<p>If you want to use the same mechanism as in the linked video, the key to that is small diameter rigid tubes with just enough clearance for the string/rope.  When the string is tight, it pulls the tubes together and aligns them to make a rigid structure.  When the string is loose, the weight and imbalance of the sections causes it to collapse to the extent allowed by the slack string (if the string is cut, it will completely collapse as long as the tubes don't naturally stack into a balanced, stable structure, and the string can freely slide inside the tubes).</p>
<p>You can make the frame/mechanism out of small diameter rigid PVC pipe or tubing. Build up the exterior with any suitable material, like paper mache.  Just keep the &quot;joints&quot; free to move.  For example, make the ends of the sculpted sections curved so the sections don't rest on each other in a stable way; only the tubing skeleton should have square ends so the pieces are stable when the string is tight.</p>
<p>Your idea with the torso hiding something else that falls out will be hard to do unless you have two independent control strings, and you release the torso first.  The structure strings will need to be tight, and will be under a lot of tension.  The sculpture will start to collapse as soon as that tension is released, so whatever is holding the torso closed would need to be released first.</p>
<p>You could do something like securing the sculpture strings with a release knot; separate strings in each leg could be tied to a common line that secures the sculpture upright.  Pulling another string would release the torso contents, then pull the release knot.  In practice, though, it will take a lot of force to release a knot under the kind of stress keeping the sculpture erect.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-06-06T15:10:27.450Z
Thank you for the answer. I like it. Also, thank you for the ideas to use plastic tubes and release knots.
Aleksa Topić
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-06-03T16:36:09.727Z
2022-06-03T16:36:09.727Z
fixer1234
<p>I'd look at paper lanterns and lampshades.</p>
<p>A classic paper lantern (as shown below) is simply a set of wire or bamboo rings glued to lightweight paper and arranged to create a sphere (oblong, rectangle) form when opened up. They don't self-support at all; I chose the specific photo below to show the inner wire frame holding the structure open. When that structure is removed, the lantern collapses back into a flat disk.</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/MR8bd.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/MR8bd.png" alt="enter image description here" /></a></p>
<p>A similar construction is this floor lamp with a paper shade from Ikea (discontinued); The lampshade is a spiral of wire covered in lightweight paper that is held open by gravity; the lamp frame extends to the top where the shade is fixed in place and allowed to fall open to cover the frame and bulb. If the shade is disconnected from the frame, it will collapse down to a flat disk, similar to the paper lantern.</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/hmydG.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/hmydG.png" alt="enter image description here" /></a></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-06-06T15:00:57.803Z
Thank you for the answer. How would I make those paper shapes? That paper reminds me of baking paper. So would I use some paper and glue it together to make a shape?
Aleksa Topić
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-06-06T20:14:27.357Z
It's more like tissue or rice paper, very lightweight. Find a paper lantern (they're very cheap and easy to get from party supply shops) to take a look at the construction first-hand.
Allison C
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-06-03T14:19:14.753Z
2022-06-03T14:19:14.753Z
Allison C
<p>I think you are looking for a collapsible <em>Transformer</em>.</p>
<p>You can get inspiration from a <strong>Cubebot</strong></p>
<blockquote>
<p>Cubebot® is a wooden toy robot inspired by Japanese Shinto Kumi-ki puzzles. Made from wood and elastic, Cubebot can be positioned to hold dozens of poses. When it's time to rest, Cubebot folds back into a perfect cube.</p>
</blockquote>
<p><sub><em><a href="https://www.areaware.com/collections/cubebot" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Source</a></em></sub></p>
<p>Something like this is easily achievable in cardboard.</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/rhSZL.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/rhSZL.png" alt="enter image description here" /></a></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-06-06T13:15:39.673Z
Nice plug for the toy... not so much actually helpful info or problem solving.
rebusB
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-06-06T15:01:55.297Z
Thank you for the idea. But I also need a string coming out of the culpture that can be cut.
Aleksa Topić
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-06-03T09:46:37.583Z
2022-06-03T19:30:59.487Z
2022-06-03T19:30:59.487Z
Danielillo
<p><strong>Question:</strong></p>
<p>I want to make a human-shaped sculpture, that will have string or rope coming out of it and that string will be tied to something, which will make that string tight and keep the sculpture in one piece. But when I cut the string, the sculpture will collapse. Ideally, the sculpture would be lifesized, could be smaller, but at least 1 meter high. It is not necessary to be able to reassemble the sculpture after it collapses.</p>
<p><strong>Other thoughts:</strong></p>
<p>These are the toys from which I got the idea: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bnoQUf6znE" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bnoQUf6znE</a>,
but the difference would be that I want to cut the string.</p>
<p>So I am thinking about which material, in my amateur home workshop, could I use. First I thought about wood, but then I thought that would be too heavy and expensive and hard to work with to make a human shape. Then I thought about plaster, but I am worried it might shatter when the sculpture collapses and it would leave a mess. I am now thinking of paper mache around some wires.</p>
<p>Also, I am thinking if this idea makes sense at all :) so if you have some tips, I am grateful to hear them.</p>
<p>A bonus would be if the torso would be hollow so that I could put another sculpture inside the big one so that it would fall out when the big sculpture falls apart.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-06-03T06:17:05.070Z
Hi Aleksa, welcome to Arts & Crafts! As written, I thought you were talking about suspending the sculpture with rope, but seeing the link, it seems you want to suspend a weight from the sculpture to keep it in place? Also, you don't actually name the material you're talking about :)
Joachim
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-06-06T14:51:20.473Z
@Joachim Hi, thank you for the welocming, edit and the comment :) Yes, as you said, I want to suspend weight. But I do not understand the last sentence. I should have named the material?
Aleksa Topić
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-06-06T15:00:27.423Z
You're welcome! You wrote "*I thought that would be too heavy and expensive and hard to work with to make a human shape*", but you don't mention that material by name.
Joachim
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-06-06T15:04:01.257Z
Ohhh. Thanks, probably got lost in some editing I did. I was thinking of wood.
Aleksa Topić
<material-selection><sculpture>
Collapsible sculpture
Aleksa Topić
# Collapsible sculpture

(Asked by: username_0 on 2022-06-02)

**Question:**

I want to make a human-shaped sculpture, that will have string or rope coming out of it and that string will be tied to something, which will make that string tight and keep the sculpture in one piece. But when I cut the string, the sculpture will collapse. Ideally, the sculpture would be lifesized, could be smaller, but at least 1 meter high. It is not necessary to be able to reassemble the sculpture after it collapses.

**Other thoughts:**

These are the toys from which I got the idea: <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bnoQUf6znE>,
but the difference would be that I want to cut the string.

So I am thinking about which material, in my amateur home workshop, could I use. First I thought about wood, but then I thought that would be too heavy and expensive and hard to work with to make a human shape. Then I thought about plaster, but I am worried it might shatter when the sculpture collapses and it would leave a mess. I am now thinking of paper mache around some wires.

Also, I am thinking if this idea makes sense at all :) so if you have some tips, I am grateful to hear them.

A bonus would be if the torso would be hollow so that I could put another sculpture inside the big one so that it would fall out when the big sculpture falls apart.

**Tags:** material-selection, sculpture

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Hi username_0, welcome to Arts & Crafts! As written, I thought you were talking about suspending the sculpture with rope, but seeing the link, it seems you want to suspend a weight from the sculpture to keep it in place? Also, you don't actually name the material you're talking about :)  
> **username_0**: @username_1 Hi, thank you for the welocming, edit and the comment :) Yes, as you said, I want to suspend weight. But I do not understand the last sentence. I should have named the material?  
> **username_1**: You're welcome! You wrote "*I thought that would be too heavy and expensive and hard to work with to make a human shape*", but you don't mention that material by name.  
> **username_0**: Ohhh. Thanks, probably got lost in some editing I did. I was thinking of wood.  

---

## 3 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2022-06-03. Score: 2 | Accepted answer

If you want to use the same mechanism as in the linked video, the key to that is small diameter rigid tubes with just enough clearance for the string/rope. When the string is tight, it pulls the tubes together and aligns them to make a rigid structure. When the string is loose, the weight and imbalance of the sections causes it to collapse to the extent allowed by the slack string (if the string is cut, it will completely collapse as long as the tubes don't naturally stack into a balanced, stable structure, and the string can freely slide inside the tubes).

You can make the frame/mechanism out of small diameter rigid PVC pipe or tubing. Build up the exterior with any suitable material, like paper mache. Just keep the "joints" free to move. For example, make the ends of the sculpted sections curved so the sections don't rest on each other in a stable way; only the tubing skeleton should have square ends so the pieces are stable when the string is tight.

Your idea with the torso hiding something else that falls out will be hard to do unless you have two independent control strings, and you release the torso first. The structure strings will need to be tight, and will be under a lot of tension. The sculpture will start to collapse as soon as that tension is released, so whatever is holding the torso closed would need to be released first.

You could do something like securing the sculpture strings with a release knot; separate strings in each leg could be tied to a common line that secures the sculpture upright. Pulling another string would release the torso contents, then pull the release knot. In practice, though, it will take a lot of force to release a knot under the kind of stress keeping the sculpture erect.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Thank you for the answer. I like it. Also, thank you for the ideas to use plastic tubes and release knots.  

---

### Answer by username_3 on 2022-06-03. Score: 0

I'd look at paper lanterns and lampshades.

A classic paper lantern (as shown below) is simply a set of wire or bamboo rings glued to lightweight paper and arranged to create a sphere (oblong, rectangle) form when opened up. They don't self-support at all; I chose the specific photo below to show the inner wire frame holding the structure open. When that structure is removed, the lantern collapses back into a flat disk.

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/MR8bd.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/MR8bd.png)

A similar construction is this floor lamp with a paper shade from Ikea (discontinued); The lampshade is a spiral of wire covered in lightweight paper that is held open by gravity; the lamp frame extends to the top where the shade is fixed in place and allowed to fall open to cover the frame and bulb. If the shade is disconnected from the frame, it will collapse down to a flat disk, similar to the paper lantern.

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/hmydG.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/hmydG.png)

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Thank you for the answer. How would I make those paper shapes? That paper reminds me of baking paper. So would I use some paper and glue it together to make a shape?  
> **username_3**: It's more like tissue or rice paper, very lightweight. Find a paper lantern (they're very cheap and easy to get from party supply shops) to take a look at the construction first-hand.  

---

### Answer by username_4 on 2022-06-03. Score: -1

I think you are looking for a collapsible *Transformer*.

You can get inspiration from a **Cubebot**

> Cubebot® is a wooden toy robot inspired by Japanese Shinto Kumi-ki puzzles. Made from wood and elastic, Cubebot can be positioned to hold dozens of poses. When it's time to rest, Cubebot folds back into a perfect cube.

*[Source](https://www.areaware.com/collections/cubebot)*

Something like this is easily achievable in cardboard.

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/rhSZL.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/rhSZL.png)

> **Comments:**
> **username_5**: Nice plug for the toy... not so much actually helpful info or problem solving.  
> **username_0**: Thank you for the idea. But I also need a string coming out of the culpture that can be cut.  

---

