Hey! I'm Higor, also known as Nuno. I am an Individual Micro Entrepreneur and Administrative Assistant. I live in the State of Minas Gerais, one of the most welcoming States in Brazil. Since i was younger, buildings and cathedrals have always been in my blood.
My fascination with buildings began when i saw a video of the Twin Towers in New York City. I was completely amazed about at how beautiful that buildings looked in the skyline.
But my life isn't just about buildings... When i'm not making models, i'm probably singing somewhere around my house. I enjoy Philosophy and one of my favorite quotes is:
"Necessity Is The Mother Of Invention"
- Plato
So, who am I?
About Nuno Paper Models
Papercraft Process
Everything began in 2022. It was a very difficult time in any country around the World. My career was completely blocked by the lockdown. I couldn't find a job or making anything new outside my home. Then, in the middle of impossibilities and necessities, I decided to turn my hobby into my job and it worked! Plato came to life and so did Nuno Paper Models.
My passion for paper models started around 2011, when i made a black-and-white model of the Chrysler Building. Obviously, i was searching for some pictures of the building when i came across the model. I'll never forget how good it felt to turn something real into art.
It was only in 2021, i decided to make my own models, especially when i fell in love with the Embarcadero Complex in San Francisco. I knew that no one would make it if i ordered it. I started on my own. I had to remake the models more than three time until i got a good result. Here i am now, offering you quality, exclusivity and reliability.
It's not only about selling them all, i do care that everyone can access my models. That's the reason i make some for free.
Buildings from the 70's and 80's are my favorite. Some of those buildings were part of my childhood through games like GTA San Andreas, where i first saw the U.s. Bank Tower - Los Angeles. I'll use this tower to show you how i make them in Paint.
The first step is to open Google Earth and walk around until you find something you like. In this case, U.s. Bank Tower was an old project of mine, ordered in 2023 by a customer from Colombia - The same customer who also requested LA City Hall.
I need to analyze the building until I gather all the details - windows shapes, the rooftop, the facade, colors, tiles, etc.
Now, I start drawing in Paint. I use my ‘3D Thinking’ and Google Maps to measure the building’s sides and create each part, after analyzing images from different angles.
After making the model, I print it, cut it, and shape it until I have the final piece completed.
Something cool to mention is that the more you work on your models, the better you understand how much they can improve compared to the older versions - not only your own models, but also those made by the community.
For example, the U.S. Bank Tower made by The Nightfly is a really good one, but I decided to create my own version, adding even more details like the Bunker Hill Steps levels, tiles, curtains, a highly detailed rooftop, trees… and that’s what makes Nuno Paper Models stand out.
And beyond that, I decided to create an entire project of the Bunker Hill area - full of detail and passion. I also plan to remake some older buildings, not because they are bad, but because I can recreate them with my own touch.