The passion for Ferrari knows no boundaries and manifests itself in the most disparate and sometimes unusual forms. But imagining models of Ferraris made with paper is something frankly hard to believe. Milan Paulus is a Niki Lauda fan from Czech Republic. After the tragic accident of the Austrian at the Nurburgring he decided to celebrate the qualities of Ferrari, the car that with its resistance - unlike the very light and deadly Lotus, had saved the life of the beloved champion. And he decided to channel his passion for the Red into making paper models, all in 1: 6 scale, whose perfection of details and correspondence to the originals are amazing. The dream of this wonderful craftsman is to sell his collection to Ferrari itself. Milan specializes in Ferrari F1 paper models since 2008. As of now, 57 are completed. His goal is to make all (104 expected) Ferrari F1 cars made … He is one of those Formula 1 enthusiasts who create amazing things without receiving broad recognition. His passion is everything Ferrari, and it turned his living room into a small museum filled with unique models of the Maranello cars. Mr. Aleš Norský had a chance to chat with him recently.
A.N. Before we begin, I would need you to explain to me, what ‘paper modeling in plast-style’really means. And why did you choose this particular method?
M.P. I could write pages about this. But in short, paper models start with cut-out prints and building them is all about being precise and having sharp edges, clean seams, well defined shapes and coloring. Plastic models involve manufacture of separate parts and building the model up. Along the way, you need to repeatedly scrape and smooth the surfaces, paint, and so forth... So, I basically do this sort of modeling using paper. Don’t know about anybody else doing it this way, so lot of times I have to take the trial-and-error path. And why? After a while, classic paper modeling became unfulfilling for me, not challenging enough. Without intending to offend paper model-makers, no matter how good you are, assembling cut-outs only means taking another step in a process that was already started by someone else. There is no responsibility or humility in that and it does not require much time. I need to spend hours in front of the computer, looking for resources, documents, photographs... then I need to draw the blueprints, take exact measurements... it requires a lot more effort. Much different from classic paper modeling, but I am not sure if I can explain it any better.
A.N. How resistant are your models when it comes to structural integrity or moisture? What if one of them fell off a ledge onto a wet floor?
M.P. Nothing can be made safe enough when it comes to impact. Each model weights between 2-4 kilos and if it hits the floor, it will shatter into pieces. Moisture is another story. I have even been taking photographs of my models in the rain, with the wheels standing in a puddle.
A.N. So the only material you use is paper... including the spiked wheels and tyres?
M.P. It is 90% paper. The rest are other materials like cables, wires, toothpicks. The wheels are paper but the spikes I make from the fishing line.
A.N. How do you make the really sharply curved parts and tyre treads... is it pressed into a mold?
M.P. Rounded shapes are definitely the hardest, but there is no molding. Everything is folded paper, glue, putty, scraping, grating, more fillers, rasp, sand, polish... over and over until I am satisfied. As for the treads, I first draw them on and then burn them out using soldering iron.
A.N. Do you make your own decals or is this contracted to commercial printers?
M.P. If you mean stickers, logos and numbers, I find them on the internet, modify them for my purposes and then they are printed by a professional company.
A.N. If my information is correct, although you specialize in Ferrari cars, you also build other themes, including cathedrals?
M.P. I am really serious only about the Ferrari F1 cars, from 1948 to present time. This includes prototypes that never actually raced. Sometimes, I get asked to do masks, or just silly things for birthday parties and weddings. Every now and then I make something for the kids my wife works with.
A.N. Does Scuderia Ferrari know about you? Do you need to negotiate any licensing terms with them, for example?
M.P. Just recently I have sent a photo-album of our models to Maranello and am waiting for any response... There are no license requirements for what I am doing. Anyway, everybody in the modeling world is familiar with our models, so we provide Ferrari with decent PR exposure, don’t you think?
A.N. How meticulous are you when it comes to dimensions and how do you determine particular size of wings, cockpit, and so forth?
M.P. Well, the measurements are dictated by rules that were applicable at any given time, and I have plenty of resources in regard to that... more than I need. In addition, any specific dimension could be easily calculated from pictures that contain another component of known size.
A.N. Are your models for sale or just for your own gratification?
M.P. Not for sale, they cannot be purchased. Here in the Czech Republic it would not be possible anyway, very few people would be able to offer me enough to just cover the production cost. But I am not going to take it to my grave, either. Some friends talked me into building a Tiger tank, in my scale of 1:6. That is turning out into a monster... that one would be for sale.
A.N. So, at the beginning, was there a Formula 1 fan who decided to build models, or did modeling lead you to Formula 1 by detour?
M.P. I saw my first Formula 1 race when I was 11 and on 1st August 1976 I became a tifoso... thanks to Niki Lauda. Modeling started few years earlier, paper cut-outs from the ABC magazine... that is how every paper model maker got started around here back then. I would say that Milan Paulus model-maker and Milan Paulus Ferrari fan have evolved independently from one another.
A.N. Do you have any favorite era that, in your opinion, had the most interesting cars?
M.P. My favorite era would have to be the 1970s when Formula 1 cars were at their most beautiful. But to be truthful, I like them all the same.
A.N. Why the 1:6 scale? It is not exactly traditional?
M.P. I started with classic scales, then experimented with 1:10, 1:8, and even 1:3... but that was way too big! Nine years ago I have settled at 1:6 and work with that ever since. Outside of Czech Republic these models are relatively highly valued... and by now it is routinely referred to as Milan-scale. Which is nice...
A.N. You have won the 2013 World Championship... but what exactly are you a World Champion of?
M.P. It was an unofficial championship based on photographic evidence, and 122 model makers from 28 countries voted for me.
A.N. Championship of what?
M.P. Paper models, of course. I got the best model of 2013 prize. By the way, we are putting together an application for the Guinness Book of World Records entry... we already are in the Czech book of records.
A.N. As you have already implied, they do not consider you as proper paper model maker in the Czech Republic and you are generally excluded from competitions there. Who makes those decisions and why is it different elsewhere?
M.P. I can enter any competition I want, but then they either disqualify me or give me just about the lowest score... only because I have an atypical approach. In this country, the rules are simply archaic and too rigid!!! Abroad, beginning just few kilometers away in Slovakia and Poland, our models are appreciated in much different way, as is evidenced by the results of competitions held there.
A.N. Your goal is to build all the Ferrari F1 cars ever produced. Each model takes nearly 300 hours to complete, so that amounts to pretty ambitious project!
M.P. There are going to be over a hundred and right now I am working on n°50. I spend at least 3-4 hours every day doing this... I don’t remember the last time I went out for a beer with my buddies and vacations do not exist for me anymore either. Which makes me a fool, I suppose? I will sell the entire collection once it will be complete.
A.N. I believe you have already received an offer?
M.P. Several.
A.N. As a Ferrari fan, I take it you believe that Vettel is going to win the title this year?
M.P. I am a tifoso! But Singapore was tough... Vettel might have lost the title right there. It is difficult for me to say this. I am not an expert, but chasing down 28-point deficit is going to be a problem... but it is certainly possible and I hope that it will happen, for myself and the Scuderia.
A.N. Prost or Senna?
M.P. Prost, of course!!! Senna never drove for Ferrari.
A.N. And did I forget to ask anything?
M.P. For more, visit the Galerie Ferrarino page on Facebook, and perhaps give it thumbs up.
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