Most of the models on our site can be downloaded free of charge as PDF files. For a definition of the format, let's turn to Wikipedia.
Portable Document Format (PDF) is a cross-platform electronic document format developed by Adobe Systems using features of PostScript. It is intended primarily for presenting print materials electronically. Many programs can display PDF documents, including Adobe Reader, and much professional printing equipment supports the format directly.
PDF can carry both text and graphics, which makes it suitable for paper models. You can open a model in Adobe Reader or another PDF viewer such as PDF-XChange Viewer. Links to these programs are available in our software archive.
Once you can open the file, the next step is printing it correctly. The print dialog usually offers several settings, and the choices you make affect both the printout and the fit of the finished model.
Paper Model Print Settings
Choose the print quality and paper type. Print quality affects how colours appear on paper. The highest setting generally gives the best result, but uses more ink.
The paper type affects how well the ink adheres. Select the type of paper you actually plan to use. The paper models on our site are designed for A4 sheets.
Page Scaling
In the print dialog this option is often called ‘page scaling’. It controls how the page is fitted within the printer's printable area. To keep the model at the scale intended by its designer, select no scaling or actual size. Scaling may change the finished dimensions and prevent parts from fitting together.
Printing Selected Pages
You do not always need to print every page of a model file. Some pages contain an introduction or assembly instructions rather than parts. If a piece is lost or damaged, you can also print just the page containing its replacement. Enter the relevant page numbers or range in the print dialog.
With the settings checked, you can print the sheets, cut out the parts and start assembling your model.
How do you print your paper models?
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