I have a regular set of quick prototyping materials that include skewers, cardboard, duct tape, and hot glue. This is what my prototypes were made from. They didn't last long, but they didn't have to. I was able to wrap my brain around the project.

(Throughout the process, I shared my progress with the fine folks at CRASH Space. Somehow, the fact that this little first version was only about a third the size of the final thing escaped them, and by the time the 3-foot tall version started coming together, there was a lot of surprise.)