The Origami Forum

I am having trouble with Robert Lang's Praying Mantis (see title) at step 51. I can't figure out exactly how to sink it.


BTW, if you're asking, no I'm not a beginning folder.

Lol, "BTW, I'm not a beginner folder"...I like that. Well, I guess I kind of am a "beginner folder" but I would like to see how you're making this praying mantis. How many steps are there? Oh yeah, what kind of paper are you using?

Well, just plain old ordinary printer paper. Everything goes fine except step 51. All other steps are do able. 2nd attempt.

Yeah that is a tough one...If you open up the triangular point at the top, you should have a little preliminary base sticking up at the top-it is a basic open sink (like sinking the top of a preliminary fold down), but it is hard to open up/collapse the paper correctly. Good luck-I hope this helps! (and watch for tearing!)

That helped, but I can't figure out how to collapse it back.
Can someone post pics or something?

It collapses like an upside down preliminary base. Each of the 4 flaps of the mini-preliminary base goes in between the triangles that attach to it.

So do I crease a diagonal square at the top(unfolded) and go with that?

well, I answered a question in spanish forum a while ago about this figure (step 48 and the sink thing), maybe it could be of some help, I have some pictures on

http://picasaweb.google.com/jcortesm/Mantis

I'll write a proper answer tomorrow. Basically you have to unfold the whole head very carefully a lot of times to release trapped paper and collapsing it again.

greetings.

Thanks! Those pictures helped a lot! I'll try again in a little bit.

Edit: Thanks! Now I have finished it! thank's for your help! /

wellcome Random!

nice i didn't have to pass the pictures to imageshack

post a picture of your Mantis.

greetings

I will when I can, but I'm stupid and can't get it on the internet, let alone the forum.