Austin Downtown 3D Paper Model

jake.robs · #1 Posted **Oct 14, 2022, 4:51 PM**

Hello fellow Central Texans.

When I was in town last weekend for ACL, I got inspired to get back into an old hobby of mine, 3D paper modeling of skyscrapers. I'm not an Austinite, but I have always thought of Austin as my adopted home skyline. San Antonio just doesn't have much going for it. But y'all have definitely exploded in growth over the last few years!

I would love to share the progress I make on this project here, although I don't know if it's allowed. Also, once I start on blocks that have brand-new buildings I may need to be pointed in the right direction to get the correct elevations.

Anyway, below is the first couple of blocks I've created, at 1:2000 scale. I thought One Eleven Congress was a good medium option to start on and build out from there. I still haven't attached the bases or trees, as I am still deciding on what to do for a base.

I do want some help choosing which adjacent block to start working on next. Anything that is directly next to these two blocks is up for consideration.

Let me know what you guys think!

MichaelB · #2 Posted **Oct 14, 2022, 5:27 PM**

wow! So cool!

the Genral · #3 Posted **Oct 14, 2022, 6:34 PM**

Artists always amaze me with their ability to recreate in a realistic manner such as you do. That's amazing!.

randalls · #4 Posted **Oct 14, 2022, 6:41 PM**

Wow, this is amazing! Thank you so much for sharing with us. Yes, please share your progress with us here. We would love to see what you create.

As for next block to work on, maybe some folks can weigh in here. There are also a ton of reference photos in this sub to work from to inspire you as well.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jake.robs

Hello fellow Central Texans.

When I was in town last weekend for ACL, I got inspired to get back into an old hobby of mine, 3D paper modeling of skyscrapers. I'm not an Austinite, but I have always thought of Austin as my adopted home skyline. San Antonio just doesn't have much going for it. But y'all have definitely exploded in growth over the last few years!

I would love to share the progress I make on this project here, although I don't know if it's allowed. Also, once I start on blocks that have brand-new buildings I may need to be pointed in the right direction to get the correct elevations.

Anyway, below is the first couple of blocks I've created, at 1:2000 scale. I thought One Eleven Congress was a good medium option to start on and build out from there. I still haven't attached the bases or trees, as I am still deciding on what to do for a base.

I do want some help choosing which adjacent block to start working on next. Anything that is directly next to these two blocks is up for consideration.

Let me know what you guys think!

H2O · #5 Posted **Oct 14, 2022, 7:33 PM**

Very impressive! As someone who used to make similar models professionally back before computer modeling software was common, your skills are excellent! How did you develop the skills for this hobby?

jake.robs · #6 Posted **Oct 14, 2022, 8:16 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by randalls

Wow, this is amazing! Thank you so much for sharing with us. Yes, please share your progress with us here. We would love to see what you create.

As for next block to work on, maybe some folks can weigh in here. There are also a ton of reference photos in this sub to work from to inspire you as well.

Thank you! And also to the others who have commented! I think I've decided to do the JW Marriott block next, I've already started measurements and simplification.

And also, to reply to H2O ^^^, I used to be an active participant in a sub forum on Skyscrapercity.com that was focused on these scale models, but that was years ago and the community there has kind of died down. People would post the printable files they would make for specific buildings and I would print them and put them together. This is a bit more intensive since I have to create the files myself as well.

clubtokyo · #7 Posted **Oct 14, 2022, 9:25 PM**

That’s super cool! Thanks for sharing and keep going!

gillynova · #8 Posted **Oct 17, 2022, 8:40 PM**

This is AMAZING! I hope you're able to do the whole skyline one day! Keep updating us when/if you make more 3D buildings

drummer · #9 Posted **Oct 17, 2022, 8:53 PM**

Seriously. When will you have the whole thing done? Chop chop.

jake.robs · #10 Posted **Oct 18, 2022, 4:59 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by gillynova

This is AMAZING! I hope you're able to do the whole skyline one day! Keep updating us when/if you make more 3D buildings

Thank you! It might take a while but that's the goal!

Quote:

Originally Posted by drummer

Seriously. When will you have the whole thing done? Chop chop.

Maybe a year or 5. XD Depends on how streamlined I can make my process. Or how long I can keep my motivation going haha.

JW Marriot block is done! The colors came out a bit more saturated than I wanted them to, but maybe I'll change that in the future. I am very happy I decided to try a glass finish on it though, I think it makes it pop.

drummer · #11 Posted **Oct 18, 2022, 6:05 PM**

Great job!

JACKinBeantown · #12 Posted **Oct 18, 2022, 7:25 PM**

https://66.media.tumblr.com/728353f1...ob6ro1_500.gif

gillynova · #13 Posted **Oct 18, 2022, 7:31 PM**

We will keep the enthusiasm up to keep you motivated!

Frost Tower next please?!

drummer · #14 Posted **Oct 18, 2022, 7:50 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by gillynova

We will keep the enthusiasm up to keep you motivated!

Frost Tower next please?!

But ~100-200 ft taller.

the Genral · #15 Posted **Oct 18, 2022, 8:14 PM**

again, amazing!! How long does it take to do each one?

clubtokyo · #16 Posted **Oct 18, 2022, 8:46 PM**

Incredible work!!

randalls · #17 Posted **Oct 18, 2022, 9:17 PM**

The level of detail is incredible.

IluvATX · #18 Posted **Oct 18, 2022, 10:17 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by gillynova

We will keep the enthusiasm up to keep you motivated!

Frost Tower next please?!

Frost isn’t on an adjacent block though. I vote for the Austonian or Ashton block. Very nice work and I’m curious what materials you use to create these. Is it just paper and paint?

KevinFromTexas · #19 Posted **Oct 19, 2022, 1:03 AM**

These are great. Yeah, I'm really interested in what the process is. Paper, but is it painted or printed? And is it folded or glued?

jake.robs · #20 Posted **Oct 19, 2022, 5:30 AM**

Thank you all for the kind words!

Quote:

Originally Posted by gillynova

We will keep the enthusiasm up to keep you motivated!

Frost Tower next please?!

Thanks! I will work my way over to it, but I don't want to skip around much.

Quote:

Originally Posted by the Genral

again, amazing!! How long does it take to do each one?

It depends on the level of complexity I want to add. And since I'm still figuring out how to make the process more streamlined, its probably been 10-20 hours per block.

Quote:

Originally Posted by IluvATX

Frost isn’t on an adjacent block though. I vote for the Austonian or Ashton block. Very nice work and I’m curious what materials you use to create these. Is it just paper and paint?

It's paper that I have printed my design on and folded+glued into shape. They're actually pretty small models. I can fit all three in my hand.

Quote:

Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas

These are great. Yeah, I'm really interested in what the process is. Paper, but is it painted or printed? And is it folded or glued?

Printed paper, folded and glued. Makes them pretty fragile, but there's not really any other way of making them this detailed and this small.