The model requires paper that is extremely thin yet strong enough to withstand thousands of creases without tearing. Double Tissue
The base is done. You have a pile of white and red creases that looks vaguely like a dead squid. Now comes the art.
Before attempting the Ryujin 3.5, you must understand the scale and difficulty of the project. This is an extreme-level complex model. Satoshi Kamiya Crease Pattern (CP) Size: 96x96 grid
Your collapsed model will look like a giant, misshapen blob of paper layers—this is normal.
Once the crease pattern is fully collapsed, you will be left with a flat, highly compressed, semi-abstract dragon. The magic of the Ryujin 3.5 happens during the final shaping phase. Wire Reinforcement (Optional but Recommended) origami ryujin 3.5 tutorial
Insert a thick, fabric-wrapped aluminum wire through the central spine layer of the dragon before closing the body.
Once dry, the paper will harden like cardboard, locking your masterpiece into its final pose. Troubleshooting Common Mistakes
Shift your folding strategy to divide those segments into thirds, eventually landing on the exact
Band the scales tightly together along the spine to give the dragon a muscular, heavy appearance. The model requires paper that is extremely thin
: This requires a complex stretch-collapse maneuver. You will pull hidden layers of paper outward from the central mass to form the snout and jaw structure. 2. The Legs and Claws
The Ryujin is built on a grid. Before you do any "real" folding, you must spend dozens of hours pre-creasing.
: Fold the paper in half horizontally and vertically to find the center. The Sixteenths : Divide the paper into 16 equal grid lines.
Advanced tutorials like the Ryujin 3.5 Pre-crease Tutorial Part 5 walk you through the final creases needed for the bicep and head-neck connections before the collapse begins. 3. The Collapse: Bringing Form to the Flat Now comes the art
Folding the Ryujin 3.5 , designed by Satoshi Kamiya, is widely considered the ultimate test of an origami artist's skill and patience. Since no official step-by-step diagrams exist for the entire model, folders must rely on the Crease Pattern (CP) and community-made video tutorials. Tutorial Overview & Quality The most reputable guides, such as those by FearlessFlourish Daniel Brown
The model collapses into a long, thin strip. This step requires careful, intentional manipulation to align all pre-creased lines simultaneously. Stage 3: Forming the Body and Scales
The 3.5 is characterized by a "V" shape in the pleated structure, allowing for the characteristic flexibility of the body.