All models

How to fold an origami brachiosaurus

Fold a long sheet in half, reverse-fold both ends back and cut out four pillar legs, the back pair shorter. Swing the long neck up, bend the head forward and tip it so the back slopes.

You need: A 30 x 15 cm strip, blue on one side; scissors and a ruler. Hard, 15 steps, about 30 minutes.

Steps

  1. Fold in half. White side up, long sides at the top and bottom, fold the top edge down to the bottom edge. The fold at the top is the back.
  2. Crease the legs. Fold the left end over on an upright crease 7.4 cm from the left edge, and the right end behind on one 14.4 cm from the right edge.
  3. Open them. Unfold both ends again. The two creases mark the inside edges of the legs.
  4. Tail end back. Outside-reverse-fold the left end back over the body on an upright crease 5 cm from the left edge.
  5. Cut the tail. Cut up the left end fold, leaving 2 cm at the top. Trim the flap to a point: a slant from there to its far end on the top fold.
  6. Tail out. Outside-reverse-fold the tail strip out on a crease from its top corner, so the tail points back and a little down.
  7. Neck end back. Outside-reverse-fold the right end back over the body on an upright crease 12 cm from the right edge.
  8. Cut the neck. Cut up the right end fold, leaving 2.1 cm at the top. Trim the flap in a long slant to 1.4 cm deep at its far end.
  9. Round the head. Snip both corners off the tip of the neck strip, 5 mm each way, so the head will be rounded.
  10. Cut the legs. Cut up both leg creases to 4 cm below the top fold. Cut the belly between them in a shallow curve, 4.6 cm below the top in the middle.
  11. Shape the legs. Cut 1.5 cm off the bottom of the back legs. Slant the outside edge of each leg in 4 mm at the foot and the inside edge 3 mm.
  12. Neck up. Outside-reverse-fold the neck strip up on a crease from its bottom corner, so the long neck rises high above the body.
  13. Head back. Outside-reverse-fold the top of the neck back down along it, on a crease from the back edge 2.6 cm below the tip.
  14. Head forward. Outside-reverse-fold it out again from the same point, so the small head points forward and a little down.
  15. Stand it up. Tip it back until all four feet touch the table. The long front legs lift the shoulders, so the back slopes down to the tail.

So tall!

Draw a small eye on each side of the head. Stand it up and let it nibble leaves from the top of a tall plant.

What to fold next