Cicada Simulation

Spring is in the air, and it reminded me of the cicadas we played with as children, so I made a replica.

You will need string, glue, and a pen with a resin or silicone casing. I used a Xiaomi pen; there's a picture at the end that you can use as a reference to find one—it makes the sound much more realistic.

If you can't find a suitable pen, you can simply print a rod and use it as a substitute; it will still produce a sound.

Feel free to choose your own color scheme; mine didn't photograph quite as well as I had hoped.

After printing, the first step is to cut the ends of the string at an angle to make it easier to thread.

The second step is to thread the string through the hole from the outside, then wrap it around the rod and thread it back through.

The third step is to tie a knot on the outside.

The fourth step is to attach the head ring, eyes, and wings.

The fifth step is to secure the string to the pen or rod. It is best to use a pen like the one pictured below; the sound is louder and more realistic. Alternatively, you can use the printed rod.

Note: The string should not be tied too tightly or too loosely. It needs to be just right so that it can rotate around the rod. The string rotates around the rod; it doesn't get shorter after being tied tightly. Be sure to get it just right.