To say Atamjeet Singh Bawa has hobby “making paper airplanes” would be doing an injustice to his highly intricate pieces of art.

As an accomplished scale paper modeler, Atamjeet, senior programmer-Systems Integration & Technology, creates detailed replicas of airplanes and other high-tech machinery, which have brought considerable attention among India’s art crowd. Scale paper modeling is well-respected craft for both its artistry, to-the-dot accuracy, precise angles and color shading it requires of its practitioners.

Atamjeet explains that scale paper modeling is an art different than origami, where paper is simply folded into various three-dimensional shapes (usually animals). Paper modelers use scissors, glue, tape and paint to create their replica works. Various weights and types of paper are used, depending on the components of the piece.

“Being from a non-mechanical background, I find it very challenging to study a machine and prepare myself for the various obstacles I need to overcome,” Atamjeet says. “Paper has limitations, as it cannot be stretched, and once it is glued to another part, I cannot remove it. Most importantly, I try to achieve the minutest of detail in my models, which makes them look very real.”

College course inspires hobby

While in college in 2004, Atamjeet enjoyed his “Engineering Drawing” class to the point where he thought he could apply that knowledge toward his dream of building scale-model airplanes, and believed paper would be the best medium to achieve that. His first creation was an F4-F Grumman Wildcat, taking him a month to create the individual parts before assembling them. After that, he was hooked on the craft.

“Machines and airplanes fascinate me more than anything else,” Atamjeet says. “It’s kind of a meditation for me, because when I make a model I forget everything else. I spend hours and hours in a single stretch to achieve the objective for that particular day.”

Some of Atamjeet’s more amazing creations include the Japanese battleship Kongo, a Yamaha DragStar Classic 11 motorcycle, an LS-1000 diesel locomotive and an M-41A pulse rifle. He is currently working on his most challenging piece to date, a Sukhoi-34 jet airplane.

Art career takes off

Atamjeet has won awards for his work, and has even sold a few. He most enjoys the recognition of an accomplished artist in his field, being ranked ninth on Artwanted.com in 2007.

“I get amazing comments on my web portfolio from people all over the world,” Atamjeet said. “It feels so good to know that people admire and appreciate my hard work.”

Currently deployed from the India Delivery Center in Bangalore to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Atamjeet brings discipline from paper modeling to his Accenture role.

“Paper modeling has taught me how to be a better planner and to do the necessary analysis and preparation for a given situation,” he explains. “Paper modeling helps me improve my concentration for the roles I perform for Accenture.”