Build a Tiny T-Rex

I decided, for no particular reason, to make a small kit of a dinosaur, and came up with a design* that ends up standing just over 40mm tall (about an inch and three-quarters).

This is how to assemble it.

Update: working on the theme, I have designed a whole herd of dinos (triceratops, ankylosaurus, stegosaurus) and a pterosaur. Kit versions of these will also be available soon.

My source material for Rex was a photo of somebody's 3d print, which did not have the varying thickness of my version, and was made of several parts balanced together. It turns out (thanks to commenters) that the original version came from Thingiverse:

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:929413

I have attached a copy of the file to this step, or you can buy a set from my Etsy store (LINK)

You will also need glue (I use PVA wood glue). To make things easier, you might find it handy to work in a tray (I use the lid from a shoe box, and maybe a pair of tweezers if you're a bit fumble-fingered.

If you cut your own parts, you'll find it easier to lift them from the cutter if you cover it in masking tape - if you order the parts from me, that's how they'll come.

Peel off the tape, and lay out the parts so that you know what goes where.

There are a total of 23 parts, that go together into five layers, with the "spine" part in the centre.

Glue on the first set of "ribs", and one side of the skull.

I have glued the whole thing in the photo, so that you can see where to glue, and how much you need, but that's just to save photos. It is easier to glue and attach each piece in turn, and press each piece firmly in place for a few seconds. The tip of the tail is probably the hardest part to keep in place at this stage.

Turn the spine over, and repeat the process for the other side.

Now leave the dinosaur "clamped" for a while - the easiest way is to leave it under a couple of books or a small box for half an hour.

Now you need to repeat the process with the last parts of the head (the parts with the teeth and eyes) and the legs.

Again, I've glued the whole thing for demonstration purposes, but you'll find it easier to glue and fix each piece in turn.

And, again, you'll need to leave the parts "clamped" under a weight for at least half an hour before you stand it up.

There you go!

Rex will stand anywhere you like, and join in with any of your games. He's not suitable for small children, but absolutely fine for kids of any other age...