Blade-of-the-Moon's Art

[Blade-of-the-Moon]

The legs are shaping up so nicely! And I love that cream and toffee-coloured neck.

I must have sweet foods on the brain at the moment...

Thank you ! I had my concerns..you can plan a lot but it's hard to tell how the final product will appear with these materials so there is some surprise here even for me.   I'll get a good pic of the front feet when I attach the big claw to the inside.

Heh heh..I kept thinking cappuccino ..   I'm going to try and get some detailing in today so the neck can hopefully be mounted..we're supposed to have storms this week and  I have so much to do outside that rain can stop. 

[Blade-of-the-Moon]

Head paint :



This will be the final paint job for this section . I just realized it looks a lot like military desert coloration..lol

Some more Spino and Raptor :

[Meso-Cenozoic]

I have to visit this place!

The Brachio is indeed coming along really nicely. I like the 'Desert Storm' coloration. Maybe that can be our military's next secret weapon -- BATTLE BRACHS! 

[Blade-of-the-Moon]

I have to visit this place!

The Brachio is indeed coming along really nicely. I like the 'Desert Storm' coloration. Maybe that can be our military's next secret weapon -- BATTLE BRACHS! 

Any forum members are more than welcome to stop by !

lol Hey it worked for the Dino-Riders right ?  

I honestly didn't see the connection til I was here looking at the pic. I was originally going for something close to this  :



Then watched Dino Rev again and really liked the white patterns on the sauropods so tried one of my own but a bit different.

That pic above is the result.

[img]

[Darko2300]

Oooh! I really like the paint scheme, and I can't wait to see the sculpture once the head/neck is attached - it's probably going to look even taller than I'm expecting. Things like this always seem to.  It must be wonderful to be there in person and get that 'physical presence' that we miss just through viewing pictures.

I'm a bit curious about your construction process for these. I'm not sure if you've covered it before, but what are you using to 'skin your dinosaurs' as it were?  Considering that you appear to be applying it directly on top of chicken wire, I'm amazed at how smooth the outer layer of skin looks - not something I'd expect. (I have yet to find chicken wire to be that forgiving, but maybe I'd just need to practice working with it more.)

In any event, it's awesome watching these sculptures come together - thank you for the frequent updates!

[Blade-of-the-Moon]

Oooh! I really like the paint scheme, and I can't wait to see the sculpture once the head/neck is attached - it's probably going to look even taller than I'm expecting. Things like this always seem to.  It must be wonderful to be there in person and get that 'physical presence' that we miss just through viewing pictures.

I'm a bit curious about your construction process for these. I'm not sure if you've covered it before, but what are you using to 'skin your dinosaurs' as it were?  Considering that you appear to be applying it directly on top of chicken wire, I'm amazed at how smooth the outer layer of skin looks - not something I'd expect. (I have yet to find chicken wire to be that forgiving, but maybe I'd just need to practice working with it more.)

In any event, it's awesome watching these sculptures come together - thank you for the frequent updates!

Exactly..that's why I love 1/1 scale sop much..it's really the best way to really appreciate these creatures  I think.

Chicken wire can be a royal pain in the tail...and fingers, hands, arms, belly..wherever it touches you.  

My very first pieces were wood , pvc, metal frames, with a steel fencing wire to get the basic shape, then chicken wire, then a layer of thin mesh which needed a layer of foam over it then I sealed it with a water proofer.  The problem is that still didn't seal as well and a piece only lasted a few years before needing repairs.  Last year I discovered some old vinyl material in my grandfather's barn.  I noticed that the vinyl had been burned in one area and happened to touch it. It was hard ..kind of like a durable shell. I took a piece and heated it up with a hair dryer and then later a heat gun. Once it cooled it was hard and tough..I kicked it around, scraped it with a knife..lot's of different things and it still stayed in shape.   Then I made my first dinosaur with it, the juvenile Parasaurolophus. I didn;t have a great handle on the process then but it worked really well. So  I proceeded to coat my failing Raptor and pteranodons with it as well. Success! Then last year  I moved onto the juvenile Spinosaurus..which also worked out remarkably well. I learned new techniques for making better claws, teeth, ect. out of this vinyl material. I think the key to this stuff is it's actually fiberglass coated with a super vinyl. When you heat it it will shrink harden and tighten up.  Then you can carve details in in it with a solder gun, or press them in using a stamp.

My process now begins with the frame work, steel fencing, then chicken wire. That is coated by the vinyl. The vinyl is semi-thick and removes all the hard edges to the chicken wire giving you a nice bumpy scale like pattern.  Once that is done I detail and paint.  I've actually started using foam board for things like arms, heads, and such. The Brachi and Spino for instance is foamboard with spray on foam that has been carved and shaped. So there is nothing in there..very light weight.

My biggest problem now is a year later I'm running out of vinyl . I'm trying to find more..but I may be running toward my project's extinction. :/

I'm glad you are enjoying these pics..will have a couple more to post later of the front feet. I was hoping to get the neck finished painting then attach today but the weather isn't cooperating at all.

[Blade-of-the-Moon]

Brachiosaur feet :




Had some time so fixed up the Spino's teeth with a little more plaque and yellowing :




And finally  I played a bit with the Brachio's finished head and neck section since it was too rainy to install :

[ITewan]

Very, very nice! I specially like the paint on the head! XD

[Blade-of-the-Moon]

Very, very nice! I specially like the paint on the head! XD

Thanks !

[Darko2300]

Really, thank you Blade for your thorough explanation - that really helps me get a better sense of what you're doing.  So awesome!

As far as running out of vinyl, I'm not sure what the cost of purchasing more would be, but it made me think of some possible low-cost alternatives?  As with all outdoor stuff, the weatherproofing is the tricky issue.  The first link here is to Jonni Good's Paper mache website illustrating here lifesize sculpture of a baby elephant. (http://ultimatepapermache.com/elephant-sculpture-video) Also through the same website, someone else posted a video using some techniques sculpting large forms with concrete...err, Portland Cement...which has the added advantage of already being weatherproof. (http://ultimatepapermache.com/nikkis-armature-video)

Maybe these will be of some use?   

~ Michael

[Blade-of-the-Moon]

Really, thank you Blade for your thorough explanation - that really helps me get a better sense of what you're doing.  So awesome!

As far as running out of vinyl, I'm not sure what the cost of purchasing more would be, but it made me think of some possible low-cost alternatives?  As with all outdoor stuff, the weatherproofing is the tricky issue.  The first link here is to Jonni Good's Paper mache website illustrating here lifesize sculpture of a baby elephant. (http://ultimatepapermache.com/elephant-sculpture-video) Also through the same website, someone else posted a video using some techniques sculpting large forms with concrete...err, Portland Cement...which has the added advantage of already being weatherproof. (http://ultimatepapermache.com/nikkis-armature-video)

Maybe these will be of some use?   

~ Michael

Glad it was of use..I started off with a simple explanation and just kept typing..heh

That looks cool..I'll check them out.

I have contacted the manufacturer on two ends..hopefully I'll hear something back. I was told that the local manufacturing facility that is close here doesn't do sales but will some times give away error rolls..I believe that is where my material came from originally. I just have t hope they contact me and keep at it.

I managed to get the head and neck attached to the body today..it was frickin' hard..much moreso than I had thought...but it's there for better or for worse. I will try to skin it tomorrow. Sorry for the lack of pics but my camera decided to mess up today and not read SD cards anymore.. :/  I'll try and get a friend to take some cell phone pics tomorrow.

[Darko2300]

Ooooh. Error rolls....Mmmmm.   

I'll keep my fingers crossed for you on that end.

[mmfrankford]

Wow, I just got back to your progress, that looks great! I went to a animatronic dinosaur show with my nephews a month ago and this Brachio is already better that most of the so called "professional" sculptures I saw. And you so need to tackle a ceratopsian!! 

[DinoToyForum]

The sauropod is coming together very nicely  Great paintwork 

[Blade-of-the-Moon]

Thanks guys I appreciate it..and value your feedback of course. The discussions we've had here have shape my pieces quite a bit.

Melissa, I am really considering one..it's tied with a Stegosaurus in my head right now..but if I do one it will likely be a Styracosaurus. I love the horns and look of him..he's also a bit smaller so it could work out pretty well. I just have to wrap my brain around it.

[mmfrankford]

Thanks guys I appreciate it..and value your feedback of course. The discussions we've had here have shape my pieces quite a bit.

Melissa, I am really considering one..it's tied with a Stegosaurus in my head right now..but if I do one it will likely be a Styracosaurus. I love the horns and look of him..he's also a bit smaller so it could work out pretty well. I just have to wrap my brain around it.

Hmm..both are great choices and would be fun in the painting/colors department. Of course I lean towards the Styracosaurus since it's my favorite.  If it helps, think of the head without the horns and crest, add those later in steps. And as you continue down these awesome 1:1 creatures, you must have a pterosaur! Tupuxuara!! 

[Blade-of-the-Moon]

Thanks guys I appreciate it..and value your feedback of course. The discussions we've had here have shape my pieces quite a bit.

Melissa, I am really considering one..it's tied with a Stegosaurus in my head right now..but if I do one it will likely be a Styracosaurus. I love the horns and look of him..he's also a bit smaller so it could work out pretty well. I just have to wrap my brain around it.

Hmm..both are great choices and would be fun in the painting/colors department. Of course I lean towards the Styracosaurus since it's my favorite.  If it helps, think of the head without the horns and crest, add those later in steps. And as you continue down these awesome 1:1 creatures, you must have a pterosaur! Tupuxuara!! 

Exactly..so much fun on both species.

Yeah...figure out the head and then work up the crests and horns..since it would be a juvenile those would be smaller anyway..   I'm pretty sure I could do that. I'll get some skeletal and work up a diagram.

I'm planning on re-working an older Raptor head I did into an Allosaurus and test this black vinyl I have to see if it will work like the brown.

I have 2 1/1 Pterosaurs..two diff species of Pteranodon...and I'm working on a Rhamphorynchus..

cellphone pic of progress :



Should have my camera back working tomorrow.

[Darko2300]

Aw man, she's awesome!

[Blade-of-the-Moon]

Aw man, she's awesome!

Thanks bud. I'll have better pics today.

I spent 4 hours getting that neck on mostly by myself. Getting the neck lined up was a royal pain as well..it still isn't completely straight ..but chalk that up to motion I guess...she can be swaying her neck slightly.

I was tempted to raise the neck even more..so said all the way up, others said more down..so I tried to hit a middle ground.

[ZoPteryx]

It looks incredible!  Great work!