together, but sometimes you can't reach inside certain parts because your fingers are too thick or not long enough. Then you can hold the thoothpick or metal rod against the inside of the gluing flap, while you apply pressure from the outside.
• Color markers: especially when you use thicker paper, when you cut the parts from the paper, you will see the inside / crossection of the paper when you glue the parts together and this will show as white lines on the final paper model. You can use markers in the appropriate color to color those white edges before gluing the parts together. Because the color always turns out a little bit darker than usual, test the color on a scrap piece first, and for light colors it's best to use pencils.
• Whatever else you can think of: You can really use any tools that you might find helpful of course! 🙂 People use tweezers for small parts, scissors because they like them better than a knife, small clothes pins to keep parts together while they dry, special tools (or just a dead ballpoint or other blunt tool)  to 'score' ('scratch' / indent) any fold lines before folding them... Use whatever makes it easier for you! 😊

Well, hopefully the final build will go smoothly, and I can show the end result soon; stay tuned!