paperPino — paper automata & more

The Rolling Reels Circus (2005)

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Giuseppe (Pino) Civitarese

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The Rolling Reels Circus — Il Circo dei Rocchetti Rotolanti — is one of my early paper automata. The idea is very simple: a set of reels rolls and moves through a simple play of balance and gravity.

It was designed in 2005 as a playful object rather than a realistic model. The mechanism remains visible and deliberately elementary: the paper construction, the motion and the slightly absurd circus atmosphere are all part of the same little machine.

The model is intended to be printed, cut and assembled from cardstock. Once built, it works as a compact mechanical toy: a small paper performance activated by hand.

“This is the perfect thing to have at work for when I need a ‘mental health moment’.”
Tom Mitchell

Thank you, michael42er!

Download The Rolling Reels Circus
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Technical data

MechanismCamshaft with seven cams
Number of pieces57 + some reels
Dimensions20 × 8 × 25 cm
Paper160 gsm; 0.22 mm thick
Difficulty (1–5)4

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Comments

  1. Cathe Avatar
    Cathe

    Beste Paperpino,

    Ik heb de Rolling Reels acht jaar geleden gemaakt en hij werkt nog steeds. Zelfs al die kinderhanden die hem hebben bediend, blijft hij mooi. Ik ben je er zeer dankbaar voor. Als ik er naar kijk word ik altijd vrolijk en kan het niet laten om hem te laten bewegen. XXX

    Reply
    1. paperpino Avatar
      paperpino

      Thank you!

      Reply
  2. PIERRE SAYER Avatar
    PIERRE SAYER

    I bring this wonderful automaton to Madagascar where many children have never seen toys but when it is so important, as everywhere, to marvel to build his life! THANKS, MANY THANKS!

    Reply
  3. mihail Avatar
    mihail

    Thanks for sharing is amazing i will try to make it with wood i
    like very much automata thanks again

    Reply
  4. Christopher Busta-Peck Avatar
    Christopher Busta-Peck

    I enjoy this design so much that I made a giant version for the public library where I work as a children’s librarian. The kids that I serve love it.

    I hope you don’t mind that I made some alterations to your design.

    I’m still working out some issues, but it is fully functional at this point.

    The driveshaft has been extended so that we can put other types of gears on it in the future, with various little automata, as part of the learning process.

    Here’s a video of it:
    https://youtu.be/-PcHVFXaWhE

    Reply
    1. paperpino Avatar
      paperpino

      Fantastic! Wonderful!
      I will post your movie soonly!
      Thanks a lot!

      Reply
  5. Omar Avatar
    Omar

    Muchas gracias por este maravilloso modelo !

    Reply
  6. himalay bambhaniya Avatar
    himalay bambhaniya

    very good craft work with printable templates that can be made when someone is bored

    Reply
  7. mariano Avatar
    mariano

    Thank you very much.
    It would be a great craftily for my kids.

    Reply
  8. Maryluz Álvarez Avatar
    Maryluz Álvarez

    Beautiful.
    Love your work, I wish I can do some of your automates!!!

    Thankyou for creating this amazing objects.

    Reply
  9. Mélu Avatar
    Mélu

    Hello,

    Thanks for sharing your work. This is amazing. I can’t wait to do mine ;)!

    Bye

    Reply
  10. Alisa Shea Avatar
    Alisa Shea

    I just love your models. Thank you so much for sharing. Alisa

    Reply
  11. Kent Avatar
    Kent

    Hi Paperpino,
    Just try to contact you that I have written an article at my site (www.paperartmaster.com) to promote The Rolling Reels Circus and wanted to thank you for the generous and fun sharing.

    Kent

    Reply
    1. paperpino Avatar
      paperpino

      Thank you Kent for your positive review.
      And congratulation for your nice and very informative website.

      Ciao,
      PINO

      Reply
  12. Danny Mosquito Avatar
    Danny Mosquito

    Hi….

    Just like to say a big thanks for the great effort in making the instructions for the circus. Just finished building it and it works a treat.
    Just a couple of things I found for other people making this:
    – Rice works well for weighing down the lifters.
    – Try adding a ‘Z’ support inside the cam to give it more strength, similar to how the crank or handle is made.
    – Don’t use too much glue! Aside from taking ages to dry it weakens and distorts the paper.

    Thanks again for the wonderful instructions and keep the creations coming….

    Danny 🙂

    Reply
  13. Tamara Monteau Avatar
    Tamara Monteau

    Talented sir,

    I first learned of papercraft when I purchased a new Canon printer and was directed to Canon’s Creative Park. I quickly built a wonderful collection of patterns, and when I created the Dancing Santa, my husband’s eyes lit up. He thinks these are the cleverest things he’s ever seen.

    so….

    I built your circus model. It was quite a challenge, and I’m still trying to tweak the lifters, since it didn’t “quite” come out right. Maybe I’ll try again. I had to print several pages more than once because your instructions are not quite as complete as the patterns I found on Canon’s site, but I finally managed to get it together.

    I’m still new to this papercraft hobby, and anxiously await your next beautiful creation.

    Thank you so much for sharing!

    Tamara Monteau
    Haven’s Realm

    Reply
  14. michael42er Avatar
    michael42er

    Hello Paperpino,
    I’ve only now discovered to post comments here. First I would like to thank, for creating this unique models. The opportunity for free download is unique. It has me a lot of fun preparing your models to build. After referring to my video on Youtube, interest has skyrocketed. I wish you moreover good ideas.

    Michael alais michael42er

    Reply
  15. Brian Day Avatar
    Brian Day

    I wanted to thank you for your great models. I’m building the rolling circus and have reached the point of building the ramps which are challenging. I’m redoing the curved sections as I ran into issues with getting the curve right. I’ll get it yet. I just downloaded the Flying Santa so I may try that once the circus is done. Thanks again. Merry Christmas! Brian

    Reply
  16. Paper Model Avatar
    Paper Model

    Thank for paper model.I like The Rolling Reels Circus.

    Reply
  17. Trần Phúc Lộc Avatar
    Trần Phúc Lộc

    Hi Paperino ,
    I appreciate your work so much ! I want to ask you a favor , Can you please give me the download link for the fly santa which is not available on your page anymore . Ỉ really need it , Thank you !

    Wish you a happy holiday !

    Reply
    1. paperpino Avatar
      paperpino

      Done!
      Go to the Flying Santa page…

      Reply
  18. Patrick Avatar
    Patrick

    Thanks for making this paper toy for the public, will sure make it cos when my son saw it, he just love it.

    Thanks

    Reply

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