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Marfusha paper toy instructions

Marfusha paper toy instructions
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Marfusha. Screaming battle cries in all tongues lost.

Marfusha is one tough cookie. Whilst all the menfolk are off seeking fame and glory it's up to them to answer the call to arms and defend their homeland.

Marfusha is a series of paper toys I've been working on for about a year on and off, you can download the blank template from my website or this instructable (attached in step 1) or I also will have physical kits to purchase from my folksy shop http://folksy.com/shops/TangMu. With this instructable I aim to provide a visual reference for assembly and also pass on a few tips and tricks for making your own models.

Please decorate the blank model as you see fit, and send photos, I'd love to see everyone's different take on Marfusha.

Lastly, I don't mind if you share the files to other people but please attribute them back to me.
I've put a lot of work into this - over a year through moving house and becoming a father and would like to see just how far it spreads.
 
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Step 1Preparation

Preparation
To make a Marfusha you will need:

Marfusha kit either pre-printed or downloaded (see pdf) and printed onto A4 cardstock (210 gsm is prefered). When printing make sure that the scaling is set to 100% otherwise it will come out too small.

Craft knife or scalpel - Please take care and enlist the help of an adult. It is possible to cut the outlines out using scissors but there are some internal parts that you need the precision of a knife to be able to get to.

Dead Biro or similar pen - this is for scoring the fold lines for a smooth build

Cutting Mat

A Ruler of some kind

Tips:
Use the dead biro and ruler to score the fold lines before cutting the pieces out. All the dotted lines need to be scored so the model folds clean and accurately. Press firmly but not so much that you tear the paper. This saves hassle later on.

Cut out all white internal spaces marked with an X. Cut around the solid lines inside the arms, shoulders, body and mask. If you do this later on and your knife isn't absolutely sharp, you run the risk of tearing the part.

Cut the along the lines of the asterisk on the arms. it's better to get these done before the outline for the same reason.

Now cut out the parts following the solid lines. Take care of your limbs! Cut towards yourself with your hands holding the paper above where the knife is and remember that it's easier to rotate the card than to cut in a different direction. Use smooth movements and if you are having to apply a lot of pressure to cut through the card, you probably need to change your blade.

When folding the lines, continuous dots means a mountain fold (fold down) and the dots and dashes mean a valley fold (fold up)

Use Glue Sparingly - seriously, go light on it. Too much will result in warping and a very slow drying time. I find putting a thin bead on the flap and then applying even pressure on either side of the join ensures that the parts bond firmly. Wipe away excess glue from the surface quickly as it will dry shiny.

Finally but most important: If you are downloading the blank Marfusha, don't forget to decorate it! It might be easier to decorate the parts before assembly but that requires knowledge of how it will fit together or you can always decorate it afterwards. Please take pictures of your final models and let me know!
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3 comments
Dec 13, 2011. 7:05 PMchipper35 says:
Profoundly interesting, indeed!
Nov 29, 2011. 6:41 PMeross-1 says:
They're CUTE! Is this from a series of some or something u just made up?

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Author:TangMu
A very hairy manchild studying illustration whilst playing around with as many different strange and intersting techniques and still trying to have a good time while i am at it (much to my tutors horr...
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