[Tiresias]

I want to make a 3D skeleton model of this:

Pentakis dodecahedron - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Any advice?

I tried using thin wooden rods with a combination of pins, eyelets, wire and glue but some of the vertices have to connect 6 rods, and it was way too difficult.

I'm thinking about using copper wire and solder with a soldering iron.

Anyone having any experience with soldering? Is it possible?

[Railroader]

Soldering is probably the route I would go.

I would make as many of the triangles first and then assemble as needed.

[Tiresias]

Yeah. I've got the assembly steps sussed. It's just a dodecahedron with a pentagonal pyramid stuck on each of its 12 faces. My problem—and so far, it's been a big one—is with joining the bits up.

[residentEvil]

here are a couple more ideas:

Home > Polyhedral toy > Juno's Spinner-2

[Railroader]

Originally Posted by toothpick_charlie 

Yeah. I've got the assembly steps sussed. It's just a dodecahedron with a pentagonal pyramid stuck on each of its 12 faces. My problem—and so far, it's been a big one—is with joining the bits up.

You could take a cue from people who do stained glass work. Make a triangle that you could tape the rods to before you solder them together. After soldering you remove the triangle. Then your triangles would all be the same size.

A tip with soldering: less is better.

[alligator]

Toothpicks and marshmallows didn't work?

Have you tried clay and dowel rods?

How about balsa wood and super glue?

[awaspaas]

How about Magnetix or Geomag?

[G4ME]

try origami
Origami - Folding Instructions

might take you some time, but it will be way cooler then anything crated by wooden rods or anything else.