Making
the ... DICE of the GODS |
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To create the "Dice of the Gods", otherwise known as the five platonic solids: tetrahedron, octahedron, cube, icosahedron, and dodecahedron, you will need:
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Draw a circle on the back of your card or cardstock etc. The size of the circle is up to you. The larger the circle, the larger each face of your "dice" or polyhedron. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
You are going to need to inscribe an equilateral (all sides the same length) triangle inside the circle. To do this, keep the compass locked open to the same radius you used above and draw a single starting point on the circle. |
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Now with the compass point seated on that starting dot, use the compass to mark off equal increments around the circle. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Simply mark your way around the circle. You will eventually reach your original starting dot. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
You will have six equally spaced marks. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Now connect every other mark with your straight edge and you will have created an inscribed equilateral triangle into the circle. *We will be using the circle pattern first, and then we will cut out the triangle and use it as a pattern. |
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Here we cut out the circle pattern. Be sure to keep the leftover frame. We will use it as a viewfinder to select the best spot to cut out of our cards. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
It really helps to be able to move the viewfinder around and find the best place to draw the circle. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Lay your solid circle pattern over the spot you've selected and trace the circle. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cut out the circle and you are on your way to a really cool 3-d figure. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
You will need to cut out a circle for each face, or side, of the polyhedron you are making.
* The cube will need to have a square inscribed into each circle instead of a triangle. ** The dodecahedron will need to have a regular pentagon inscribed into each circle. |
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Now it is time to cut out the triangle pattern. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
To create the flaps for connecting our figure, we will be tracing the triangle pattern onto the back of each circle. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
RED ALERT: this step is vital! Be sure to use your straight edge and the ball point pen to go over very firmly each side of this triangle you just traced. This is known as "scoring" and it will give you a perfect fold, because the pressure of the pen starts the crease of your fold. |
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All you will need to do is lightly press the scored flaps up. *NOTE: if you fold them up as in this demonstration, your polyhedron will be quite decorative with the flaps showing on the outside. If you would rather have a smooth outer skin with no flaps showing, we recommend folding them down and using glue instead of staples to attach the flaps. |
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We always check the back for proper alignment before we staple or glue. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
We are going to make the above icosahedron. So start stapling flaps. Usually one or two staples placed close to the fold line will do the trick. If you want a firmer, more rigid bond, we recommend white glue. Remember however that this will greatly increase your construction time, as you will have to wait for the glue to dry. |
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Here you see five triangles stapled together into a pentagonal "top" of our icosahedron. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Do the same for the bottom. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Here is an underside view. We are now ready to make the middle with the remaining 10 triangles. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Staple or glue them together like this. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Here is what it looks like with the bottom connected to the middle. All it needs is the top to finish it off! | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Here is the finished product. Click the image for a larger view. Please note that all of the platonic solids can be made in this manner. Click HERE if you want to see the patterns for the others.
Cut
and Assemble 3-D Geometrical Shapes...
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