Hercules beetle, Robert J. Lang

October 17, 2009

This is a piece from Robert J Lang’s Insects and their kin, published way back in 1995.And this day I finally folded it, because I had promise a friend I would learn it.I’ve also attempted a few other origami pieces, such as the Wizard from Satoshi Kamiya(yes,its the same one from David’s blog). I did not succeed due to my paper size, I was using A4 squares but the size suggestion was 35x35 squares. The Wizard turned out disgustingly plump and was very difficult to shape even with wet folding.But I still have the crease pattern and I’m studying my mistakes.I also attempted the Robert Lang’s cicada, from the same book.The failure there was the bore factor of paper again, this time it was the wrong quality.The main problem was actually shaping the head,tendrils and antennae and because of my paper quality being too stiff or too soft often wore out the paper thus ruining the head.

Anyways heres some pictures of the completed Beetle.Its only my first attempt, and unlike the cicada it was much better.In fact its 85% identical to the picture in the diagram.Cheers mate!

the only thing i need to do to perfect this model is maybe a spray of water to shape up the horns and the legs, then 30 seconds in the microwave to make it permanent.

you may think I am suddenly adapting to origami out of the blue for whatever reason you may speculate,but (incase you think so)truthfully if i just started I never could have folded such a complex model, in fact origami folds like these are for the advanced folders.Like me =D.Amateurs would never understand a single word even in the instruction diagrams.

edit:

Here’s my second attempt of the beetle, and I made a showcase of a beetle duel with the two I made,and I already water sculpted both of them.Here’s a bit of general knowledge about horned beetles: Beetles are a fierce species, and a male beetle would fiercely fight to protect their mates or their small patch of territory from other invading males.Their sociality revolves around the concept of the survival of the fittest.In some species, many conflicts rage between the male folk and the female folk until one of each is left,thus ensuring reproduction by the strongest and fittest.But oddly though, after all that fighting they pair up for a very short time, in some cases several hours.They wrestle by locking their horns onto an opponent and attempt to flip each other.

(arrows indicate the speaking beetle)