Pepakura ?

[jcoffman99]

Okay I've been looking at the amazing final products that folks have created from Pepakura files. My question is how the heck do you get all the pieces glued together while keeping the angles all nice and crisp?

I'm guessing cardstock is being used. I just don't see how to get all the parts together neatly. Any info would be GREATLY appreciated. Thanks,

John

 

[ruze789]

110 lb cardstock is used, which keeps the project rigid enough to be built.

You score the fold lines as determined by the Pepakura program, and when you are lining up the numbers on the pieces as you go it all falls into place. As you glue more and more pieces together the proper shape takes form. If you manage to line everything up properly (it isn't hard to do it right), at the end of it all the angles will look as they should.

The program does all the figuring out for you, all you really need to do is score the fold lines, line up numbers, and glue in place.

 

[jcoffman99]

Thanks so much. I printed out a Halo helmet and it doesn't have numbers, but the 3d model makes it easy to identify the parts. I'm going to give it a shot. What's the worst that can happen? I lose a few fingers???

 

[ruze789]

I'd hate to see what you'd do wrong to lose fingers!
Pepakura is a lot of fun, I made four quickie Halo helmets for Halloween 2 years ago and I've been hooked ever since:

 

[Qui-Gonzalez]

So, do you just take a normal piece of paper, affix it to the cardstock and go from there?

 

[jcoffman99]

You just print on the cardstock from what I've gathered. I think that's why 110lb is the prefered as it's the heaviest that will run through a printer.

 

[ruze789]

110 lb cardstock is basically just cover stock, it runs through almost all inkjet printers with no problems. It's stiff enough to hold up to the folding and resining, but thin enough to print normally. You just print right onto the cardstock and cut it out.

 

[sskunky]

Is there a program out there for a mac? I'd love to get into this.......

 

[MooCriket]

I'd hate to see what you'd do wrong to lose fingers!
Pepakura is a lot of fun, I made four quickie Halo helmets for Halloween 2 years ago and I've been hooked ever since:

That was a quickie job!? Well done!

 

[Contec]

Is there a program out there for a mac? I'd love to get into this.......

Nope, sorry.

 

[sskunky]

Damn......

 

[ruze789]

Damn......

It can be used if you run BootCamp or Parallels on your Mac, I believe. I don't know anything about it though, that's just what I remember reading.
Some files also have PDFs made of them so they can be printed on macs.

@MooCricket:
Thanks! I think I had 2 or 2 1/2 weeks to get them all done. I went with paper mache so I could work on them later in my house.

 

[Goosebot 5000]

It can be used if you run BootCamp or Parallels on your Mac, I believe. I don't know anything about it though, that's just what I remember reading.
Some files also have PDFs made of them so they can be printed on macs.

yes, sir. you are correct. i dual boot using BootCamp. it runs the pep programs just fine.

here are some extra shots i pulled from our build thread on the 405th that may help some of you see a little bit more.

it prints on 110lb cardstock just like he said. it isnt to think to be loaded in to a printer just like normal. then you cut out the pieces...

then just score and glue!

and presto change-o!

 

[Heatshock]

lots of the how tos are on the 405th Halo forums - really loadsa nice stickies on how to do pepakura. even if you dont register - just reading the info on how to put it together amd then reinforce the models is great

http://405th.com/forums/index.php?showforum=12

for the UK guys - we use gsm measurement for cardstock. I tend to just drop by hobby craft and use a 220gsm.

great fun!

Nate

 

[Lear60man]

So then a few thin coats of resin on the outside?

 

[Risu]

One coat has always been enough for me. I do it a little bit differently than most people though after having plenty of bad experiences with my pieces warping. I resin one time on the outside, then mix resin and bondo and pour that into the inside and set in some fiberglass, then pour another layer of the rondo (resin/bondo) on top. The result is a piece with some real weight to it that actually feels like a helmet and can actually be dropped onto concrete from a good height without breaking. I highly recommend the 405th for any information on the subject of pepakura.

 

[cayman shen]

When I printed my predator bio, it didn't have numbers. So I went back to the file and changed the setting so it showed numbers. I printed again, and ALL it printed were numbers, no lines! WTF? :lol

 

[Risu]

On occasion mine will forget the lines, I don't know why, but when I try again it works.

 

[DaddyfromNaboo]

I recommend getting a virtual PDF printer if your printer software doesn´t give you the option of a preview. In addition you will always have the exact same layout and parts size once you printed your layout into a PDF-file. That comes in very handy if you mess up just one page of your 12 page helmet layout.

 

[defstartrooper]

I've thought about having a little go at this myself, i read some stuff like a couple of years ago and it seemed like there were issues with getting the software to print at the correct size or something,i never got round to downloading the software or anything myself, seemed a bit hit and miss is this still the case ?