Build a shelf-size vintage computer museum out of paper

Yesterday, a Winnipeg, Canada based artist named Rocky Bergen released a free collection of miniature papercraft computer models that hobbyists can assemble for fun. They are available from The Internet Archive in a package of 24 PDF files that you can print on letter-size paper and fold in three dimensions.

Among Bergen’s Barbie-sized paper models, you’ll find representations of classic computers that originally hit the market in the 1970s and 1980s, such as the Apple II, IBM PC 5150, Commodore 64, Apple Macintosh, and even the rare Apple Lisa 1. You’ll find them also paper models of some classic game consoles such as the Sega Master System and the Nintendo GameCube.

Bergen began creating the papercraft models in the summer of 2016, starting with an Amstrad CPC 464 that he designed for a CPC fanzine. “Growing up with a Commodore 64, I’ve always been a fan of old computers and their industrial design,” Bergen told Ars Technica. “I’d like to have a huge collection of these, but it’s not always practical to carry a huge amount of hardware with you at all times.”

To create the models, Bergen collects photos of the devices from the internet and slices and dices them in Adobe Illustrator until he gets a satisfactory result. “I usually keep the serial numbers intact so I can verify whether or not I’ve used your computer,” he says.

Many of Bergen’s papercraft models include additional variations with different software or games on the monitors, which can be interchanged by inserting folded screen images into the slots on the units. Many models also include delightful details, such as B. Matching accessories for scale models: drives, mice, floppy disks, software boxes and even modems.

“The response from the internet has been very encouraging,” says Bergen. “So I made a large number of these models for you to go crazy and build a whole computer museum.”

After printing, cutting, and folding, the models are typically only 3 to 4 inches tall, but scale varies depending on the paper size used. Bergen designed the models for 11×17 paper (A3). At this size, they appear “as big as a typical mini-console”. But they can also be automatically scaled down to 8.5 × 11 inch letter-size paper, making them roughly a “Barbie Doll Scale.”

Bergen finds assembling the models a meditative experience. “I didn’t think I’d enjoy cutting and folding, but it’s my favorite part of the process,” he says. “I thought it would be stressful, but it turns out to be quite relaxing.”

To start building your own paper museum you will need a color printer, paper and scissors. Download the PDFs from the Internet Archive, print, cut along the lines, fold the tabs and insert into the slots. Bergen says it’s easier to work with thicker paper. “Having a paper folding tool (called a bone folder) really helps create nice edges,” he says. “But any butter knife that doesn’t have serrations will work just fine.”

It’s no secret that vintage computer and gaming console prices have skyrocketed in recent years, especially during the pandemic. That makes collecting the actual machines far more difficult and expensive than it was a decade ago. Bergen says these factors are always in mind when designing his paper sculptures.

“I like the idea of ​​removing rarity or cost from the equation,” he says. For the price of paper and ink, you can have fun with rare vintage machines that can cost thousands (or tens of thousands) of dollars. “My Apple Lisa 1 will only cost you your time and maybe you will learn something about it too. I know I did it.”