This is it. I have slacked off long enough both with the construction of this annoying model and the recording of these lame posts of reflection. In fact, I did not record each step into a blog entry. So I have condensed months of elapsed time and model progress into this last post. It is a long one, so grab your favorite drink, a snack and maybe take a potty break before starting this last (thank goodness) narrative purging my thoughts of unnecessary struggles and misguided stubbornness to complete this worthless replica.
We started this thing a year ago as a son-dad-summer project—remember that? Boy we certainly lost steam (a great idiom that doesn’t really match, building, a, paper, robot). The dome or head construction simply foreshadowed the continued complexity construction. My son sensibly stopped and I foolishly persisted.
If you need a recap of my sporadic commitments to this construction, here is the list:
- The first entry where I got this idea to record the build
- Fitting the axles to the body
- What green tabs? When the instructions do not match reality
- Admiring the dome and adding effects
- I wonder why I am doing this and the first of many freaking small pieces
- The first foot
- Glue is messy, more feet and more of those (
censored) small pieces - Step 4 – R2’s ankles
- More ankle work and comparing myself to professional paper modelers
- A renewed vigor, a confession and then a return to defeat
- This is getting old with the small pieces and this blog
January 2019
From where we… no, I… left off, I had worked on the ankles and then I started a leg. But before getting to the actual leg, I had to form the power cell compartment. Please notice what I had to prepare myself to do.
STEP 8 requires a lot of work.
A.lot.
As you can see there are eight individual little constructions to be completed before they are attached to make this “power cell compartment,” but keep this in mind: there are two legs so this has to be done twice. A math review— 8 pieces for one leg; two legs; 16 pieces.
And, oh yes, they are small. Check how small these small pieces are.
These pieces are so small they pushed the limits of my dexterity. The next image shows that this trapezoidal form starts the long line of small complicated tab folds and glue application. Oh you know how I just love the glue.
So there the tabs sit on display splayed out waiting for some adhesive to bond them to the compartment. I had to stop right there; I did not have it in me to invest effort and time.
Another Day In January
The next day, my overwhelming sense of dedication influenced me to continue this delicately important work.
So with the success completing the first four-piece column, I fell into the confidence trap that everything will continue well. And why not, I will work with the same pieces again. But alas, no; a rectangular prism is too long. What is going on here? I already placed some glue in the spot trusting it would fit. All the pieces so far fit in the template and comparatively to size to its partner. What went wrong? Compare this rectangular prism piece to its partner and notice it is just a hair longer. So the smart thing to do was to cut the thing to fit. Hindsight, I should have dry fit this piece first before confidently plowing through with glue.
To add this power cell compartment to the foot, I thread the axel through the previously assembled ankle to see how it will fit.
The holes did not line up. I am certain I assembled this piece properly. I folded creases in their proper valley or mountain directions. I matched tabs to their respective parts. What can I do other than continue with this flaw? I removed the axel. I inserted the ankle into the foot. I lined up the respective holes of the ankle with the foot. I hoped that I can shove that axel through. I kissed hope goodbye.
Moving on, I attached the interesting cables to the foot that coil to connect to the power cell compartment. The paper too stiff and rigid, I had to wait for the first end to dry before bending the paper from the foot to the cell.
On to the next power cell compartment which means another eight pieces to assemble and fit into place. Like the previous day, I lacked the attitude and motivation to continue.
January 31
The construction continues from the feet to the legs. Exactly like the foot each leg step has to be repeated for the other leg—like deja-vu. The first step for the leg construction starts with the shoulder pieces.
Since there are two legs, there will be two shoulders. Wow, that logic makes so much sense; thank you, author, for stating the obvious. Instead of working one at a time, I duplicated the flow for each step. Already, STEP 1 challenges effort and time. Based on previous experience, I glue the green-starred tabs first. Because of the material’s rigidity it does not bend in a friendly manner. The bend creates tension. Pushing the tabs into place to create the arch would force the first tabs to pop off. I had to wait for the glue to dry. While waiting, I continued with the second “power cell compartment” — oh, so much fun.
Again, I experienced the need to alter a manufactured piece designed not to fit. Thank you paper engineers for adding to my suffering. See? I learned from experience; I dry-fit this piece before smearing Ol’ Elmers.
Returning to the shoulders I dreaded gluing and holding each tab into place. There had to be some…Eureka, I had an idea! I will make a collar to hold all of the tabs in place. Bam. I drew a nice piece, didn’t I?
This blog entry is just way too long. I will have to break the flow and continue into another chapter…or sub chapter. Like my effort and momentum building this model, I took a hiatus and did not return until May. So, take this opportunity and treat it like an intermission and continue on when ready—okay?