Origami Daleks instructions
Origami Daleks, the title of this illo is in a font used to indicate ‘Japanese’ without actually having any reference to any Japanese font (typical of Ian Gunn’s era).
If I read these origami daleks correctly, there are some large pieces that are supposed to be cut out and smaller images that are part of the instructions. The text reads:
- Color your dalek with pretty colors (not a thing on Doctor Who in Ian’s day but it became a thing within ten years of his passing).
- Cut out along thick lines.
- Curve body around and glue or tape tab A to inside of body.
- Fold top of head slightly along slot to make head conical. Glue or tape.
- Curve neck around. Attach tabs B + C to head. Attach tab D to other end of neck.
- Insert short pieces of straws (not included) in slots in front of body and head. Attach eyeball and suction cup to end of straws.
A few of these would make a respectable paper dalek battalion.
The backstory behind these silly illos
Ian Gunn, creator of these silly illos (illustrations), was an award-winning artist based in Melbourne, Australia. Cancer took him too soon. But his legacy includes numerous illustrations for zines, books and even school textbooks.
We’ve published a veritable museum of Ian’s Silly Illos here. Many of these illustrations are available for sale.
Victoria’s science fiction convention, Continuum, occasionally presents the Ian Gunn Memorial Award recognising the ‘unsung heroes’ of fandom. Recipients work in obscurity for years without recognition. This award commemorates Ian’s selfless efforts to reach out to others, encouraging others and thereby building the science fiction community.
K’rin Pender-Gunn, Ian’s widow, gave Dark Matter Zine permission to republish Ian’s artwork. Thanks, K’rin!
