Finally, Pepakura

Because I decided to finish the last work on the 3D model earlier this week, today I could start working on unfolding the model right away.

I already have most parts unfolded properly now, certainly enough to start the final test building... ;o) The model's textures are a plain green in the screencap, because I find it a bit easier to see what I'm doing in Pepakura that way.

So there you have it, that's the status of The Project for today.

Ohara Deer Forte 370 ski slope maintenance vehicle papercraft

The Ohara Corporation makes snowmobiles for life in the winter season. And I don't mean "ski-doos" like the ones you get to ride in Tomb Raider, but more like real vehicles.

There are two paper models on the company's website, a simple multipurpose 1 box cabin Caliber snowmobile, but also a much more detailed Deer Forte 370 ski slope maintenance vehicle.

On the download page for that one, you'll find links for the instructions, parts and a seperate PDF to be printed (or traced) on a transparant sheet. The bottom links are for the same instructions and parts, only broken down into smaller files.

• download Ohara multipurpose 1 box cabin Caliber snowmobile
• download Ohara Dear Forte 370 ski slope maintenance vehicle

Have fun building!

Final trouble parts tackled

So yeah... I couldn't wait until the weekend to continue working on my main project again, now that after a few minor test builds and consecutive fixes I was this close to finishing the preliminary work on the 3D model.

Today I finished fixing the last parts I wasn't completely happy with yet (some of the parts look deceivingly simple when you look at them now...) so now I should be able to focus entirely on unfolding all the parts next weekend to start a (hopefully) final, complete test build.

On some of my latest models, I was so confident that the 3D model and unfolding were done properly that the final "test" builds were actually also the final final builds. But because this one might still have some surprises, I think I will first do a quick test build of the complete model in low quality to save ink, then make the final templates and only then build it "for real" and make pictures for the instructions.

Sounds like a plan to me. ;o)

Project update

I haven't exactly been working 24/7 on my main project lately, but rest assure, that work hasn't halted. But my evenings are so short, that I only really work on this bigger project during the weekends. And because I found a few things I'm not completely happy with, I'm gonna have to fix those again first.

One of the parts I wasn't completely happy with, were the hands. I had decided to make all ten fingers instead of a simplified hand, but the way they were now, I thought they would be too frustrating to build. And because I don't want this paper model to turn into the new Red Hollow Cylinder, I'm re-making them (the image isn't completely finished yet, but it's already a bit more "buildable" than before ;o)

And because I haven't been very generous with clues regarding the subject of this project lately, here's a new one.

Have fun puzzling!

Piotr Koper's Aliens Caterpillar P-5000 powerloader papercraft

If you like challenging paper models, then here's another one I managed to track down for you: a very detailed model of the Caterpillar P-5000 powerloader, that Ripley uses to fight the Alien Queen in the last scene of the Aliens movie!

I downloaded it a couple of years ago from the Polish Konradus forum, but when I was checking my links collection a little while ago, I found that the the original forum thread had died... (http://www.konradus.com/szufladki/caterpillar/index.php)

I managed to contact the designer, Piotr Koper (aka Klaymen), though, and he was very kind in giving me permission to host the model on my own webspace so that I can share it here with you guys!

The picture I used is from a more than amazing build thread done by morph on the French "Forum en Papier". If you want to try this great model yourself, you might want to check out the tons of great pictures there to see how to assemble all the parts:

• download Piotr Koper's Caterpillar P-5000 powerloader
• see morph's build thread at Le Forum en Papier

Have fun building!