On my regular check of Cardmodels.net I found a tip by Gil Russel on a Japanese website on how to make spoked wheels.
That was fascinating in its own right. But it turned even better when I ran the site through Babelfish to get a rough translation into English. Then I discovered that this is part of a three-page tutorial on how to make a complete bicycle in paper, from scratch! The scale, judging from the measured wheel size in one of the photos, is ca 1:25.
So, here we go, introducing this Japanese master and his work:
The craftsman at work is K. Hayashi, and you will find his portal page here (all links refer to Babelfished translations into English).
Clicking on the image of the bycycle takes you to the introductory page for that project:
[Blocked Image: http://studio-gimbals.hp.infoseek.co.jp/making/p-2-10.jpg]
The first real page is all about making the spoked wheels, completely in paper:
[Blocked Image: http://studio-gimbals.hp.infoseek.co.jp/making/p-01.jpg]
Next, we proceed to the making of the frame, forks, etc., often with special jigs:
[Blocked Image: http://studio-gimbals.hp.infoseek.co.jp/making/p-2-05.jpg]
Ending up with the finishing parts, like the saddle:
[Blocked Image: http://studio-gimbals.hp.infoseek.co.jp/making/p3-06.jpg]
Go have a look for yourself. I guarantee that you will be both inspired and awed. What a long way most of us have to achieve this kind of patience and perfection!
Leif