Introduction: Moravian Star (Pepakura)

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About: I like simple. If simple is boring, I'm boring. On the other hand, if simple designs, processes, and ideas interest you, that's what I'm offering. I specialize in if I can do it, you can too. And simply at …

Built on the idea in this WikiHow.

Make A Christmas Star

http://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Christmas-Card-Star

for the record, it's an icosahedron:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Icosahedron

It's got 20 faces all of them triangles.

The most common Moravian star (so, I've heard), is based on a Rhombicuboctahedron.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moravian_star

(See "Types of Stars")

and can be more OR less than 26 points.

For reference (a rhombicuboctahedron):

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhombicuboctahedron

(Just so's you don't have to imagine what that could possibly be)

Step 1: Moravian Star - Using Pepakura

What I have here is a 26 point star.


It's about 5.5 in around. Which 3D printed
can get REAL expensive REAL quick.

5 in is a decent diameter for a Christmas
star. And, made out of paper, BIGGER
is STILL a LOT less than it would cost
to 3D print it.

Mine took a few hours to put together
(not including the design).

Based on the Wikihow method, I started
with a Rhombicuboctahedron. It has
18 squares and 8 triangles. So that's
how many individual stellated points
there need to be.

You'll see in the attached files, there
are 6 squares to a page and 4 or 8
(depending on the size - Tabloid or
Letter) triangles.

Those and the base Rhombicuboctahedron.

Probably the hardest thing to assemble is
the Rhombicuboctahedron.

After that it's just cutting out all the points,
assembling them, and then attaching them
to the base until you're done.

The image below pretty much shows the
essential process.

Step 2: Assembling the Star

The image pretty much lays out the process.

Print the pages as needed for the complete
model. Card stock is more sturdy and will
be easier to work with and will hold up
better.

I use 67 lb cardstock (pick your color).

If you have access to a printer (or
local copy shop) that can handle Tabloid,
you can print out the larger version.

Mine is regular letter size.

Start with the rhombicuboctahedron base.

Then assemble and attach the points.

It's not much more complicated than that.

Attached are the PDO files (if you have pepakura
OR pepakura viewer) as well as the PDFs.

I tweaked the PDFs in Inkscape to break them
down into a more manageable print.

I recommend them over the PDO's.

Have fun.

If you make one, let me know. I'd love to see it.

Questions? Suggestions? Problems?

Let me know in the comments. Enjoy.

Attachments

Step 3: Bonus - Icosahedron Star

Had a little extra time on my hands.

So I put together Tabloid and Letter PDFs for
an Icosahedron star.

Same process. Different Polygon.

Attachments