Prop: Shop - Pepakura Tips and Tricks

[@martinanastacio5040]

Helpful Tips * Print on paper with 200 to 225 gsm. It will hold shape better than 70 - 80 gsm paper. Once you cut away the paper... DON'T THROW AWAY THE SCRAPS... * Once glued together, you can harden it by layering the formed item with scraps of the 200 gsm paper. Layer it 3 or 4 times on the inside... so the outside / visible part still looks good. The idea of multiple layers is like... If you can punch through 1 piece of paper, try punching through a book... Its hard, right? Layering makes the item harder. * Once finished, apply 2 to 3 coatings of pva-water mixture (1:1 ratio) on all surfaces; complete drying (about 2 hours) before the next application. Last coating with 2:1 ratio. This will harden the item being made, also making it a bit "waterproof". Completely rinse the paintbrush with water for every after application. Because when it hardens, you would buy a new paintbrush. If you don't believe me, watch this link in making an iron man helmet: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rJXVYmWNidWagtU (#31: Iron Man Mark 42 Helmet Part 5 - Soften, Harden Cardboard | How To | Dali DIY)

[@DaedalusProps]

LOVE how straightforward this is, super helpful! Side note: We use the same kind of glue. Sweet

[@DaedalusProps]

Tis' magical

[@DaedalusProps]

I sadly am just...HORRIBLE at pep.

[@Firebird356]

Great video Bill. Love your work! I am busy building a Rocketeer helmet from a Pepacura file I found online. Instead of cutting the shapes from card I have cut them from 1.5mm styrene sheets. The resulting model is very solid and the styrene sands very well and takes paint nicely (with plastic primer) It's working better than I expected. Keep up the good work.

[@DenisRyan]

And now that I've actually watched it, thanks for the tips! All pretty straight forward, but some handy stuff in there. I've been trying a few Pep projects on and off for a while now. I'm working on a foam build Iron Man armor. Nothing too pro-looking. I want to be able to wear it on dress up days at my work. I work in a childcare center, so something soft and kinda flexible is preferable over something rigid and extra cool looking. I'm will to sacrifice aesthetics, as the kids won't care! Also, the foam armor will allow me increased mobility, handy with a gang of 24 3 to 5 year olds!

[@DenisRyan]

Two more things: I'm jealous of your juggling skills. I know it's something that would fascinate kids, and I'd love to be able to do it. Also, I thought you had to pay for Designer, and Viewer was the free version. I have Viewer, as another skill I lack is 3D modeling.

[@axelalonso2407]

Some more tips I have from working on building an entire T-60 power armor suit with pepakura: If you have an object that is enclosed: leave the flattest edge for last, and if it won't glue, just tape over it. When doing a large piece like Bill is doing: start from the furthest points from the opening, working your way toward it. Otherwise, those last few parts are going to be aggravating.

[@Kenaz]

Thanks for this! Pepakura models seems to be (atleast for me) one of the first steps towards stepping up prop and costume caliber. Great to see a video covering the basics!

[@geraldp8022]

Just want to say thanks for that scoring tip, really helped! Just started on some Fall out 3 power armor in pepakura and that makes folding soooo much easier.

[@nothingsworking]

Wood glue is also works nice with paper. I had some "leftover" Titebond at home to try it. Apply with a small brush, sets in a few secs. if you use a tiny/right amount, holds as good as superglue, but won't stick your fingers. I think it's the best way. I'm working on a stormtrooper helmet right now.

[@xraver160]

balázs gyurka Awesome....just the tip ive been looking for. Thanks!

[@TheRealSquirre1]

Wish I had seen this before I got into pepakura lol, a lot of good info just another thing that works well for scoring folds is an extremely dull, rounded over xacto knife. Once you start building bigger stuff using a straight edge for scoring gets really time consuming.

[@2009mouser]

This was really helpful. I've yet to build anything or begin any processes, but I now know a good small starting place.

[@frothenride3919]

Great video, I recently made a masterchief helmet out of pepakura and i found (for myself at least) it's alot easier if you use a card stock paper instead of ordinary white paper (it gives it more strength). you can also use blue and red pens instead of that sharp thing to crease the lines, it differentiates the "mountains" from the "valleys". i also used a hot glue gun which made it really easy to glue, because it dries quickly and you can re-heat it if you make a mistake without ripping the paper. those are my main tips for pepakura.

[@calvinthayer2894]

Building armor out of this method (ie master chief, Iron man) I would stray away from superglue and hot glue due to the fact that when you go to clean it up with body filler it will put and pull away from the build. I would encourage a fast drying glue like tacky glue or Elmer's glue to put the parts together. But anyways great job on the tutorial Bill it's the most straight forward one that I've seen

[@gordonrain7152]

The "pointy thing" part was helpful, TY for sharing.

[@MarleyIzzy]

Word to the wise; pizza cutter kicks ass for creasing your paper. And UV cure "glue" is instantaneous, use it for initial assembly, if you feel like shelling out the extra cash. It really is a lifesaver

[@MarleyIzzy]

Punished Props no problem, thanks to you as well :)

[@johnburton8834]

I have actually found that if you use 2 different colours of pens to trace the folds, it makes things really easy. Use one colour for one fold, the other colour for the other and this way when you are folding the paper and putting it all together you can instantly see which way you need to bend the paper

[@JSanime]

That's what I do! Keeps you from getting confused!

[@blacksteel25]

I've been doing Pepakura for a while.. not everything needs to be folded.. unless needed.. and the tabs don't have to be exactly cut... It will help cut down the amount of time you spend and can even make the project look better with minimal folding.

[@xraver160]

Blacksteel25 How do you know what needs a hard fold? I'm sure it takes some research with pics of finished products and some using the force....

[@w0mblemania]

Way I do it: put some PVA (white) glue on to a piece of plastic, like a CD. Then use a straightened out paperclip to apply the glue to the paper. You can use clamping tweezers to hold the pieces together, for a super-accurate fit.

[@coffeebot3000]

Great tip about the "pointy thing". How many times have I scored a piece with my knife only to realise I chopped it in half! By the way, can you explain that support thing a bit more? Is it cardboard and paper towel tubes? Thanks Master Bill.

[@xraver160]

Sweet...just getting into it and looking for info on what type of glues are good for this. Thanks so much.

[@murphsmodels8853]

I'm a paper model designer, and builder. The best glue I've found for glueing paper is Aleene's Tacky Glue. YOu can get it at any craft or hobby store.

[@MXAghost]

Are there any tips on using pepakura as a templet for armor building? I have worked with pepakura, it is fun but really time consuming.

[@joshuabeale574]

When you are assembling your pep, and you are gluing the new level to the previous one, do you see any of the glue tab fold lines, or do you assemble them to where the new level just covers the glue tab fold lines?

[@punishedprops]

I think you would end up covering the lines, but I'm not sure. It depends on the file

[@kalaiten]

When scaling a prop in Designer to certain proportions, does it judge width, height, and depth by the furthest point of the model on that axis (such as a very outward spike)? Also, does the unfolded and assembled piece usually come out appropriately sized with the above way of thinking?

[@kalaiten]

Awesome, also thanks a ton for the tip on the stream about the default paper size being A4. That saved me a ton of ink.

[@franciscolaiuppa2745]

Hi Bill, watching you from Argentina (:O) I'm getting started with the pepakura method, building a Darth Vader helmet (I know, like learning piano to Bohemian Rhapsody, not the easiest.... but after some tries I'll get better...) but when I applied the first coat of Fiberglass Resin it started to unglue. I guess the Resin dissolved the glue, I used ''Contact Cement'' (Don't know if thats the name, but is what is used here to glue Foam), 'cause was the one I had at home. Any tip or suggestion? I red about using hot glue, maybe I should give it a try...

[@KassRobin]

Bill... do you know how to work with trovicel thermoplastic?

[@aaronh560]

Hello, I'm in the process of creating a helmet that I've 3D modeled myself and I'm at the stage of resin and fiberglass. I've just fiberglassed the inside but there's tough fibers everywhere, how am I supposed to put this on with all these little needles poking out?. Am I supposed to do something else to it?. Google doesn't seem to want to tell me

[@arturoortiz5137]

Not sure if someone asked already, but does the Pepakura Program work in Macs?

[@chelsiehaeg131]

do you have a video over creating a 3D model to use in pepakura? I also couldn't understand what program you used to create the 3D model as well?

[@chelsiehaeg131]

can you use Photoshop to create a 3D model?

[@GIJoeSnakeEyes-ce7ce]

hi I got a question to ask I hope you can help me out. I'm beginning to customize Transformers figurines the last movie released dinosaurs. While the dinosaur I'm working on right now got 3 horns and it's a real soft plastic. I I cleaned it prime it and painted it but it won't stick the primer and paint keep flaking off so do you got any suggestion how I can make a mold and recast that into a harder plastic. They watching some of your videos really enjoying it I watched one yesterday about how to make a two-part mold I thought that might work. But the piece on working with got real find details the lower porn splits into two and a got the upper teeth and I need to make an lower teeth to it got some forms on it to and I stuff moves. Can you help me make some suggestion how I can do it and what do I need to buy to do that please get back with me thank you very much a fan

[@Nielly]

OK, I'm familiar with papercraft, but I usually print the pieces with the final pattern/color/texture on. When you use papercraft just as a base for you model, how do you finish it?

[@Nielly]

***** Alright! Thanks Bill!

[@AdamRobertshaw]

He just waffles until 1:34 when he actually starts the advice :P

[@punishedprops]

Oh man I love waffles. =D

[@UwU_the_UwUer]

Ok, hopefully you can help me. I'm using pepakura to make a prop sword blade and was hoping to add an interior so that it won't fold if i hit it on something, but I'm having trouble deciding what to put in. I thought about expanding foam, but I'm worried about it warping the shape. I also considered slush casting, but I'm not sure how well that would work with how thin the blade would be. Or should I not worry about it since I plan to paper mache the outside.

[@punishedprops]

The expanding foam will very likely warp it. I would start with your paper mache and see if that is enough. If it isn't, you can slush cast something on the inside.

[@UwU_the_UwUer]

Thank you so much!

[@Broadshore]

I have to ask, What Resin are you using on your pepa?

[@travistate8497]

The orange bit is called a pick there are probably other names that's just what I have always heard and said

[@origamikira]

cant you just sharpen a straight screwdriver but keep it so that it doesnt cut paper, only presses it into a thin line...? i think it would work

[@zanderfray1325]

Do you use normal printer paper or card stock when printing out pep blueprints?

[@MikeBranski]

Zander Fray While normal paper will work in a pinch, you'll usually want to go with card stock. The thicker paper will allow it to hold its shape better as you're building it.

[@Xandara]

Very cool! Watching this made me want to maaake thiiiings! :D Also: that is the biggest thing of super glue I've ever seen and would not trust myself not to somehow manage to glue everything to everything else. :X Thanks for the video! :D

[@starbase101]

I used cut my parts that way (sore fingers included) but now use a Silhouette Cameo to score and cut Pepakura parts, which turns days of cutting and scoring into just minutes. Check out my video to learn how you can expedite cutting out the parts. (And the machine cuts them perfectly too, without any of those pesky human errors.)

[@PupperLoVvvcrafting]

Hay I am going to buy a two door Toyota Camry 2014 and do a pepakura scale model of a gt500 and put it on my car basically a skin for my car wondering if you have any tips

[@murphsmodels8853]

There's an entire community of people who design and build paper models using pepakura. Google "GT 500 paper model" and you'll probably find out that somebody has already designed the model you want. Than all you have to do is scale it up to life size, and figure out how to print it.

[@ishcolo]

any thoughts on finding scale i have really trouble with make something and it ending to big ... more Likely to small any ideas :3

[@ishcolo]

ooooh thats what iam doing wrong ^^ thank you thank you

[@a19spyro95]

Where would be find available files?

[@origamikira]

how do you make it stronger? say i wanna make zed's shurikens from LoL....i just found it and seems kinda easy, to get started at least, so how do i make the paper stronger, i guess i start out with thicker paper like poster paper or something, or white cardboard or something, but then? 50 layers of elmers glue? :D ...

[@punishedprops]

I use fiber glass cloth and resin to reinforce the paper shell.

[@martinanastacio5040]

​@@punishedprops for people without fiberglass cloth and resin, using pva glue, just add layers of scrap paper to the underside of the paper shell. After "getting" the necessary printed parts to form the paper shell, the discarded part will now them be used to reinforce the paper shell, layer it 3 or 4 times. PVA Glue is also known as wood glue, white glue, Elmer's Glue As for the resin, mix pva glue and water and apply or "paint" two coatings with 1:1 ratio respectively; then one coating with 2:1 ratio. Let it dry 2 hours before applying the next coating. Also rinse the paint brush every after application or you'll buy a new paintbrush Don't believe it??? Then watch this: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rJXVYmWNidWagtU #31: Iron Man Mark 42 Helmet Part 5 - Soften, Harden Cardboard | How To | Dali DIY It will be "hard as a rock" (sort of) once youv'e done this It will be waterproofed as well...

[@mmm-li9cv]

omg i still dont get if i fold it straight down or at an angle can someone olease help me :(

[@valynazvalkynaz5375]

Fun Fact: Don't use normal paper for pepakura..... it's hell

[@valynazvalkynaz5375]

I learned this the hard way while building my Daedric Quiver and had to layer it with tape on the back so it was way sturdy and so when I strengthen it, it won't fall to pieces

[@batman0506]

when i was at the store my mom was like "WHy dont you use paper mashe"

[@reckeroffaces880]

I’m currently making a t45-d helmet in pepakura with normal paper...Any tips?

[@Fives411]

the pointy thing is called a scriber btw

[@punishedprops]

Thanks!

[@nixland]

I read tips that don't fold the curve surface, to ease the filling and sanding later. How about that :)

[@punishedprops]

+nixland Neat idea!

[@buas7]

how do make youre helmet fit to youre head ?

[@buas7]

aha but i dont have a 3d printer :(

[@tinkersvest]

I'm not sure but I think he means that he modeled it on a 3d modelling program like Blender or something and then unfolded it in Pepakura, I'm very new to this so I could be completely wrong

[@DenisRyan]

Woah! Zero views, zero likes?!? I hate to say this, but, I've NEVER had this chance before, so... total first?

[@miguelgardner-rodriguez6794]

I am having a hard time with pepekura.. I'm download a 3d model to make a Phoenix armour from the anime show called saint seiya.. =/

[@Covencorner]

*takes note* pointy bit ✍️

[@mattTc17]

Yeah looks like a scratch awl/scribe.

[@OddFoxxeP]

Hot glue is the worst for pepakura. T_T I learned this the hard way.

[@usayojim]

If anyone is looking for a Batman Dawn of Justice helmet file, you can get mine here: www.etsy.com/ca/listing/231041174/batman-v-superman-dawn-of-justice-helmet?ref=shop_home_feat_1