In progress. Paper is Lokta 90 grams, 84 cm x 84 cm, methyl cellulose and wet folded

Helmet and sword completed. At the same time, the horizontal pleats prepare the shapes for the fingers and armor.

I’ve enlarged the box pleating grid to allow for better proportions. Having already made one, the experience is quite helpful in making the second.

The first barbarian is completed.

I’ve now turned to making Gimli. I’m using the same style but here the initial square is smaller following the fashion of many of my characters. The idea of Gimli encouraged me to transform the second Barbarian (above) into Aragorn, the Lord of the Ring.

My first two characters suggest that I create the third member of the group, Legolas the Elf. After first trying some very complex patterns, I decided to represent only the parts of the body that actually appear. The initial square is articulated in a diagonal design pattern with the four corners becoming the head, bow, foot and cloak.

First attempts and sketches

The completed Lord of the Rings group:

I enjoyed the process of making the LOTR group and now inspired, I thought I would try to model a Viking based on what I had just learned. The initial conception took about 15-minutes and then I was able to calculate the exact proportion of the box pleating grid. The paper preparation would take a day for the methyl cellulose and grid pre-crease. I figured the folding process could take four or five days.

A first try for just the shield:

In progress. Because I’m improvising as I go, I’m really not sure at this point whether I will be producing a dwarf or a human with an axe or a sword.

Close to completion:

Head and helmet details. The horns of the second Barbarian become braids. The initial square is 1 sq. metre but the total height of these details is less than 10 cm (4 inches). Paper is Lokta 90 grams, methyl cellulose and wet folded.

The proportions aren’t quite right and the general look is cartoonish, so let’s make another model using this as a template.

Every model created on this page is fashioned from only

ONE UNCUT SQUARE of paper.

Final height is 35 cm (or 37 cm with wooden base.