Paper and Card Scale Modeling is an ancient art. It has been practiced for centuries and is still very popular in many countries. Called Paper-Card Modeling in Europe, it spans the range from simple folded-paper darts, to complex three-dimensional models of airplanes, ships and buildings.

During WWII, all materials were in short supply. Materials that were available were either restricted or rationed. Toys, unfortunately, were at the bottom of the list. These restrictions ruled out metal toys, which made wood and paper the only materials readily available for toy manufacture. What most people don't realize is that paper is nothing more than a "cellulose" product itself . . . a product of wood. Paper, in fact, is wood that has been crushed, watered, and pulped. When allowed to dry and used in sufficicient thicknesses, paper can be extremely strong and flexible. U.S. toymakers switched to toys and games that used paper and other non-strategic materials. Even here, shortages of printing ink lead to some rather bizarre-colored paper models. One of the strangest color combinations was that of a Russian plane printed by the Rigby Company, being a yellow-orange.

One style of paper-model construction used during the war was developed by Wallis Rigby, an Englishman, who had moved his company to the U.S. in the late 1930s. Rigby was internationally know for his paper models of airplanes, boats and trains prior to WWII. His designs featured Tab-and-Slot construction and he is generally credited with this method of paper-model construction.

Rigby's expertly engineered and realistic models gained much publicity during WWII. Since wartime toys had to be manufactured with non-strategic materials, paper and card models filled the void. Rigby's models were initially published as books and boxed sets of die-cut models that only required glue for assembly. Some airplane models, such as the Douglas Dauntless, were published in newspapers as part of the colored Sunday Comic Section. There were also other types of models printed such as heavy guns, tanks, aerial balloons, etc. This product popularity even led to Newsreel coverage of Rigby, showing the steps used to design, build and fly one of his paper-model airplanes.

Cereal makers also felt the cruch of rationed materials during the war. Since their products were already being sold in paper-card boxes, they were a perfect candidate for paper-card models. They could still offer premiums with their cereal simply by printing free models on their boxes. Additionally, simplified paper airplane models, similar to Rigby's, were used as cereal premiums for General Mills in 1944. Mail in two box tops from Wheaties cereal and you received a pair of paper airplanes. General Mills gave away thousands of these models as part of a nation-wide contest. Backing this was a publicity campaign, showing Veterans in hospitals building the models. A contest held at Nebraska's Boy's Town garnered national Newsreel coverage, too. In all, paper-airplane models gave thousands of kids and adults their first try at model building.

Following World War II, material restrictions lifted, rationing was stopped, and toy companies returned to making toys and models of metal, balsa, and new plastic materials. Paper models rapidly disappeared from the U.S. Market. The now common plastic models replaced the paper airplanes.

Only a few publishers continued to print paper models. Rigby did, however, continue to publish additional paper/card model books contemporary to the times. His post-WWII books included sports cars, space ships, fire engines, ships, submarines, and trains.

Wallis Rigby has a unique place in the history of paper models. He was one of the best known paper/card model designers before, during, and after World War II.

Over the years, members of the Rigby Paper Model Club have collected a large number of these World War II and post-World War II vintage models. These include cereal box models, "box top" ordered models, Sunday comic section models, ship models, submarine models, sport car models, and space ship models.

We are making these models available to those who have been unable to find them elsewhere. We have invested a great deal of time and trouble modifying and reproducing these models so they fit on 8-1/2 x 11 pages. Depending on the complexity of a particular model, there may be one, two, or three pages required for the model involved -- see the examples on the order form page. We are now making these paper scale models available via the internet.

I'm always searching for new information about Wallis Rigby. Sometimes discovering the truth is a great disappointment. That is the case with the "Wheaties" planes. In an unfortunate turn of events, I recently came across some disturbing news concering the "Wheaties Airplanes" that were sold by General Mills during the World War II years. The problemis that, quite simply stated, Mr. Rigby never designed them.

It makes me wonder how the "assumption" came about that Wallis Rigby did design them. For decades I have sincerely believed, as have many others, that the Wheaties Planes were just another version of Rigby's many and varied designs.

The real designer of the Wheaties Planes was Fred D. Myers. He created them specifically for the General Mills Company. Other than these planes, however, I can find nothing more about Mr. Myers. He is a mystery man. Now, I suppose, I'll have to start researching to find further information about him. Perhaps he deserves a website of his own.

Anyway, the truth is out and Rigby fans will simply have to accept it.

Because the original patent for the Wheaties Planes has long since elapsed, I will continue to offer them on this website as a tribute to Mr. Myers who has, for decades, failed to receive the proper credit for his invention.

If you would like to see the original patent for the "Myers Plane" just click on the text button below and it will display as a PDF file.

As sorry as I am to have to report the previous information about the Wheaties Planes, at least I have some very interesting information as solace to those Rigby fans out there. I found the original patent filed by Wallis Rigby in 1932 for his famous "Swallow" airplane. Click on the text button below and it will display in PDF format.

A Couple of Completed Models

(To view the 3D models, cross your eyes until the

left and right images merge into a "middle" image !)

The Jap Zero

The Jap Zero (in 3D)

The British Mosquito

The British Mosquito (in 3D)