To hold sections together during assembly.
This is a repetitive but zen-like process. Creators on TikTok often show the satisfaction of "clicking" these scales into place.
Start from the tail end or the neck end and collapse one row of scales at a time. origami ryujin 3.5 tutorial
Thicker paper will make the scales impossible to fold near the tail.
The defining feature of the Ryujin 3.5 is the scaled underbelly. This is the hurdle where most folders quit. The tutorial will ask you to perform hundreds of "reverse swing folds" or "open unsink" maneuvers. To hold sections together during assembly
The foundation of the Ryujin 3.5 is a flawless grid. Every single element of the dragon relies on the intersections of these grid lines. Division Method
The tail is often one of the first components to be folded from the CP because it is a long, straight, box-pleated strip. Similarly, folding a single leg and foot in isolation will teach you the pleat structures used throughout the model. Start from the tail end or the neck
Once every crease is made, the paper is collapsed into its final 3D form. This step is often described as "4D chess" with paper.
A millimeter deviation at the edge translates to a ruined head or torn scales at the center.
This is where you will move to your massive sheet (the one you prepared with the grid and pre-creased). The goal is to collapse the entire CP at once. Do not expect it to go smoothly.