We first mentioned free, printable papercraft designs when we introduced Motomachi’s website, you know the guy who takes a picture of a vending machine everyday? Due to the popularity of his site, he began offering a downloadable paper model of his well-documented machine.
Now with the hot summer months in full tilt (meaning bored children and adults alike trapped in air conditioned boxes watching Olympic softball), we’re seeing a number of papercraft sites on the net.
Brands like Nissan and Yamaha hope to score young fans with free papercraft versions of their vehicles, while Cannon (remember they make printers too) offers popular summer themes, like beetles. 
Blogs are also a platform for hobbyists to show off their original work; for example, check out this impressive tribute to Rilakkuma’s 5th anniversary.
One of the most talked about on the internet papercraft downloads however, comes from JR West Japan and is hardly new. 
What began 10 years ago as one model, the Nozomi Shinkansen, has since grown to over 40, including not just a variety of trains but also well-loved stations and backgrounds for creating whole dioramas. 
It may sound like a niche hobby, however, the site recorded over 1,000 downloads one day in July this summer. What makes the JR items standout, and helps explain why they are enjoying a resurgence in popularity, is the quality and the elaborate attention to detail that makes these papercrafts convincing, and charming, models of the original.
Of course, Japan has a long history of papercraft, with the art of origami, but this new free download trend is a clever blend of contemporary technology and branding.
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