Tipi Dome

Step 2 Related Paper Model Patterns

If you study Alain Lobel's website one learns quickly that there are many pleasing and interesting design shapes to choose from.  The Tipi Dome although a practical structure for shelter, Alain's site offers many other designs you may find more to your liking.  Here are some pictures of a few paper models I have built which are very easy to build since most of the triangles are identical so complicated math is not a problem.  I used plain white poster board, drew my lines to make up the triangle grid, used a straight edge and the back side of a butter knife to score the lines so they would bend and fold over easily and a little bit of scotch transparent tape to hold them together.  After building these models, upon inspection the strength of the triangular grid made into these shapes, one can feel the strength in just a simple paper model. (NOTE: The more simpler designs have more sharper angles and so are inherently strong structures.  As the frequency of the triangular grid increases the structure becomes less rigid.  So for the most part for my simple shelter needs I merely stay with the less complicated designs). MORE TO COME! :)