The Origami Forum

I'm attempting to make Satoshi Kamiya's Bahamut (Divine Dragon), and I would like to know if wrapping paper with a cardboard-like feel will do well for wet folding. If not, which type of paper is best for making it if I decide to wet fold?

Thanks in advance,
AquaDragon

Probably not. You're gonna want something strong, thin, and good at holding form. Large Japanese foil or tissue-foil is good for a first try. Also, double MC tissue paper works really well. (Search the forum for information about that)

I would advice dry folding it then at the very end wet it some just to do the final shaping.

Foxglove couldn't have said it any better. The point where you decide when to wet fold or when to dry fold is the challenge of creating an origami piece of art. I would say dryfold the base. If you wet fold as you fold the base creases then the paper will expand and any creases you make will be inaccurate when the paper dries and gets smaller. So dryfold and then wetfold the last details and shaping. Good luck

Don't wet fold models that take that long to complete! It would be a pain, trust me! After you finish it, you can use MC or even wet fold the details, like Foxglove said...

All of these are great suggestions. Thanks!

P.S.: What's MC?

MC is methyl cellulose. It can be applied to the surface of paper to make it more rigid, promote fiber to fiber bonding, and make it easier to shape or mold. Wikipedia has more about it, and there is info on Lang's page.

Folding Bahamut can easily ripped papers or even foils. I tried so hard not to ripped and I found that sticking tape at the point that you think that that point would be ripped before you fold it then, you carefully pull if off.
Also, wet-folding will not be good on folding this model.

In my opinion, I prefer this model angular and polygnal, non-wet-folded. I think softening it makes it look less menacing.

I agree, so.

But what if you want a cute widdle fluffy dragon?
You know ... pink paper, lots of glitter...

Just kidding.

I would have to say no to wet-folding this m0del, JeossMayhem said it best: taking away the angular look would make it less menacing and "dragon like". Save the wet-folding for other types of m0dels, such as insects.

Surreal wrote:Save the wet-folding for other types of m0dels, such as insects.

Insects aren't good for wet-folding either. They are great for dry-folding, wet-shaping though.

Elephants, bears, the bodies of deer, birds, etc. are good for wet-folding.

Exactly. Fish, birds, bears, deers and most mammals have rounded, lyrical, and curved shapes. Insects have an interesting combo. I would say that insects should be both wet and dry folded. For example if I'm folding a cicada I would dry fold the long thin appendages but I would wet fold the round eyes and the curved wings. Just use your own common sense. If your folding a hard gnarly scorpion should you really wet fold it? Not really. If your folding Bahamut would I wet fold the majority of it? No I might wet fold the curled toenails and the horns but not so much the chest and the harms and the thorny tail.

When I folded this model for the first time, I used dry fold and the toes seem to be thick. So, for the second time, I use the same wrapped paper but before finishing the model, I mixed water and glue (ratio 5:1) and I received a liquid that can be used for wet fold and the model looks better.