In this tutorial, you will learn what is Pepakura and how to use it.

This is short 6 step, comprehensive introduction into a world of paper models ;)

How to:

work with paper,
what type of paper (how hard / heavy),
and what tools you need to start

Updated: 2017/01/15

Step 1: Paper

You will need a HARD, HEAVY, SOLID, THICK paper !
Ignore office paper which is soft, too thin, easy to bend = useless.

What you need is CARDSTOCK !

Card stock = paper with weights from 50 lb to 110 lb (about 135 to 300 g/m²).
I use 200 g/m² paper and I find it best combination to print on and work within smaller details.

Size / format of paper:

standard for EUROPE = A4 ... 210 × 297 mm
standard for USA = Letter ... 215.9 mm × 279.4 mm (8.5 × 11 inches)

Step 2: "Mountain" Vs. "Valley" Fold

First time a lot of people may have a problem how to actually fold the paper:

what are all the different lines (solid, dash, dash-dot-dash) ?
what direction should you fold ?

MOUNTAIN

imagine a letter ... A ... you can "touch the top" edge of the paper
basically fold the paper on its edge: DOWN
"dash dash dash"
_ _ _ _ _

VALLEY

imagine a letter ... V ... in where you can "put your finger inside" the shape
basically fold the paper on its edge: UP
"dash DOT dash DOT dash"
_ . _ . _ . _

SOLID LINE

this is the line where you cut your shape out !
__________

Step 3: Tools + Material + Software

TOOLS

$50 - printer
$5 -scissors
$3 -plastic ruler
$2 -plastic chopping board ... OR ... * $20 - cutting matt
$5 to $10 -hobby knife=scalpel=X-Acto (exacto knife)

Price= $65

MATERIAL

$15 -cardstock paper (package of 100pcs)
$3 -liquid paper glue ... OR ... $5hot glue gun

Price = $20

SOFTWARE

programme = Pepakura Viewer (2 MB)
file = model you want to print + build: cube.pdo (4KB)
some basics: How-to-use-Pepakura-Viewer
advanced stuff:How-to-use-Pepakura-Designer

Price = $FREE (PV) and $38 (PD)

EXTRA STUFF (optional)!

I find it more convenient to use a following stuff to make my work easier:

cotton swabs=to clean off excess glue and/or to spread it in tiny spots
extra scalpel blades= you need these in case of using a hobby knife!
aluminium foil= a place where I lay down glued pieces to let them dry out
old cloth =to clean your tools, table and fingers :)

Step 4: Which Glue to Use ?

The choice is yours!

LIQUID PAPER GLUE
GOOD: if you use a small bit!

no smell
dries quick (3 to 5 mins)
easy to use and is more precise

BAD: if you use a lot of it!

hardens in 60 mins
dries slower (5 to 15 mins)
can soak your paper and distort it
cannot redo mistake, once dried, it is glued forever

How much do you need?
My glue has 100 ml = 3.4 oz ... and I glued 50 pages.

HOT GLUE GUN
GOOD:

hardens in 30 mins
cools down + dries quick (2 mins)
you can heat it and "move" your glued parts a bit if you made a mistake

BAD:

less accurate
needs electricity
burns your fingers if not careful
smells a lot (makes you sick, headaches)

How much do you need?

Cannot help here. I got sick from the smell of it after I glued like 1 page of pepakura and the glue stick barely shrank.

SOLID GLUE STICK

It is less precise, and it dries out way too fast for my taste.
I do not use this glue and do not advise it.
If you push hard on it, breaks down leaves big chunks all over which is bad.

Step 5: Print It ! ... Build It !

Now you have all the info you need to start building !

Print it.
Cut it out with scissors.
Get details with a hobby knife.
Glue it.
Build it.

First 3 pictures = not Pepakura but custom papercraft !
The rest = real Pepakura example: Dragon_Priest_Mask

Fair warning !
Pepakura is really time consuming hobby !

My Dragon priest helmet took me 14 hours to complete: