The Christmas Kit was a very different computer program from the 80’s which allowed you to decorate and print paper models of a Dickens Christmas Village, a Christmas Train, and several different three-dimensional paper ornaments and gift packages. I have collected the original full-color Apple IIgs model parts here, to share these models with the paper modeling community. Now you can download, print and build your very own Christmas Kit scenes with any PC or Mac! (Instructions and model parts are located down towards the bottom of the page.)
While doing research for my Toy Shop website, I discovered the existence of another software package for the Commodore 64 called “Paper Models – The Christmas Kit.” This intriguing program allows you to decorate and print three-dimensional card models of a Christmas train and a Dickens Christmas village, as well as paper ornaments, decorations, and gift boxes, using clip art and fill patterns. It was created by Carol and Ivan Manley. I haven’t yet been able to find a copy for the 64, but I did recently purchase a copy for the Apple IIgs from an auction site. I then found an emulator disk image of the same online, and I pieced together the files to share below! (Interestingly, I think the emulator image and the actual disk I purchased were from the same person. They had the same unique screen name!)
The Christmas Kit contains several templates, designed to be loaded into a paint program to be decorated using fill patterns and clip art, or by drawing your own artwork directly on the templates. The IIgs version is pre-decorated and in full color, while the C64 version was likely in black and white and seems like it was undecorated. I wouldn’t be surprised if the IIgs version was the only color version of this software, and it has surprising quality of detail for an early computer! (According to the manual, the Apple IIgs model parts presented here were already decorated and painted by the publisher; you simply use your paint program to redesign them if desired. I am pretty content that the artwork I’m sharing here is probably as originally presented by the publisher and has not been altered before I came across it.)
Someday I hope to find the C64 software, and offer both versions below. Incidentally, based on the list from the package, this program was released for: IBM PC, PCjr., Tandy 1000, Apple II, Apple IIgs, Apple Macintosh, and the Commodore 64.
Below I offer the manual and full color images from the Apple IIgs version of Paper Models – The Christmas Kit, as well as an emulator copy for anyone who might want to play with The Christmas Kit in its original environment.
Paper Models – The Christmas Kit Decorator’s Guide and Model Files
Click Here for the Decorator’s Guide – A zip archive containing the entire text of the Decorator’s Guide, including model assembly tips and decorating ideas.
Click Here for the Model Parts - A zip archive with all the model and ornament parts. These can easily be altered with any image-editing software on your PC or Mac, then print them directly on card stock!
And for the curious side in you:
Click Here for the Christmas Kit Apple IIgs Virtual Disk Image - Christmas Kit disk image for use with an Apple IIgs emulator (Mac or PC) or a real IIgs. Requires Paintworks Plus. (The emulator here is for Mac users, but if you are a Windows users and if you can actually find a working Apple IIgs emulator for Windows, you should be able to use the Read Me files, the Paintworks Plus file, and the Paper Models GS file. Vista users can’t extract these files normally, and will need to open the zipped folder and drag the files out of the archive to another folder. This is because Vista has a problem extracting files which were compressed on a Mac.)
Note: I’ve made most of these models myself, and I’ve found that the Holiday Train is a little complicated, and the manual doesn’t explain how to put it together at all. There’s an exploded-view diagram that doesn’t really tell you much, so I’m going to post some pictures at the bottom of this blog soon that will help anyone who is lost. I’ve also discovered that the models with large flat surfaces, such as the houses, are much sturdier if printed in miniature, say 75-50 percent of original size.
Want to share?
If you’ve made some of these models and want to share your handiwork, please email me a photo and I’ll post them here! My email is gmontag451athotmaildotcom! (Obviously, change athotmaildotcom to @hotmail.com)
If you have problems or suggestions about this site or the models, please email me (see above.) If you want to read or leave comments, (Click Here) and scroll to the bottom!
And Happy Holidays!
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Visit Michael and Lacey’s other sites!
- The Toy Shop - 20 Marvelous Mechanical Models That Really Work! – Twenty paper models and automata that you can decorate and print, from the original Commodore 64 program! Also a Snooper Troops SnoopMobile model can be found here!
- Commodore 64 Logo, Computereyes, Odell Woods, and more - Some random stuff, including Commodore 64 Terrapin Logo programming software, Odell Lake and Odell Woods, Star Wars stuff, and more.
- Halloween 2007 - The Headless Horseman comes to visit!
- Halloween 2008 - The Monster Motel opens for business!
- Our MySpace pages have photos of some of our past Halloween adventures!
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A note about copyright: To the best of my knowledge, the images I am sharing here are no longer protected. As the software is no longer being made, the computers have been discontinued, and no modern equivalent software exists as far as I know, I hope any concerned parties will see this effort as I do: This page is dedicated to preserving and showcasing a wonderful project that should not be lost and forgotten!
