humanoid

75: Knight In Armor

| wonko

Now Jo is researching Castles, we aim to stay in one when in England next year (for my Long Service Leave) and it occurred to me that a knight in armor was possible:I would like to pretend this was my first-fold – in truth however, it is the first SUCCESSFUL attempt after long abandoning it as a younger Origamist. I have less than fond memories of this model – it is from the book “More Origami” by Robert Harbin, a fold I never prior was able to achieve – I had given it up as “too hard”. Interestingly, when I tried it today it seemed easy – my skill level must have improved I guess.

I admire this model, a Neil Elias classic, because the arms seemingly come out of nowhere, you crimp a flat flap and suddenly you have elbows, arms and hands – neat. It is also free-standing also which is nice.

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.

67: Bloxy

| wonko

Now to celebrate International Women’s Day, I initially decided to make a woman, and stumbled across a model known as “bloxy” because she is a box pleated block-like lego lady.

I like that she has a firm bosom, bangs and is sort of free-standing (although the centre of balance is a little off because of the weight in the head – you get that).

I am hoping my feminist friends will not see this as an objectification of women as that was not intended of this … object … well … umm … Happy(?) IWD anyway.

61: Jack In the Box

| wonko

Wow, no I mean WOW!

This little beauty is a masterpiece of box pleating, designed by Max Hulme.  I was sure it had no chance of working correct as the whole working in 6ths, 12ths and quarters was a real pain on such a small scale. Made from the largest 2×1 rectangle that can be cut from an A4 page, I think next time I make it I will do it bigger and it is really fiddly with such big fingers.

This pattern was given to me by a Year 12 student years back on a Kairos rereat, and one look at it relegated it to the “yeah, maybe later” pile to try – I decided to give it a whirl first-fold today and am totally chuffed it worked.

I am amazed with the intricacy and detail – his face has ears, body is wearing a coat with sleeves, he is sitting on the most torturous but beautiful spring and most magically of all, actually folds up into a tiny neat box so the lid closes – wow!

52: Rock, Paper, Scissors

| wonko

Now in class we are doing algorithms and programming, and a simple logic exercise we are working on is a visual game of Rock, Paper, Scissors:Rock, Paper, Scissors

With relatively few folds, and small squares of paper (4 cut from an A4 page), I managed to fashion 3 hand gestures indicative of the conventional game gestures.

Hope you like them. I shoulda done Rock, Paper, Scissors, Lizard, Spock though – would have been waaaaay cooler.

36: A Hoodie

| wonko

All cities have them, that anonymous dissociated youth that lurk on the periphery, just outside the light pool, wearing a hoodie (hooded fleece/jacket) plunging their face into deep shadow.

I really like this model (having been a bit nervy to try it), and am so completely chuffed that, first time fold, it turned out so nice – down to the elbows and shoulders … and it is free standing also – wow. ONE square of paper, no cuts or glue, very neat indeed:

how to foldThe construction principle is actually pretty simple: fan-fold to 16ths horizontally and vertically, crease the corner to corner creases both ways and it just collapses into this wonderful base from which you can tease arms, legs, body, neck and head; crimp elbows and knees, rabbit-ear feet and hands and presto, done.

Have a go – not so much a challenge as it looks, so long as you are neat and accurate in your pre-folding.

16: Yoda

| wonko

…do or do not, there is no try.

I have seen a few Yoda models, this is one I decided to try – quite like the stance but geting the expression on the face and arms/feet right were tricksey.  They can not all be gems I supposeSee if you can improve on this model, have a go at: http://www.fishgoth.com/origami/diagrams/yoda.pdf