machine

73: Panzer Tank

| wonko

I was leafing through a Robert Harbin book “Introduction to Origami 4” and stumbled across a lovely little box-pleating exercise:

This tank, designed by Laurie Bisman is neat, it is 3d, has a turret, caterpillar tracks and a mobile gun – I wedged a paper shim under it to keep it upright for the photo.

I am actually amazed it worked given the 3×1 rectangle I started with was not entirely straight when I cut it. there are many junctures in the model where there are no measurements and, given pre-folding experience I would have done differently – I un-folded and re-folded the turret 4 times before I was happy with it’s dimensions for instance. Happy with the result in the end – first-fold can be like that.

71: Oarsome Eight

| wonko

Now I have nothing but respect for rowers (and their poor exhausted parents) and this weekend is the annual “Head of the River” regatta, battling for a shiny thing, so I thought I would do a rower. Our rowers (like many Brisbane-based rowing clubs) have had a really broken season – their shed was destroyed by the floods, they were banned from the river because of water contamination. They did all sorts of non rowing exercises to keep in shape for when they were able to get back on the water, albeit in another school’s shed (many thanks go to Lourdes Hill here). Win or lose, they have already overcome enormous obstacles to even make it to the race.

In first-fold tradition I initially worked on a model by Neil Elias called “Hiawatha in a canoe” but modified the boat, the indian (gave him a cap instead of a feather and made him look like a schoolboy) and the oar. Quite happy with a “single scull”, I realised that he only has ONE oar, and that would result in him going around in circles I began bending and torturing it further.

It occurred to me that a modular (multi-part linked together model) might be possible based on this figure, as there was some symmetry and I could determine which side the oar was formed, so set about making eight. Because each was folded separately, they all have slightly different postures, I like that. On the back end, I sort of bent a “cox” but there was not much paper so he is a little wee fellow (which coxes are apparently).

I tried to work out a way of joining them into one shell – really I did. I have to admit to cheating (a little) – I used some staples to keep the model together, it is as long as my keyboard and totally unstable without being fixed, so I hope my faithful following (lol) will forgive this transgression because it is so oaresome.

69: Space Shuttle

| wonko

Now I read, after the fact, that the Space Shuttle “Discovery” landed for the last time, and I gather it will not go up again.

I quite like this model, fairly simple folds but the shape relies on shaping and puckering in places to indicate lines – neat indeed.

You too can have a go: http://www.nickrobinson.info/origami/diagrams/shuttle1.htm

50: Wheelchair

| wonko

Helping out a mate today, got inspired to try some box pleating to duplicate his mode of transport, relatively happy with the results:The wheels (front and back) worked out fairly nicely, seat is functional (but does not look very comfortable – with some more paper torture I am sure I could pad both) and the handle at the back needs work – not bad for a first fold however

48: An Excavator

| wonko

I found another box-pleating model that looked cute – a digger thing with a sort of backward-facing bucket:

I like that it has caterpillarish tracks, and a nicely shaped scoop. Folded from a 2×1 rectangle folded into 12/24ths prior to collapsing, the whole 1/3rds thing is the only real stumbling point:

You an have a go also: excavator

38: Rowboat

| wonko

Sometimes simple designs are beautiful – this rowboat, whilst folding-wise is not challenging, it is proportioned correctly and perfectly seaworthy, with a neat stern and a nicely locked bowWhy a rowboat? Well, I figured the Victorians could use it in the light of floods they are having right now – gotta love a sunburnt country – hot, bushfires, floods and cyclones (not to mention the wildlife) – wouldn’t live anywhere else for quids.

Thanks @ackygirl for the loan of the book with this in it, I like it, a lot (at 8 folds total it is such a nice respite from the complex models of late)

19: Bulldozer

| wonko

Now I was quite taken with the whole “box pleating” idea so looked out some more designs that use this technique. This is a front-end loader, or bulldozer and was fairly fiddly to be honestIt does have an integrated scoop, hints of a caterpillar track and a nicely formed cab, but I think the folding pattern is incorrect at two key junctures, so I improvised.

have a go and see what you think: http://origami.happymagpie.com/diagrams/bulldozer.pdf

14: Tip Truck

| wonko

…so “box pleating” is a geometric style of folding where you take paper, divide it up and then pleat it into smaller modular shapes. I have never tried it, until now.Made from a 4×1 rectangle cut from the longest side of an A4 page, this model design is very clever indeed – it features a cab, strong chassis with rounded wheels and an articulated tray* that actually tips – I could not stop smiliing as it came together whilst I folded it.

* Bassetts Frosted Jelly Babies sold separately.

Wanna give it a go? Jump here and try the fold yourself: http://origami.happymagpie.com/diagrams/dumptruck.pdf