90 units, or How Not to Make an Origami Model

I should subtitle this: Do not attempt to do this the way that I did it.

At least, please heed the advice of those who say not to attempt to assemble a 90 unit dodecahedron in two 45 unit parts. This was a real learning experience for me.

Good thing the battle scars are not too visible in this picture. It's not pretty! There are damaged units and glue spots.

I learned:

-listen to all of the modular origami experts, and assemble this in one piece, not two halves. It is really, really hard to get the two halves together. It ended with my building a construction stand out of a giant spool, a wooden block, a Styrofoam ball, poster putty, and a dowel. You know it's gotten out of hand when the cashier at the craft store says, "This is the oddest combination of items I've ever seen!" Yes, it is.

-don't use gift wrap for something this massive. It will begin to collapse. I had to use the aforementioned Styrofoam ball as an internal structural support.

- I am probably the hardest-headed person on the planet for not throwing the entire thing in the trash as I fought with this for months.

So... I post this as a warning. If you make a 90 unit model, don't be tempted to make two 45 unit halves, thinking that you can easily fit them together. It will be a nightmare. Use heavy paper. And remember that origami is usually relaxing. If you are ready to throw your model out the window, something has gone horribly wrong! I think my next project will be a nice, 6 unit cube!

And now, I can get back to painting!