Dolphin DIY Paper Toy Postcard #023: Assembly Step by Step
By Designer Toy Store | Art Gallery | Rotofugi | Published: 2026-11-03
Category: คู่มือวิธีใช้
Build the Dolphin DIY Paper Toy Postcard #023 with a calm, step-by-step process. Learn how to score, cut, and glue the paper craft without crushing the curves.
Quick answer
Work slowly and dry-fit every tab before gluing: score all folds first, cut the dolphin parts free, then glue from the nose and tail toward the center so the curved body keeps its shape.
Why the dolphin needs a gentler sequence
Monkey Design models range from easy to genuinely hard, and curved animals punish rushed assembly. The dolphin’s body relies on rolled or curved seams rather than boxy corners, so the order you close those seams matters more than speed.
This postcard is a small, low-cost project, which makes it a sensible first try at curved paper modeling. If you have never built a paper toy postcard before, treat this as a practice piece rather than a display centerpiece.
Tools that change the outcome
The catalog notes that a knife, scissors, glue, and patience are required. A dull blade tears fibers and shows on the finished dolphin, so change blades before you start rather than midway through a curve.
Use a thin, tacky craft glue applied with a toothpick. White school glue works but adds moisture, which can warp thin cardstock while it dries.
Dolphin #023 assembly steps
- Score every fold before cutting: Lay the postcard flat and run a blunt scoring tool or empty ballpoint along every dashed fold line. Press firmly enough to crease the surface but not cut through. If you skip scoring, the cardstock will crack along the dolphin’s back curve and leave a white line.
- Cut the parts free with a sharp blade: Use scissors for long outer edges and a fresh knife for tight inside curves and tab slots. Cut away from your body and keep fingers behind the blade. A dull blade drags the paper and leaves fuzzy edges that show after gluing.
- Dry-fit the body before any glue: Fold the dolphin’s body along the scored lines and hold the tabs in place without adhesive. Check that the nose and tail meet evenly and that no tab overlaps another. If the dry fit pulls apart, re-score the fold rather than forcing it with glue.
- Glue from the nose and tail toward the center: Apply a thin line of glue to one tab at a time, starting at the nose, then the tail, then the middle seam. Hold each joint for a slow count of ten before moving on. Gluing the center first traps air in the curves and makes the body look lumpy.
- Reinforce the fin and tail joints: Add a tiny dot of glue to the inside of each fin and tail connection after the body is closed. Use a toothpick so no adhesive squeezes onto the visible surface. Wipe any squeeze-out immediately; dried glue on cardstock cannot be removed cleanly.
- Let the model cure before displaying: Leave the dolphin undisturbed for at least an hour, longer in humid rooms. Set it on a flat surface so the body does not sag as the glue sets. Moving the model too soon opens the seams you just closed.
Product facts
- Dolphin DIY Paper Toy Postcard #023: Monkey Design is a creative, quirky group of designers from Taiwan who express themselves mainly through 3D paper models. Expect a designed 3D build rather than a flat cutout, so the fold lines are intentional and should be followed closely.
Dolphin DIY Paper Toy Postcard #023 - Dolphin DIY Paper Toy Postcard #023: Assembly requires a knife, scissors, glue, and patience, and some models are really hard while others are easy. Set aside a clean, unhurried workspace; the dolphin’s difficulty is not labeled, so plan for a slow first pass.
