sea horse by hideo komatsu (cp)

[akugami]

finally i've managed to fold the base of this cute model, but still i have no idea what to do next. is the base folded correctly in this way?

[Falcifer]

As far as I can tell, yes it is. Though, it's inside-out. That was one of the issues I had to begin with; the head is facing the wrong way...

Two things I have noticed with this model;

1. The head can be folded two different ways. One way is to twist the neck, which retains the single colour (when using duo-colour paper). The other involves a colour-change, but results in a cleaner model.

2. The arrangement of the folds near the fins needs some extra attention. The way that I fold the fins means that they get tucked beneath other layers. Sometimes, if you fold the layers wrong, it's not possible to fold the fins properly. Not the way I do it, anyway.

I actually emailed Hideo Komatsu yesterday, asking if it would be okay for me to make some diagrams for this. And I also made some photo diagrams (which will be used as the basis for the drawn diagrams). Unfortunately, I'm going out this afternoon, so I won't be able to be much help until later.

The tail is thinned with some easy folds (check the pictures for more detail). There's a crimp just under the point/corner of the "body". The fins are folded out, and then there's a swivel fold, I think. And another little fold to shape them, which can be seen more clearly on the pictures further down the page, on the yellow/white model.

The head is slightly trickier, but nothing too complex. You should pull out all the paper you can from the head, so that you can form the ears.

I'll post some pictures later. If you have any trouble, let me know and I'll try to help.

Maybe other people will help and you'll have solved it before I get back!

[akugami]

thank you, falcifer, for a little help so far and don't worry about your absence this afternoon. i hope you'll have a nice time!
i've finished my first two seahorses with your hints and another look onto the pictures posted by komatsu san in his blog/homepage. i can't believe it - my very first origami model folded just from its cp. there are still some differences to the original but i have to admit that i feel a little happy ...
i'll soon post a picture of the result.

[Falcifer]

Congratulations on your first crease pattern!

I'd like to see some pictures. I may be able to help with finishing those details.



This shows the side view of the base. The edges should be as shown. There's a chance that they might be tucked inside the model, in which case you should adjust the creases.

My fold:

[akugami]

now there are already three of those little sea horses but still it's not easy to get all the details right. a pictured or a drawn instruction by the more experienced could be very helpful to improve the quality of the result. here's a picture of my first (and third) try.

[Falcifer]

Aside from the neck (which looks the same as the neck on mine), it looks right.

Komatsu-san's green version looks to be a version with a twisted neck. I don't have a problem recreating that version.

The red version, though, is more troublesome. The head, I think, is more symmetrical. The neck is coming from the front, rather than the back like in ours. The problem I'm having is that for the "ears" (pectoral fins) there's a little bit of paper that's been pulled out from behind. I can get that in the twisted version, but trying to get it without twisting the head is awkward. I'll try today, using larger paper, to match the folds in the red model.

Are there any other details that you don't think are right? The head and body look just fine to me.

[akugami]

i think, with the third fold, i've got all the details right so far. according to the printed lines from the cp my seahorses would show the colorchanged head but that's no real problem.
you've already found a smooth or straight folding sequence for this model? i still depend on a printed pattern 'cause of being unable to find all necessary reference points ... do you know, if komatsu-san is going to publish a step-by-step diagram somewhere and somewhen?

[Falcifer]

I have found a folding sequence for the base, and some of the details. I tried, with no luck, to recreate the head/neck on the non-twisted version. I could not get the creases and folds to match at all. It's still the neck area that's the issue for me.

The twisted version, I have a sequence for. Also for the version I folded above.

Regarding diagrams, I have emailed Komatsu-san asking for permission to make my own, but I haven't yet heard anything back. Diagrams for his papillon (newest model before the seahorse) were published in an issue of Tanteidan and he has a book out next month (with a few previously unpublished diagrams), so I would be surprised if there weren't plans to release diagrams for this model.

However, judging from his blog, it's possible that Komatsu-san is still perfecting it before either publishing diagrams or drawing them. Though, that was a few months ago now.

The reference point is fairly simple (once you know what it is). Here's how I do it;

You repeat the horizontal creases vertically and that gives you the square in the center. I don't think you can find the tail creases from this, but I do have a sequence for that. I haven't diagrammed that far yet, though. I'm also hesistant to share any extended folding sequence(s) in case I am told not to do so.
I'll work on the tail references, though. That's as far as I'll go until I hear back from Komatsu-san.

I really hope there are diagrams eventually, just so that I can see how the neck has been done.

[akugami]

i'm not asking for inofficial diagrams with no permission by komatsu-san, so don't worry about that. unfortunately the seahorse will not be published in the book. its content you'll find right here: http://www.origamihouse.jp/book/origina ... ts_640.jpg
as a long term friend of his unique style i've posted my pre-order already - with or without a seahorse.

[Falcifer]

Yeah, I knew it wasn't in the book. I just meant that with him having the book out and other models being diagrammed, he's not as adverse to diagramming as some other designers.
Most of his published diagrams are in Tanteidan magazines or books, so it may show up in one at some point.

I'm also a fan of his style. Unfortunately, there is only the lion which I would be interested in; I have most of the other models in some other form. Aside from a couple of simpler models (which I have made from the CP), there's also Clown Mask 2 but I can't justify the cost (mainly the postage) for just a few new models. Eventually, I will, though.

Komatsu-san also has other models on another section of his site here. No crease patterns or anything (they are mostly ideas and studies), but there are some great models.

[Kafar]

click for hi-res

[Falcifer]

Thanks for that, Kafar!

I must confess, though, one of the reasons I don't do many crease patterns is because of all the pre-creasing. The sooner I can start folding a model, the better!