The Monster-Dome!

Welcome to my project: The Monster Dome, a one-of-a-kind retro dome ready to be filled with color and joy

The Monster Dome is a foldable outdoor dome; its design is inspired by a well-known yellow video game character.

220g letter-size cardstock

Templates

Scissors

Glue

Cutter

transparent acetate film

Black Foam

Gold Paint

The design is inspired by the classic dome's spherical shape. The idea was to give it a fun and functional shape, and that shape was that of the Pac-Man character. So I decided to make the mouth the entrance to the dome, so it can be removed.

Below you will find the assembly process for the scale model of the dome. The actual size will depend on your needs and the materials available. My scale model is made of cardstock, so you will need to find the material that best suits your required dimensions, such as PVC sheets or wood panels.

I've included some of the uses you can give to the monster dome.

The size and use of the dome will depend on your requirements, perhaps for your pet, your children, or maybe even a hamster.

you can see some AI-generated examples in this step.

In the design, what I wanted to convey was the Pac-Man inspiration, but having to adjust it to the door turns it into a monstrous Pac-Man with all his teeth sticking out.

So I left some panels where there would be holes like vents and skylights, in this case forming the monster's eyes, but you can add or remove windows or vents to the dome in your design according to your needs; anyway, I've included skylight placement guidelines in the templates.

After the 3D design, you will need to transfer the model to paper. For this, you can use any application known for this process. Once transferred to paper, you will be able to make the physical assembly of pieces in 3 dimensions according to the instructions.

Here you can download the templates for the Monster Dome and then review step by step which one corresponds and guide you through the assembly.

For Scale:

Triangular panel line: 4.5 cm

For Pets: 24.5cms (Scale 1:5)

For Kids: 34.5cms (Scale 1:7)

For Big Kids: 44.5cms (Scale 1:10)

Print the templates on cardstock and cut out each piece separately, then detail the edges as you prefer with a cutter or scissors

In the templates you will find some specific points such as vents (circles) and windows (gray triangular panels)

It's up to you whether you want to add skylights to the dome structure, but I recommend only altering the indicated panels.

To add, use a pencil and mark according to the required measurements. Then cut the holes.

Do the same for all the pieces

Then, using an old pen, mark the lines to create the folds.

Now, use a straight edge to help you make the folds more perfect. In my case, I used popsicle sticks. Firmly place the stick where you want to fold it and use your hand to press down and form the fold.

Use another popsicle stick to make the folds of the tabs where the glue will be applied.

Repeat that process on all pieces

You will obtain the folds corresponding to the images in this step

After making all the folds, apply the glue to the corresponding tabs of each piece.

In this case, the central piece Number 1

Repeat with pieces 2, 3, 4, and 5.

then join them in the respective order: 1>2>3>4>5

Use glue and let it dry for each tab.

If you join them in numerical order you will get the top part of the dome; the door will be a separate, detachable piece.

After joining, for this step you should obtain something similar to this

clean the piece and selecting the correct paint color, apply it.

I only painted the top and inside of each piece, hiding the guide colors from the print.

Now use the transparent acetate sheet to make the dome protectors; in case of rain they can be essential. In the full-size version you can make them from transparent acrylic plexiglass and they can be removable.

Take a piece of paper and cut out a template to make all the windows; you can also use the leftover piece from the cut made in that area.

Make glass for the holes as many times as necessaryand attach them to the holes with tape; for the scaled size, you can use Velcro.

Here you can see a view of what the installed window looks like from the inside and outside

To join and adjust the door I used double-sided tape, but for the scaled size you can also use Velcro on each tab

I used black tape to outline the teeth of the dome monster (door), but you can paint it to scale according to your preference.

Here you can see how the Monster Dome looks like when it's finished.

and also how it looks with its respective door closed and open

Conclusion:

This dome is functional for any use and any space, whether it's to shield children from the sun while they play in the yard, or even for a large event like a wedding. It all depends on the scale you choose for the templates and the materials you use.

It's an attractive and elegant design that will give your yard an extra touch.

As I mentioned before, you can remove windows or even add them. You can also paint it however you like; you can customize the design from a Pac-Man monster to a unicorn, or simply experiment with colors.

Thanks for checking out my project.