For those already sick of staples and wanting to move into more precise connections for your paper models, I recommend using small threaded rods and nuts. You can precisely place a hole in the strips, slot the rod through, then screw machine nuts onto both ends to sandwich the paper together.

Probably 1/2" in length would be more than sufficient.

Go to: McMaster Carr: search for "threaded rod" and "machine nut" - then select desired size.