Robert J. Lang - Praying Mantis

cybard · Post by **cybard** » March 27th, 2008, 8:28 pm

Thanks a lot. Your explaination is clear and i'll give a new try as soon as i can. There is no error and i sould have been more confident... thanks again. i will give the result soon.

cybard · Post by **cybard** » March 28th, 2008, 11:41 pm

Well, I've got to thank again Daydreamer for the clear explanation af this !!! sink. The photo helped a lot.

I've just folded a "training" mantis this evening, quickly, skiping all the steps related to the antennas. Despite this, it looks pretty. I've folded it with a sheer of Paper Tant Gobelin Green (13.7 x 13.7 inches). Thanks to Nicolas Terry... http://www.origami-shop.com/paper-tant- ... 5-699.html. Next time, i will try to foil the paper.

I'll post a photo af this mutant mantis as soon as possible...

Thanks again Daydreamer , an happy man is going to sleep now.

cybard · Post by **cybard** » April 14th, 2008, 2:41 pm

Here's a pic of the mutant mantis...

[img]http://imageshack-france.com/out.php/i57696_Mante.JPG[/img]

No antenas, the paper is to thick.

origamigod · Post by **origamigod** » April 14th, 2008, 8:07 pm

I don't really like that model I prefer the mantis that is in ORIGAMI INSECTS 2 HAS ANYBODY FOLDED THAT[img]http://blog.makezine.com/praying_mantis.jpg[/img]

eric_son · Post by **eric_son** » April 15th, 2008, 2:17 am

I have.

You'll need really, really thin and strong paper to fold this model.
The legs tend to accumulate a lot of layers.
I used foil backed rice paper.
By the time I got to folding the legs, my fingers got all sore. Hehehe.

Anyway, I like the mantis from OI2. It makes better use of paper than the one in Origami Insects and Kin. (I also hated the funky sink used to form the antennas... )

Froy · Post by **Froy** » April 19th, 2008, 4:37 am

To fold Lang's mantis and get good results, how
big the paper must to be?

I have tried it a few times and I always end in frustration due to the small size of the details.

eric_son · Post by **eric_son** » April 19th, 2008, 1:04 pm

Are you referring to the mantis in Origami Insects & Their Kin? If so, you can fold one from a square made from an A4 sheet.

As for the mantis from Origami Insects 2, I had to use a square made from an A3 sheet.

chesslo · Post by **chesslo** » April 20th, 2008, 8:15 am

origamigod wrote:I don't really like that model I prefer the mantis that is in ORIGAMI INSECTS 2 HAS ANYBODY FOLDED THAT...

Ah yes i have, this model is not my cup of tea because the legs are thick

eric_son · Post by **eric_son** » April 21st, 2008, 4:19 am

Use Rice paper or if you can't find any, Onionskin paper. (I can't try onionskin though... the onionskin paper sold here are all Letter/Legal/A4 sized -- too small.)

Also, I remember Robert Lang recommending really thin paper for this model since the hind legs do get thick as you finish folding the model.

I still prefer this over the older mantis. The older mantis spends a lot of folds making just the antenna. It's a clever demonstration though on how to produce flaps from the middle part of the paper.

cybard · Post by **cybard** » April 25th, 2008, 1:20 pm

That's it ! I've folded the mantis at last ! I used a square of 30 cm of craft (32 gr) backfoiled with tissue paper. Thanks again to everyone helped me with advices, pics...

By cybard, shot with E5600 at 2008-04-25

RamblerMann66 · Post by **RamblerMann66** » July 16th, 2008, 7:56 pm

ok im having trouble with the part where you split the middle point into 4 flaps. i can never make it through without ripping the paper! and hints or suggestions?

unknownfolder · Post by **unknownfolder** » July 16th, 2008, 11:31 pm

Paper quality plays a major role in a fold so complicated. Make sure you use paper that is thin and strong. I have trouble with that step also. I think it is because I use lack luster paper.

Jonnycakes · Post by **Jonnycakes** » July 17th, 2008, 1:38 am

I have done that kind of point split many times with kami, and most of the time it tears for me (if not all of the time). I have managed to minimize the tear with practice-it is a very hard fold to do. It may help to put a piece of tape on the point to strengthen it (on the underside of the paper of course). There are two main parts to getting the fold right: understanding how the paper should fall into place, and practicing it. Good luck!

pereze · Post by **pereze** » July 18th, 2008, 3:10 am

RamblerMann66: Have you considered trying to collapse this point split as if it were a crease pattern? It's possible to use Lang's diagrams to precrease the region. After this, open up the model and collapse it all at once.

bethnor · Post by **bethnor** » July 18th, 2008, 3:21 pm

have you actually done this and succeeded?

i tried it once. as i recall, it doesn't help that much, but i'm getting older and my memory isn't what it once was...

The Origami Forum

Robert J. Lang - Praying Mantis

Thanks a lot

Almost done...

The mutant mantis

Done it !