Rubik's Cube

Here's this papercraft model of the 3 x 3 x 3 Rubik's Cube:
http://papercraft.wikidot.com/papercraft:rubik-s-cube

The cool thing about this model is that it is totally structurally functional like a real Rubik's Cube.  In other words, you can scramble it and then speed-solve it just like you would with a real Rubik's Cube, by randomly rotating it and then applying algorithms to transform the configuration of cubies in a defined series of iterations approaching the final solved state.  Anyway, on the construction of this papercraft model, the most crucial part is the central axes thingy, which allows for the rotation of center cubies attached to the axes.  Mess those parts up (e.g. applying too much glue), and your cube won't rotate on those faces.

Anyway, a friend of mine has set out to construct this papercraft model and is currently procrastinating indefinitely. That's probably a wise choice.  This is quite a boring papercraft models to build.  You have to cut out and then glue together a bunch of structurally identical pieces: 6 parts of the central axes thingy, 6 center cubies, 8 corner cubies, and 12 edge cubies.

Instead, I have designed the following much easier and superficial Rubik's Cube papercraft model, using Metasequoia, a 3D design software.  I am still just a beginner in Metasequoia, but I can see why so many papercraft designers recommended it.  Perhaps I'll talk more about Metasequoia later when I have more experience with it.

Genesis Sword

The Genesis Sword papercraft can be found here:
http://kaizopapercraft.blogspot.com/2009/05/genesis-sword.html

It's a rapier-type weapon from Crisis Core - Final Fantasy VII, which I don't know anything about.  Apparently, this guy wields it.  Well, I'm gonna make one for myself too because I think it's pretty.  Aye, such a shallow reason, but it's good enough for me!

Sleepy Yukari

This is the "sleepy" Yukari Yakumo papercraft model, available here:
http://www.pixiv.net/member_illust.php?mode=medium&illust_id=2165155

It may be surprising that the author of this Yukari model is actually not the same person who made the Yuyuko in a box model mentioned previously.  I think they match quite well though.  However, the two authors do have quite different design styles which quickly become apparent as I start cutting out the pieces.  Also,  just like in PCB, this Yukari is much more difficult.

There are some really tiny pieces and awkward closing situations, which are even more awkward to work with due to the tininess.  In Japan, small is beautiful.  Though I was thinking that I might have considered enlarging the scale of the model by a factor of at least 2, if the file weren't password protected.  Oh, but then, any jerk with a big clumsy elementary school safety scissors and elmer's glue can probably do it too.  Then I had respect for the author for making this model so tiny, perhaps as an added level of difficulty.

Yuyuko in a Box

It's Yuyuko in a box!
http://gt40.blog.shinobi.jp/Entry/321/

Only two pages of not too tiny parts, on regular paper. It looks to be something just about my current level of papercraft construction skill. It took me about 5 hours to finish, quite longer than I had anticipated.

Brass Baghnakh

First some news: I have bought a pack of 150lb cardstock, and oh man that mustache is thick! I mean really it's so much thicker that I'm sure I can't use it for the small, detailed organic models I so like to do. Anyway, I decided I shall use the cardstock paper on some life-sized models, such as some weapons, why not! Here are a some papercraft weapon models that got my interest:
http://thelastinlineagain.blogspot.com/p/final-fantasy-swords.html

I must say those swords do look pretty sweet. Or, as in the words of a good friend of mine: "The poor photo quality helps make those swords look real!"  So, yeah!!

But first, I shall do this Brass Baghnakh model from this guy's blog:
http://kaizopapercraft.blogspot.com/2008/06/brass-baghnakh.html

I don't know the context of that particular weapon other than that it's tagged with "Final Fantasy XI"; perhaps one of you nerds can tell me more about it. Anyway, I chose to give this model a go for some quick cardstock experience, since it was only 3 pages of a few big pieces, and the claw thing does have an interesting geometry.

Google Sketchup and Chair

I have recently begun working with this amazing and fun 3D software: Google Sketchup. What's so awesome about it? I'll just quote this guy from this website:
http://www.kk.org/cooltools/archives/000902.php

• This software is the opposite of CAD--- Computer Aided Design--- which is detail-driven. SketchUp gives you total flexibility messing with the FINAL look of something. You work directly with the vision you have, learn what's wrong or right with it, and keep trying variations or starting down new tracks.

• SketchUp is unbelievably good. It's everything software *should* be, but isn't: intuitive, productive, stable, and fun. Using a remarkable technology they call "inferencing," SketchUp has an uncanny ability to figure out which direction you wish to draw; using "locking," you can fix that direction and then reference it to other points in the model.

From Mabinogi to Pepakura

A sneak peak of what I'm messing with in various 3D editing tools, hehehe...

Potion shark! Yeah!!!

Mabinogi - Nao - Part 03

Good news, everyone!  The Nao papercraft is complete!

Now comes a gallery of pictures.

Mabinogi - Nao - Part 02

Welcome back to the continuation of my construction of the Nao papercraft!

Nao is continuing...

Mabinogi - Nao - Part 01

I am kinda following the step-by-step advice given in this series of pages:
http://paperworks.chips.jp/gallery.cgi?no=305

I think I shall also provide a few pictures to show my own steps through this project.

Nao is in progress...

Mabinogi - Mimic

Papercrafts, 3-dimensional models of things made of paper! Yeah!!

You'll need: color-printer, paper, craft knife, glue, optional tools such as tweezers etc., Pepakura Viewer for .pdo files, DEX, time, patience, and no phobia of getting glue on your fingers!

For those interested, I recommend you get these very specific tools: http://www.papercraftmuseum.com/advanced-tutorial/

There are quite a few publicly available Mabinogi papercrafts. Most of them seem to be from this site. Just download, print, and have fun. Some of them are not free there, but you might find them for free on other papercrafting websites.
http://paperworks.chips.jp/katagami/sell.html

By the way, all of the above Mabi papercrafts are pretty beginner-unfriendly, even the Mimic one. They can be quite tricky with the very tiny pieces and the difficult closing situations. If you have never done any kinds of papercrafts before, then you're in for some unkind learning curve! Well, that's just my opinion. I have been casually doing papercrafts for some time, and I'll be doing a few of these Mabi papercrafts now that I have more free time. You may ask me if you have any papercraft-related questions.

Here's the Mimic papercraft I did. It took me quite several hours.

Introduction

Hiya,

I have disabled the Blogger website listing and search-engine listing.  So, if you happened upon this blog of mine, you were probably directed to it by me, and you probably know me by one of my many aliases.

I shall use this blog to discuss papercraft-related businesses.  For example, I might show off my constructions of certain difficult papercraft models, my progress with 3D design specifically for papercrafting, and other stuff.

Most blog posts will be heavy with many unresized images.  You must zoom in and scroll about to look at the bigger-than-full-screen images.

This blog will not be updated sometimes, and sometimes it won't (not be updated).  Also, don't bother posting comments.  I have disabled commenting, and I won't be checking this blog to read the comments anyway.