SnipFold

Folded Meadow Butterfly

Four lobes on two faceted wings rise from a triangular paper body, with two individually bent and splayed antennae.

Materials

  • 160-180 gsm paper, colored both sides
  • Scissors
  • PVA glue
  • Ruler
  • Blunt scoring tool
  • Protractor

Finished size: 106 x 72 x 35 mm approximately

Steps

CutValley foldMountain foldGlue area

  1. Calibrate, cut and score

    Print at actual size; confirm the ruler is 50 mm. Cut one of each of the five pieces. Score dashed lines lightly. Keep dotted glue zones intact. Transfer WL fold positions to its reverse before turning it over.

  2. Close the triangular body

    B is 33 x 48 mm. Across its 33 mm width, valley-fold at 10, 20 and 30 mm by 120 degrees from flat (60 degree internal corners). The first three 10 mm panels form an equilateral tube, 48 mm long and 8.66 mm high. Glue the final 3 mm lap inside the first panel with a full 3 mm overlap. Press along the open ends and let set 10 minutes. Use the first panel as the bottom; leave both ends open.

  3. Shape the lobed wings

    Keep each 4 x 40 mm root tab flat. WR has printed face up; turn WL over. Lift the broad wing 25 degrees above its tab about the root crease. At the two separated creases 28 mm outboard of the root, lift each outer lobe another 20 degrees, giving a 45 degree tip plane. These are gentle valley bends, not folds pressed closed. Do not cut across the notch or force a curve.

  4. Bond wings under the body

    Orient the larger lobes toward the front. Glue the TOP of each 4 x 40 mm wing tab to the underside of the 10 mm body bottom. Put each root crease exactly along its corresponding long body edge; tabs extend 4 mm inward, leaving a 2 mm center gap. Center the 40 mm tabs on the 48 mm body: 4 mm setback at both ends. Hold tabs flat while wings rise outward; let dry 15 minutes.

  5. Bend and fit antennae

    Each antenna is 2 x 26 mm. Keep its first 6 mm flat; valley-fold at 6 mm to lift the next 14 mm by 35 degrees. At 20 mm lift the last 6 mm another 35 degrees, to 70 degrees above the base. On the body underside place the center of each short starting edge 4 mm behind the front end and 1 mm right/left of the centerline. Splay each strip 20 degrees outward from the forward body axis. Glue only its marked first 4 mm to the underside (including the wing tab where they overlap). The first bend lies beyond the open front end. Hold until set.

  6. Set symmetry and dry

    Rest the flat body bottom on the table, check both inner wings rise 25 degrees and outer lobes 45 degrees, and keep antennae clear of the open end. Let all joints dry 30 minutes or follow the glue label. Expected span is about 106 mm and highest wing tip about 35 mm. Lift by the body, not an antenna. Record any changes needed during the pending physical build.

Notes

The 3D model shows each piece in its finished, idealized shape; the exploded view only spreads the pieces apart. It is not a paper-physics simulation: curved shapes are forming guides, not exact physical folding or proof of developability, and intermediate fold shapes are not supplied.