A Hands-On Exploration of Australias Icebreaker
Part art project, part engineering puzzle, this buildable paper model of the RSV Nuyina icebreaker was designed to be both fun and educational – a hands-on way to explore one of Australia’s most remarkable research vessels.
Starting with Sketches
We kicked things off with rough sketches to establish the look and feel of the model. These early drawings helped shape the personality of the build and laid the groundwork for what would become a fully realised diorama.
From 3D Model to Foldable Form
Once the concept was set, we built a basic 3D massing model to block out the ship’s structure. This was then refined to reflect the real-life RSV Nuyina, capturing key features like the helipad, icebreaking hull, lifeboats, and crane systems. The challenge was keeping all of this within the limits of the die cut and paper thickness – every fold, slot, and detail had to be planned precisely.
Using custom software, we “unfolded” the 3D model into flat, printable shapes. At this stage, we started layering in the illustrations – textures, colours, and structural details – to bring life to the flat pieces. This step was all about visual clarity and charm. We tested every version of the model ourselves – folding, building, and adjusting as needed. Tabs were realigned, folds tweaked, and connections strengthened, all to make the build as smooth and satisfying as possible.
A Diorama with Penguins (Of Course)
The final result isn’t just a ship – it’s a whole scene. The model is set on a stylised slice of Antarctic land, complete with penguins, and a fun, informative blurb about the RSV Nuyina printed on the reverse. It’s a compact little celebration of Australia’s polar science and design, ready to be cut, folded, and displayed.