Waterbomb Base

These are the first folds for the waterbomb. The dashed lines are valley folds, the solid line is a mountain fold.

The waterbomb base is the starting point for many origami models.  The frog, flowers, and a few airplaces all start with this shape.  Many model directions will simply say "fold a waterbomb base".  It is a simple base that involves two valley folds and a single mountain fold, and yields a triangle.

A valley fold is the only fold you can do with the paper flat on the ground, making the shape of a valley with the paper.

 Valley fold the bottom right hand corner up to meet the top left hand corner.  A valley fold is the only fold you can make with the paper laying flat on the ground.  It forms a shape like a valley.  Make a good crease, and unfold.

Unfold and valley fold the other diagonal line.

 Valley fold the bottom left hand corner up to meet the top right hand corner.  Make a good crease, and unfold.

Waterbomb Base Step 2

This is a great picture of the mountain fold. See how the paper stands up like a mountain ?

 Mountain fold the top half to the bottom.  A mountain fold is accomplished by turning the paper over, and then valley folding.  Make a good crease, and unfold.

 Turn your model back over, and stand the mountain up.  This is a great picture to explain a mountain fold.


Poke your finger in the middle of the paper

 Put your finger on the middle of the paper and push straight down until the corners "pop" up.


Collapse all of the previous folds, forming a triangle

 The folds will naturally collapse into a triangle shape, four layers thick.


This is the waterbomb base. I'm holding it spread out so you can see all four flaps, but generally you start with it as a flat triangle.

 Here is the complete waterbomb base.  There are four flaps to the triangle, and with a little work you can make this stand up.

With that under your belt, you are ready to make a waterbomb, one of my favorite toys.