This is what you will need:

 

The four ATV Paper Model Paper Sheets The four sheets of paper, containing the drawings -

download them here: Sheet 1, Sheet 2, Sheet 3 and Sheet 4!

Print these sheets on a colour printer with at least 600 dpi to obtain the best results!


Support Materials... A ruler, a Scotch Tape, a pair of scissors, a Stanley Knife, a Glue Stick, an Universal Glue, a cardboard and finally:

a Paperclip (unfolded), to bend the cones and cylinders,

and a small pin, which will become the RDS at the end.

 

Let's get started:

 


1. ATV Main Structure


Important Note:

When assembling the ATV parts arrange the various cones and cylinders such, that the tabs are in line with each other!
The same applies to the arrows that are sometimes printed onto the cardboards parts. These arrows shall also point to the refering tab!

 

The "Cardboard Parts"

First cut out the ATV Hatch, the Structure between Avionics Bay and Propulsion Module, the Thruster Support and the Cargo Carrier “interior wall”.
Use the Glue Stick to glue them to a cardboard, then - after it is really sticking to the cardboard - cut them out.
IMPORTANT: The intermediate part (in the red circle) has to be glued onto two cardboards!


The Thruster Support

Take the smaller parts of the Thruster Support and glue it onto the bigger ones to get the final "Thruster Support Arrangement".
The alignment of the parts is such, that the "thruster triangles" stay within the black radial lines of the big support structure (refer: picture to the left)!
IMPORTANT: Remember the direction of the arrow
(e.g. draw the arrow on the back of the cardboard)!!!


The Cargo Carrier

Now cut out the Cargo Carrier and form a cylinder out of it. Take the Cargo Carrier “interior wall” and glue it into that cylinder (use the Universal Glue for that task).
You should glue it from the back side as the interior will be visible, when you open the ATV Front End.


The Avionics Bay

Next one is the Avionics Bay and the Structure between Avionics Bay and Propulsion Module - part.
Bend a cone from the Avionics Bay, glue it and finally glue the Structure between Avionics Bay and Propulsion Module in the end with the smaller diameter.


The Propulsion Module

Last piece of the ATV Main Structure is the Propulsion Module. Make sure you cut out the 4 rectangles with the Stanley Knife before you bend it to a cylinder.
Finally glue the Thruster Support into the Propulsion Module, with the arrow pointing to the tab of the cylinder.


The ATV Main Structure Parts

By now you should have two cylinders and one cone.

Now we will get into the fun stuff of AIV -

Assembly, Integration and Verification ;-),
when we will try to put these three parts together...


Attach the Avionics Bay to the Cargo Carrier

First we will attach the Avionics Bay to the Cargo Carrier. Do not use too much glue as it might get pressed out. Patience is half of the rent and don't forget to align the tabs of the parts.
Hint: Use the Glue Stick as in the photo to the left to get a tight connection!


Prepare the Solar Array Support

Before we can add the Propulsion Modulem the Solar Array Support needs to be inserted (in the four holes).
The easiest way to do it is to cut out 2 cardboard strips (with the appropriate width), and then use the Glue Stick to put the Solar Array Support paper on both sides on.


Attach the Propulsion Module to the Avionics Bay

Once this is done, cut the cardboard strips to the correct length and insert them as shown in the picture to the left.
Glue them one to the other (at the yellow/black striped area) and from the inside to the wall of the Propulsion Module.
Finally attach the Propulsion Module to the Avionics Bay.

 


2. ATV Interior


 

Prepare the ATV Interior

Cut out the ATV Interior and form an open cube out of it (the texture must be on the inside).

IMPORTANT: Glue the tab on the outside!!!

The rectangular gray attachments have to be bended inwards, the curved ones outwards.


The ATV Interior

You should get the following structure
(as in the photo to the left)....


The assembled ATV Interior

Now we'll glue the ATV Interior into the Cargo Carrier.

Put some glue one the rectangular gray attachments (use the Glue Stick) and glue the ATV Interior onto the Cargo Carrier “interior wall”(use the lines as a reference). The small logo shall be at the tab of the Cargo Carrier.

 


3. ATV Front Part


 

The ATV Front End

Cut out the ATV Front End and form a cone out of it.


Hint: Use the Glue Stick instead of the Universal Glue!


The ATV Hatch Cone and the ATV Front End

Next one is the ATV Hatch Cone.

Cut it out and bend it to form an open cone.


Attach the ATV Hatch Cone to the ATV Front End

Now we'll glue the ATV Hatch Cone onto the ATV Front End.
Do not use too much of glue and press the two parts gently onto each other, so to prevent damaging the cone.

Remark: The ATV Hatch Cone is not perfectly round, but a bit pushed in at the location of the two Targets.


The Russian Docking System (RDS)

Take the ATV Hatch and cut out the two RDS Cones.
Form two small cones out of them (this may be a task for someone with small fingers ;-)), and push the pin through their centers.
Closer to the end of the pin is the textured cone, the other one is closer to the tip.


The Russian Docking System (RDS) and the Adapter

Put some glue on the center of the ATV Hatch and push the pin through its center, so that 2 cm of the pin will be left over. Adjust the textured cone such that it rests in the first third of the pin length (closer to he hatch) and add some glue on its back to fix it.


The fully assembled ATV Front End

To the left of the upper photo is the Adapter, used to attach the ATV Front Part to the ATV Main Structure.
While its glue is drying up, glue the fully assembled ATV Hatch onto the ATV Hatch Cone. The pin should extend through the center of the ATV Front End.


The Assembly of Adapter and Adapter Plate

The next step is to glue the Adapter to the Adapter Plate (again: use the lines as reference, such as to obtain the following result).


RVS Support

If you can't get enough of filigrane stuff you can try the following: RVS and RVS Support.

Form two small boxes from the RVS Support and glue them onto the marked places on the ATV Front End.


RVS Boxes

The same applies to the irregular shaped RVS boxes.

Remark: Although I have included the ATV Star Trackers on Sheet 1, I am not recommending to assemble these parts. They are EXTREMELY small and as such do not add a lot to the realism of the model! They are included on the ATV Hatch Cone as two little dots beside the exclusion segment for the Targets.


ATV Front End and Adapter - fully assembled...

Back to the "bigger" parts ;-):

Glue the Adapter Plate on the back side of the ATV Front End (use the Glue Stick for that task). If the pin is long enough it will punch through the center of the Adapter Plate (at the center of the crosshairs). The logo shall be at the tab of the ATV Front End.


ATV Front End and Adapter - fully assembled - as seen from inside...

Here you can see the assembly from the "inner perspective".


ATV Front End, Interior and Main Structure

Here is the whole assembly from above and aside (looks already a bit like a spacecraft, right? ;-))...

The ATV Front Part and the ATV Main Structure have to be aligned in such a way that the logos on both structures match!

 


4. ATV RCS / Engines


 

The ATV RCS

Cut out the four ATV RCS parts (with a Stanley Knife) and form out a small box of each of them.
Put a little bit of glue in each of the ATV RCS boxes and attach the RCS boxes (according to their number [1/2]) onto the black rectangles of the ATV Main Structure. Align each box in such a way that the two parallel thrusters look towards the ATV Front Part (The part of the RCS box close to the number (on the sheet) shows towards the rear of the ATV).


The ATV Thruster Support

The next step are the thrusters (Thruster Nozzle).
These will be mounted at the position of each of the four dots of the Thruster Supports (the four Thruster Blankets are part of an earlier ATV design and are not being used for this model).

Remark: The picture of the Thruster Support to the left shows an earlier stage of the model! ;-)


The ATV Engines

Cut out the Thruster Nozzle parts, shape them into the form of small cones.
Use a small droplet of Univeral Glue to fix that shape.

Hint: Use the Paperclip to wrap the paper around, to create a cone with a smooth curvature!


The ATV Engines mounted at the rear of the ATV

Position the four thrusters over the marked spots and glue them with a droplet of Universal Glue onto the Thruster Supports...

 


5. ATV Solar Arrays


 

The Solar Arrays

Use the Stanley Knife and the pair of scissors to cut away the white paper in between the four elements of a Solar Array.


The "Cover Glass"

Once you have cut out the Solar Array, glue a Scotch Tape over the textured side (covering all of the elements).
This Scotch Tape will simulate the cover glass and provide stability for the Solar Array elements.
Remove the overlapping Scotch Tape.


The four Solar Arrays

Repeat these steps for all four Solar Arrays (the other four Solar Arrays are spares - in case you loose control of the cutting devices ;-)).

Finally glue the Solar Array onto the Solar Array Support, using the outermost black line on the support as reference.


The Antenna Boom

Now we come to the last step; the assembly and attachment of the Antenna Boom.
Glue the Antenna Boom onto the Boom Support and attach the whole assembly to the Cargo Carrier, at the grey square, close to the center of the model, right opposite the tab(s).

Hint: Use a small droplet of Universal Glue for this purpose!

 


6. ATV Footer


 

The ATV Footer Parts...

Cut out the ATV Footer parts ("ATV" and "Scale of this model") and glue them together as in the photo to the left.
Don't forget to cut along the two lines in the "ATV" part!

Hint: Use the Glue Stick instead of the Universal Glue!


The "Rectangle"

Next one is the rectangular shape.

Cut away the six marked rectangles by using the Stanley Knife.


Prepare the "Triangle"

The next part is little bit tricky...

When cutting it out leave a little bit of material around of it, add glue (from the Glue Stick) on one of the triangles and then fold it together.


Cut out the "Triangle"

Now cut it out "exactly", removing the remaining material, so that you get a structure as in the left photo...


Assembly Sequence of...

Move the triangle's tabs through the three holes of the rectangle...


... the "Triangle" and...

... add glue to the tabs (on opposite sides) and glue the tabs onto the rectangle.


... the "Rectangle"

Finally add glue to the "free" halve of the rectangle and glue both parts together.


The "Copyright" Triangle - Ballast

Now take the "Copyright" triangle and glue a piece of cardboard into it (use the Glue Stick for that task).

At the end glue some sort of ballast onto the cardboard
(e.g. a coin, a piece of lead, etc.), to ensure stability of the ATV Paper Model on its footer,...


Assembly of the "Copyright" Triangle and the ATV Footer

... and glue the "Copyright" triangle into the ATV Footer.

Hint: Use the Glue Stick instead of the Universal Glue!


The ATV Footer - Final Assembly

Now take the triangle and insert it into the ATV Footer, in such a way that the "holes" on the upper edges are closer to the "Scale of this model" side!

These "holes" will be used to fix the model on the footer - by putting one of the Solar Array Support bars into them!

 

You have made it...

 

In case you had some problems with the description - here are some images of the complete ATV from four different viewpoints:

 

The ATV Footer

Once more the ATV Footer...


The ATV Solar Arrays plus Support

... the Solar Array plus Solar Array Support...


The ATV Thrusters, RCS and Antenna Boom

... the Thrusters, the RCS and the Antenna Boom...


The ATV Front Part

... and the whole ATV Paper Model in Scale 1:100!

 

 

To ESA's Human Spaceflight website

Last update on January 29, 2002
Created by Norbert Frischauf [ Norbert.Frischauf@cern.ch ]