Needles 'n' Knowledge: Dutch Windmill 3D Model

Bring an icon of the Netherlands countryside home

with miniaturized replica of

a classic rural power machine.

Dimensional model has eight-sided hull

with rim base, middle platform,

interior square support beams

(with 5/16" wooden dowels inside for strength),

shaped roof with corrugated accent overlay,

angled prop beams and layered blades (sails).

Hull, rim, platform and tail blade accents included

for decoration options.

Measures approx. 10" tall x 5.75" (without flywheel and sails).

ASSEMBLY: 1. Identify and cut the shapes:
A main hull shapes (2)
B hull accent shapes (8)
C post shapes (2)
D hull base shape
E rim shapes (2)
F platform G platform accents (8)
H platform support wedges (8)
I arch roof main section J opt. arch front overlays (2)
K corrugated roof panel
L direction cross beam arm,
tail fin build up shapes (8), and
accents (2)
M reinforcement (interior) collar
N optional rim accents (8; not used on this sample)

O flywheel arm half sections (8)

P dimensional sail arms (4)

Q sail paddle base shapes (4)

R sail front build up overlay shapes (96 + 24 face)

S sail back build up overlay shapes (36)

T flywheel pivot box U support strut

V flywheel arm brackets build up (2 sets of 5)

W hub front face (2)

X hub back layers (with cutout for brad prongs) 3)

2. Prepare the hull main shapes by bending

back on all panel, side flange, and bottom tab

perforation lines.

3. Position, adjust and attach the hull side straight
edge over the corresponding side flange tab
to complete the side seam.

4. Position accent shapes with even offset

at sides and top edge (bottom edge has wider

offset margin where base rim will cover),

and attach in place.

If preferred to accent panels shown above,
(8) accent rib shapes can be cut instead,
bent back along center perforation lines,
then positioned and attached at top of each panel
corner angle. (Wait to attach these until hull second
side seam is completed.)

5. Form the hull into a tube to bring together

straight side edge and flange edge, overlap

and complete second side seam.

6. Prepare the reinforcement collar shape

by bending side flanges forward.

7. Position the collar at bottom of hull, apply glue,
then carefully insert into the bottom opening . . .

. . . and slide upward into place until
flanges are approximately 1/4" above and
parallel to hull tab lines, and glue in place

8. Bend bottom hull tabs inward at
perpendicular angle.

9. Prepare rim shapes by bending back on

all panel, flange, side perforation lines,

bending inner tabs forward.

10. Position the two rim shapes side by side,
aligning panels, overlapping straight side edge
over corresponding tab to perf line, and
joining to complete first side seam.

11. Position base octagon shape edge segment #1

over first flange tab backside and adjust edge

to be along flange perforation line, base corners

to line up with ends of rim segment,

and glue in place.

To help understand how the rim shape will be formed,
this image shows how the rim segments
will eventually be "curled" inward with inner tabs
inserted into the corresponding slots cut in the base.
But for now, leave the rim segments "uncurled"
or open.

12. Continue to bend the rim shape around

the base octagon, aligning and gluing each

rim flange at corresponding base edge,

until the final segment remains.

Position the final segment while at the same time

inserting the side tab under the opposite straight

rim side edge, then glue both flange and tab

in place in one step.

13. Curl the first rim segment inward to

insert the tabs into corresponding slots in base.

On underside, bend tabs toward center

and glue in place on base.

14. Repeat the "curling" of rim segments
inward and into position, one by one,
first applying adhesive as described
in this image, until all segments have
been positioned.
NOTE: the final segment will be difficult
to tuck tab and overlapped rim corner;
wrap both ends as top layers.

15. Apply adhesive to the hull bottom tab

outward surfaces, then . . .

. . . insert the hull bottom edge into position
inside the rim of base assembly.
Apply pressure until joining is completed.

16. Prepare the platform shape by bending

inner tabs back, octagon wall panels forward,

outward wall faces back.

17. Bend 2 adjacent walls upward at perpendicular
angle to overlap short straight edge over
adjacent tab, and join seam.
Repeat for remaining 7 segment seams.

18. Bend each wall face downward to cover

joining seam tabs, and glue in position.

19. Position and attach optional face accents.

20. Apply glue to the inner tab faces, then . . .

. . . insert ring over the hull narrower top,
and slide down into position approx. 2"
above hull bottom edge. Hold in place
until securely attached to hull.

21. Prepare the platform support wedges

by bending back on both perf lines,

then forming the shape into a triangular tube,

overlapping the straight bottom edge over

the tab to perf line, and gluing in place.

22. Position and attach each wedge
in line with hull panels, joining under platform
with adhesive attaching top and back surfaces
to platform and hull.

23. Prepare the post shapes by bending back

on all panel and flange perforation lines.

24. Form the shape into a square tube to
bring the straight side edge over the opposite
long flange to perforation, then joining.
NOTE: it will be helpful to use the 5/16" dowel
as a form to wrap the shape around so that
pressure can be applied all along the post shape
during the gluing process.

25. Measure the dowel to post length (with bottom

tabs bent outward, dowel even with top edge,

and mark for cutting. Cut two dowel inserts,

then insert into post tubes and glue in place.

26. Insert the top end of post assembly

through the base post opening, through

corresponding cutout of collar, then fully in . . .

. . . so that post tabs are flush with base,

Glue tabs in place.

27. Place hull assembly flat on working surface,

adjust post position to be as perfectly

vertical and perpendicular as possible,

then glue in place to inner wall of hull panel.

Repeat for second post.

28. Prepare the direction cross beam shape

by bending back on all panels and flange tabs.

29. Form the beam into a tube to overlap
straight side edges over tabs to perf lines,
and glue in place.

30. Create the fin build up shapes by layering
the five build up shapes with edges and punch holes
carefully aligned, then glue layers together.
Create two fin build up shapes.

NOTE: for fin and other built-up shapes, it will

be helpful to use a flat weight to apply pressure

during the glue drying process, such as this

fabric-covered re-purposed free weight,

to help prevent warping and curling of the shape stack.

(Shape shown in this illustration image is for

the sail beam overlay.)

31. Position and attach accent shapes to each

fin unit.

32. Position each fin unit on back end of

cross beam, centered, with punch holes aligned,

and glue together surfaces that touch.

33. Slide the back post through the corresponding

cross beam opening (this will be a tight fit - use

blade tool if necessary to get post edges to clear)

with front post also inserted between cross beam

end tabs, then slide fully down so that

beam rests on top hull edge. Glue together

surfaces that touch.

34. Prepare the arch roof shape by bending

back on all segment panels, edge tabs,

and arch perf lines as shown.

35. Curl the center perforated panel to line up

end tab perf edge with arch edge segment

and glue in place. Adjust so that intermediate

edges and tab perf lines align, then glue each

in position. Repeat for second half of arch,

then for both halves of opposite side.

36. Position and attach reinforcing arch overlay

to each connected arch.

37. Prepare roof perforated panel by bending
and creasing first end perforation back
as "mountain" fold, second perf as "valley" fold,
then continuing to alternate across panel
until the corrugated form is completely folded.

39. Position corrugated panel at top of
arched roof unit, with first fold acting as a flange
which is wrapped over the arch roof edge.

Center and attach end flange to backside
of roof surface, then position (wrap) opposite end
at opposite roof edge in similar manner
and gluing end "flange" in place.
Adjust corrugation folds if necessary.

40. Position roof unit over top of posts,

centered, and glue top of posts to underside

of roof, and hold in place until secure.

41. Prepare bracket built up shapes by

stacking and gluing together two sets

of 5 squares.

42. Prepare flywheel arms build up by

positioning first arm half unit over backside

of a bracket built-up unit, using bracket guide

marks for arm edges, with punch dot cutout

edges also aligned, and glue together

surfaces that touch.

Position and attach second half

in same manner.

43. Position first half of second arm layer
over previous layers, with center seam running
in opposite direction across from first layer seam,
glue in place including length of arms.
Position and attach second half.
Repeat for remaining two build up layers,
rotating each pair so that center crossing
seams run in opposite direction from previous.
NOTE: use flat weights placed on arms
(past bracket thickness) as adhesive dries
to prevent warping and curling.

44. Position and attach second bracket unit

onto front of assembly, lining up punch hole

and both bracket edge positions.

45. Prepare dimensional arm shapes by

bending back on all perforation lines.

NOTE that the inward "bottom" edge of arm

includes a half circle notch for identification.

46. Form the shape into a triangular tube
to bring wider back panel edge to overlap
opposite flange tab to perf line . . .

. . . and glue in place.
Prepare 4 dimensional arms.

47. Identify the shapes to be used

for sail paddle beams and hub face..

For each R SHORT & S LONG beam,

layer 4 interior plus 1 accent face shape.

For hub face place, layer and join (2) X front

and (3) W back stacks, then layer stacks

to complete face plate unit.

48. Layer and join the short R shapes

to create 6 beams for each of 4 paddles (24 total)

Layer and join the long S shapes

to create 3 beams for each of 4 paddles (12 total).

Use flat weights to press during drying process.

49. Position short beam units over corresponding

areas of paddle base front, and . . .

. . . position long beam units over corresponding

areas of paddle base back. NOTE that

the wider vertical "space" of paddle back will

hold the dimensional arm, not a beam unit.

50. NOTE that the inward edge of each paddle
base shape includes the half circle notch
to identify positioning.

51. Position narrower face of dimensional beam

over the paddle back, in the corresponding open

place, with top edges aligned, and glue

together surfaces that touch.

Repeat for all four paddles.

52. Position an arm/paddle unit (notched edge
inward) over one arm extension of
flywheel assembly, inward paddle arm end
abutting bracket edge, and glue in place.
Repeat for remaining 3 paddle arm units.