Checks and Balances

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This model represents the concept of checks and balances by means of a rebus.

The checks are derived from the rays of Sol. There are other interesting ways in which this gadget can be arranged to form new patterns. The balances are based on the 2:1/2:1/3:1 triangle twists found in Woven Triangles variants, partially covered by pleats in the upper layer.

Due to time constraints, I folded this model from a whole grid rather than cleanly. I was quite surprised how difficult it was to collapse. Molecules located near the edges could be folded easily and relatively easily combined with other molecules. Those in the center of the sheet, however, required a lot of effort, and it took me lots of time and multiple attempts before I came up with a folding sequence that I could repeatedly apply without wrinkling the paper too much.