I'm Alana, 20 years old and from New Zealand - anyone else here from NZ?
Anyways, I just signed up but have been making origami for a very long time. I occasionally post my origami on https://instagram.com/alanawu/ if you want to check it out.
Here's one of the pictures you'll find, it's Won Park's origami koi fish (or goldfish ) made with NZ money
If you perform a small sink on the tail facing end of the scale texture/pattern graft you will get a more realistic looking rounded shape for each scale. Lang offers this scale shaping in the Design Secrets book. That is one I love to fold too!
I'm new too. So exciting! I love that book! I have not finished it yet. I am going to tackle the circle packing section again, but my favorite paper store (RIP Pearl) is gone. I want to make some paper for some. I have also obtained a roll of craft paper for the cuckoo clock. I can make two 15"x150", but I will probably mess up at least one(I am a terrible cutter).
So exciting to meet folders of your skill!