these were taken today under the carport..... not so blue.
the "wings" will be permanently attached later, I have found that
it is very convenient to have them removable at this point, so they
don't get damaged as I'm working on it
Good idea! Now on to the main problem and referring to
@zathros reply and the fiddly bits... ack!
If you are trying to roll paper tubes, it helps to have something that is round and is close to the final size to form it around. I know, I know, sounds obvious, doesn't it? Look around the house for things like large dowels, handles, toys, anything will work if it is the right shape and size. It doesn't have to be some specialized tool, just "borrow" something ( just don't let the wife catch you!!). When you start paper modeling, you'll start to see everything in your house or in the store as a tool.
Just make sure that the object that you are using as a former has a smooth outer surface unless you want to press a relief pattern into your model! It also helps to have a "Burnisher", which can be anything that has a very smooth surface, cuticle tools for fingernails are something I have found that work rather well. I am lucky and have several burnishers from my print-making days, but even a dowel sanded to a very smooth surface will work!
Start working from one side of the pattern to the other, using a dowel and burnisher to make VERY SLIGHT AND BARELY PERCEPTIBLE bends in the material as you go along. When you reach the other end of the pattern, start over, making more VERY SLIGHT bends around a small portion of the circumference of the dowel as you go along. Keep repeating this process to gradually introduce a curl into the material. Be patient and keep the bends very slight and gradual in order to avoid making longitudinal creases in the material. As you begin to form the cone, be sure to introduce a tighter curl as you get closer to the tip, in keeping with the desired shape of the eventual cone. If you can, try to eventually "over curl" the pattern (curling it into a tighter cone than you eventually want it to be), and hold it for several seconds, or even up to a minute. When you relax the material, it will hold the shape better and you will find it to be easier to bring the two sides of the seam together for gluing. Be careful to curl the pattern at the same rate from tip to base in order to prevent the material from getting creases that are perpendicular to the seam. Exercising patience, taking your time and making sure to be very gradual as you tighten the curl will also help to keep the material from puckering.
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