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EnglishHow to Download and Build Paper Models from AXM Paper Space Scale Models
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AXM Paper Space Scale Models is a hobby site that publishes free downloadable paper (card) models of spacecraft, including Space Shuttles, the International Space Station, Starship, and rockets. You download the model files from the site, print them at home, then cut, fold, and glue the parts into a scale model. This guide covers what's on the site, how to get the files, and how to build your first model without wasting paper.
What you'll find on the site
The homepage is a running news feed of new and updated releases, plus photos submitted by builders. According to the site's own front page, recent additions include Starship 41 and Booster 21, with a postflight model for S40 listed as pending, and an upcoming 1:400 scale diorama featuring the Forte vessel returning Starship 40 to Starbase. The site also tags its content around AXM paper models, AXM Shuttle models, card models, International Space Station models, paper models, Shuttle models, space paper craft, and Space Shuttle card models.
Builder photos are featured on the main page — for example, Atlantis STS-135 model photos credited to Richard Armenta (a Discord member). That matters for a beginner: the photos show what a finished model actually looks like at the scale you're about to print, so you can judge difficulty before committing.
Before you download: what you need
Paper modeling needs very little, but the quality of two items decides whether your model looks sharp or sloppy:
| Item | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Printer | Color inkjet or laser; laser gives crisper lines and won't smudge |
| Paper/card stock | Standard copy paper is too flimsy for most parts; heavier card stock holds shape |
| Craft knife or scissors | Knife gives cleaner edges on small parts |
| Metal ruler | For scoring fold lines straight |
| Scoring tool (or blunt needle) | Creases fold cleanly instead of bulging |
| White glue or PVA, toothpicks | Toothpick applies glue to small tabs without soaking the paper |
| Tweezers | For tiny parts and tight corners |
The site does not publish a materials list, so treat the table above as general paper-modeling practice rather than site-specific instructions.
Step-by-step: download and build
1. Find the model you want
Start at the homepage news feed for the newest releases, or browse by subject (Shuttles, ISS, Starship). The site organizes content with tags, so a tagged archive page is the fastest way to see everything in one category.
2. Download the files
Model files are offered as downloads directly from the site. Download the file(s) for your chosen model to your computer before printing — don't print from a browser preview, since scaling can shift.
3. Check the scale and print settings
AXM models are scale models (the site references 1:400 for an upcoming diorama). Before printing, confirm your PDF or image viewer is set to 100% / actual size, not "fit to page." A few percent of shrinkage will make every tab and slot misalign.
4. Print a test page
Print one page on plain paper first. Check that colors are correct, lines are sharp, and the scale matches what the instructions expect. Only then load your card stock.
5. Cut, score, fold, glue
- Score every fold line lightly with a ruler and scoring tool before cutting.
- Cut on the solid lines; leave the tabs (the shaded flaps) intact.
- Fold along scored lines — valley folds and mountain folds are usually marked differently.
- Glue tab by tab, holding each joint for a few seconds. Work from the largest structural parts inward to the small details.
6. Let it set and dry-fit as you go
Dry-fit parts before gluing. Paper models punish you for gluing out of order — once a cylinder is closed, you can't reach inside.
Common snags and how to avoid them
- Parts don't line up. Almost always a print-scaling problem. Reprint at 100%.
- Edges show white. Color the cut edges with a matching marker or pencil before assembly.
- Glue soaks the paper and it warps. Use less glue than you think you need, applied with a toothpick.
- Folds crack or bulge. You skipped scoring. Score first, fold second.
- You ran out of a part. Print a spare sheet of the page before you start cutting.
Is this a good starting point?
Yes, if you want real spacecraft subjects at scale and don't mind a fiddly first build. The trade-off is that paper modeling rewards patience over speed: a Shuttle or ISS model has many small parts, and the site's own framing — photos from followers who "show passion, patience and dedication to the hobby" — sets the right expectation. If you've never built a card model, start with a smaller single-piece subject (a booster or a small craft) before attempting a full Shuttle stack or the ISS. If you want a quick, forgiving first project, this isn't it; if you want an accurate, printable spacecraft model you can build at your own desk, it is.