This video is about more than just how to make Boxpunx. It's a short film featuring myself, my dog Chato, my very first papercraft model, and some music I made on my computer using Garageband. It's about AC/DC and Gloomy Bear. It's about a trip that never happened. My apologies to all the youtube channels that I plundered for clips. It was all an accident really.
This episode is about how to build one of my favorite models, Ultima the High Seraph from Final Fantasy XII. I believe she was number one in my top 24, but that was so long ago I can't remember. Either way, I know I talked about her before so err...
Here's the model again so you don't have to go digging through the blog.
Not the easiest model to figure out without instructions, but after building it again I didn't feel like it was all that hard either. Of course I already knew where everything went, so it is of course very difficult to actually gauge this model's difficulty. If you ever wanted to build this, but couldn't figure it out, hopefully this video will clear up any issues.
In the next episode I think I am going to build my very first model, the brute. I uploaded one already (Gloomy Bear!) but now it's time to make a how-to for it. This one will definitely require some glue, so make sure you show up prepared.
Ah! I'm late! I should have posted this yesterday, but I was so tired I passed out before I wanted to. So yeah, episode 4 of Boxpunx TV is now online! It's a bit longer than the other 3 but only by a few minutes. I edited it down to only what I felt was truly necessary, and chose to cut out any funny business and focus on the model. Still, it's 18 minutes long, and there is still a tiny bit of funny stuff, because I just couldn't resist.
Here is the model assembled in the video. I've seen a lot of pictures of Boxpunx online but rarely do I ever see the Dollpunx style. That's either because it's too hard to build, or the design just isn't very popular, which is fine with me. I admit, it's a bit weird. But like every model I make, these are experiments! And hopefully the end goal is some kind of perfection. Will I ever achieve it? I don't really care. But I do thoroughly enjoy the pursuit. And of course, I do hope I find it. Whatever "it" is.
In the next video, I plan to build my favorite model, Ultima. After that I may start to experiment with the videos a bit more. I'm going to try to be more creative. And I'm going to avoid using clips from outside sources. I still may use some of the old news broadcast stuff, but other than that I really need to do it all myself. The challenge is how can I make these videos entertaining for people who have no intention of building these models. And still build some models. Hmmm...
This time around we are building the IMPS model. I even made a brand new one for the video. How long did that take? I think it has been nine days since the last one. Technically I finished last night so I almost managed to do everything in a week. Either way I am pleased with the result.
Here is the model for this episode:
If anyone wants me to upload any other older models, please leave comments below the videos! Otherwise I am going to take a break from that stuff and focus on my little TV show. Eventually I will have to make an episode that isn't about papercraft. I wonder what that will be like...
Sorry for the small absence, but I really wanted to just focus on the next video and see how long it would take to crank out another. And it really didn't take that long. Almost two weeks? At some point I will decide on a schedule, maybe. In this episode we look at the Glueless 2.0 model, which is very similar to the first one, but with a few differences.
Here is the template for the models built in episode two. I'm off to make the next one so if I get time I will post something but otherwise I plan to work on episode three until it is done. If all goes well I would like to post a new video every week, not every two weeks. Let's see if I can make it.
At last, the first episode of Boxpunx TV is complete and uploaded to Youtube. In it I go over all the steps necessary to assemble the first glueless Boxpunx template. It may be slow in some parts, but keep in mind what's clear to you may not be clear to another, so I thought it best to go into a bit of detail so everything is clear to everyone. Plus it's my first video so gimme a break! Anyway I hope you like it, and if you are a person who has tried to build this model and had issues, hopefully this video will help you! Because that's what it is for: to make the complicated simple.
Here are the templates for two of the models that appear in the video. The blue model with the spiky hair can be downloaded by clicking here.
All right then. I guess it's time to go make episode number two! It will feature the glueless 2.0 model, which is a bit easier to build. I'll probably still post a model or two this week, so check back at some point!
Okay okay! I am back! I just had to take a wee little break. Most of which was spent editing the first episode of Boxpunx TV. I am so excited because it is almost done, and actually looks pretty cool. I have certainly changed it repeatedly as I have gone along, but I think I have decided on a solid format and should be able to go through the next episode and so on much faster. I hope so at least, but we shall see. Anyway, here's yet another of my very first models. Have I uploaded one of these minis yet? I can't remember...
All that's left to do is record a little more narration and film myself doing some form of introduction, which I didn't want to do until the rest of it was done. I see no reason why I shouldn't have episode one ready by this weekend. Maybe I'll post a model tomorrow, maybe not. Allow me just a little more time as I finish up this stage of my ridiculous project. Oh! And if you're curious, I am trying to keep the show at around 15 minutes in length. So much work for something so short!
Here's a model from Series 4 named Obnoxious. She lives on the Island of Misfits toys and is a long time member of the Fiend Club. She's got an extra slot on the top of her head for her mohawk. I know the model says glueless, and you can just cut and fold and insert the mohawk without glue, but I think it's a good idea to fold it in half then glue it together. But this is your world, so you do what you want.
Short and sweet. Literally. I got more editing to do. Take care!
Just because you plan to post every day doesn't mean you always get to. But I will keep on trying! So after a couple of very busy days I have returned with another old model, Gloomy Bear. This model is based on the ultra-cute, ultra-violent character by artist Mori Chack, whom I adore. The actual one is more curvy than my rendition, as you can probably imagine, but if you are tired of imagining, go check out Mori Chack's official site and see for yourself. Here's the link"
I didn't bother updating the links on this template, so I hope no one gets lost. Anyway, I am still trying to cobble together my first episode of Boxpunx TV. I have done a lot, but I still have a bit more to do. It's definitely taking longer than I expected. But we're almost there. Maybe this weekend, maybe not. I need to be careful making promises because I am not very good at keeping them! I am just too scatterbrained. *sigh*
I guess I better get back to work then. Thanks for visiting!
Here's another model made a million years ago, Sir Lemicent, the Rabbit Knight. The template was designed by Eric Wirianata, aka Thunderpanda aka The Space Wanderer. I couldn't find a website for Eric, and sadly the one on the template seems to be down. I did find his Instagram page, so if you want to see some of his stuff, go check it out!
I am still hard at work editing the how-to video. So far it looks okay, but it is taking longer than I thought to do, if for no other reason than I can't stop messing with it! Hopefully once I crank this first one out, the subsequent videos will be easier because I'll sort of know what I am doing. At least I hope I do by then, but slowly and surely I am figuring it all out. And I keep having new ideas for stuff to throw in. So who knows how long it will take. I am just going to work on it until it's pretty cool looking.
As a matter of fact, I think I am going to go work on it right now. Take care! Hopefully I will be back tomorrow with something else.
I just noticed the new album by Father John Misty is up on YouTube. Let's go listen to it together.^^
Yesterday was just too busy of a day so to make up for not posting anything I'll post four models today! These guys use Chris Beaumont's lovely Cubeecraft template, and were created to show off my love for two game series, Bonk and Bomberman. Bonk appeared first on the Turbographx-16 and later on the Super Nintendo and Game Boy. Bomberman has appeared everywhere and on every system.
One of the very bad things about having a website go down and then starting over with a new one is none of the links back to your site from other people's blogs and things don't work anymore. So I plan to try to upload all the collaborations I have done over the years so anyone who is looking for them will now be able to find them.
I am in the process of editing my how-to video, so I am going to keep this post's word count low. Here is a video by the guys at Game Sack talking about the Turbographx-16 video game system.
Another old Series One model, I call her Sunshine. I think it is pretty obvious why. Isn't she delightful? I have a bunch of free time over the next 48 hours, so I am going to try to get as much done on the first video as possible. So I haven't put any thought into this post other than picking the model. What can I say about this one? I wanted to make something very orange. The front says "I love Life" and the back says "But I Hate Your Music". I like that because it can be interpreted in a variety of ways. Kind of like the tongue sticking out. Really it means whatever you want it to mean.
Maybe that sounds silly, and an easy way to get out of explaining anything, but I really like the idea of a symbol that doesn't necessarily have a single meaning. I have certainly assigned a few meanings to it over the years though. At first I thought it helped the name make more sense, as in they are all punks, sticking their tongues out and being rude, like punks might be. Then I thought they were sticking their tongues out at the mainstream, avoiding the system, and spreading through attitude alone, hehe, like punks might do. Eventually I came to look at it as my signature, a way of signing art without using my name, because when a transcendent perspective occurs to you, why not make it your own?
Anyway, blah blah blah. I need to go film something. Like I said, I have a bunch of free time ahead of me and I should probably use it wisely. I'll still try and post a new model tomorrow, so maybe I'll see you then.
This model is called Rainbow. Pretty clever huh? This model was made way back when I did Series One. I have been editing all of these templates to have this website address instead of my previous one. I may even add a bit more instruction where I thought it could be useful. Only once or twice did I have a font issue, since my installed font list has changed dramatically since the creation of many of these models. Typically I would vectorize any type to avoid this, but there were times when I did not!
Anyway, the temptation to change colors or symbols or add something new is with me constantly. Ideas like changing the color palette but not the design arise. But I resist the urge and leave everything alone. And I started thinking, if I was going to change anything, what would I improve about the template? I have already improved it once - simplified really - and now having built a few of the old ones and a few of the new ones I feel like the old version is the better, sturdier model. The only reason I changed it in the first place was because I started receiving emails asking me how to fold the legs. I did figure out a way to make them easier to build but lost a bit of the cleverness of the original in the process. Oh well.
Last night I made a list of models worth making how-to videos about. Once I got to a dozen possible ideas I stopped. So I am going to try and make twelve videos, each one building something fairly different. As much as I would love to fill them with humor and nerd talk, I will probably be focusing on the models, because that's what people come here for, right? Or is it for the little video I add at the end of every blog post for whatever reason?
This is my little Isis idol, with a cute little drawing of Osiris on her skirt. I made this so long ago I almost forgot why I even started doing an Egyptian theme in the first place. That's not true. At the time I was reading books about mythology, and I was inspired after reading some of the Egyptian stories, such as the one about Isis and Osiris. And their son Horus, and some wicked dude named Set. And of course, as I have already posted, Anubis is in there too. I admit to not drawing the version of Anubis on the back of her skirt. It was done by some ancient guy whose name I'll never know - but wish I did because that is a pretty cool body wrap.
I guess I just really wanted to use some hieroglyphics on some models. I don't know what any of it says but I think it looks amazing. If you do try to build this model, I apologize in advance for the arms. They are a bit tricky to force through the slots on each side of the model, but with a strong will and adequate pressure you should be able to make it through!
Good luck!
Here's the trailer for this movie I watched on YouTube last night. It's called "The Legend of Sirius", an animated movie from 1981 by Sanrio. And no, this has nothing to do with Hello Kitty.
Here is yet another Egyptian themed model, the Boxpunx Obelisk. Most of my models have been given away to people or left behind in various places, but I still had this one, so I brought it outside earlier and took a few pictures of it. This model should be incredibly simple to build. I doubt I will be making a video for it.
Speaking of videos, as soon as I get this post done, I plan to start filming my first how-to video. I imagine the first one will turn out ridiculous, so I may have to make a few before I get it right, or to my liking, but I am shooting (no pun intended!) for Friday. And if I finish it sooner, I will post it sooner! So, let's not delay any longer. Take care, and come back tomorrow for the last of the four Series X models. The final one is the best one, at least in my opinion.
Here's another one of those final four models I was talking about yesterday. I called this one the Third Eye Pyramid. Sometimes you just have to name a thing then move on. What's an Egyptian themed series without a pyramid? Well, here's my version of such a thing. It should be pretty easy to assemble without detailed instructions. Just remember to cut the tongue out so it can loop around and shoot out of the mouth. But if this isn't your first Boxpunx, then you probably knew that already!
The long strips you see on either side of the main model comprise the base. Glue the smaller piece to the longer piece so that you have a solid square. Then insert the base into the three slots on the bottom of the main model, with the stripes facing forward. And the back of the wings should glue to the front of the wings, making them double-sided. Hopefully that wasn't too confusing!
I plan to start filming my first "how-to" tomorrow. If it turns out well, I should have a video ready to post by the weekend. But for now I think I am going to go play something. It's been yet another long day and I need to unwind! Take care and thanks for visiting!
I adore Mates of State. This is a Daniel Johnston cover called "True Love Will Find You in the End". I hope they are right.^^
Just before my previous site burned down, I started making some Series Ten models. There were only four models made, all of which had an Egyptian theme. Will I ever return to this series? I doubt it. I think they're fine just how they are. Plus the ideas I had then don't seem quite as exciting now. The four I made were the best ideas. Honestly I don't think I will do any more series. I will probably just do individual models that stand alone. The plan is to make more intricate models so I have a reason to make the how-to videos!
Then again things change, and anything could happen. If a good idea emerges and that means making a series, then so be it. I just want to avoid anymore false starts, because I have certainly got off to a few (ie. Heavy Paper zine, *hangs head in shame*). Ultimately this is why I took such a long break. I needed to truly clear the mind and get a fresh perspective and all that.
A couple of things about this model: fold the tongue inside and push through the slit just below the closed eye in the pyramid. Also, the part at the top of the template is his head dress. This part is optional, but I think he looks better with it. Just glue the side pieces that look like wings to the white rounded tabs, fold down the triangular piece at the bottom of the ankh, then glue the whole piece to the the top of the head. Does that make any sense? I hope so!
I have been playing a really fun Nintendo DS game called Fantasy Life. It's like a mini-MMORPG on the go. It was made by Level 5, a company I am rather fond of, and even though it is pretty dang cutesy in its presentation, overall it looks good, and is enjoyable and engrossing. If you are an RPG fan, like me, you'll dig it. Here's a trailer.
Finally I have returned after a small break, and I have brought a new camera with me! I won't reveal what kind I got, because I would rather not hear any negative opinions about it, hehe, just in case there are any. Plus the camera was a gift from my father, so it is better than what I had before which is nothing! Thanks again Dad! Previously I would have to enlist the help of a friend to take any pictures of my toys. Not anymore!
As far as I can tell, it works very well. It takes really nice still images and also records video. The pictures you see here were all taken with it. Click on them to see bigger brighter versions. Although it took a couple of days to figure out how to properly operate it, I think I am getting some great results. I have barely experimented with the video, but over the next 48 hours I plan to dig in a bit deeper.
So... I have plenty of ink for the printer, a huge stack of quality paper, and a head full of ideas. I hope everyone enjoyed the Best of Boxpunx. Over the next week I plan to continue rehashing while I try to assemble the first Boxpunx TV episode. I have all the tools I need, I just need to start filming. Expect it to take a few minutes to complete but I will still try to post something daily between now and then so come back occasionally!
Here's the templates for these two models, in case someone out there likes Pulp or Elastica as much as I do.
A video for the new Persona game was released yesterday. Of course we all hoped it would look cool, but I doubt anyone expected it to look quite this cool. Take a look if you're just the least bit curious. It's short, but sweeeeeet.
