Blade-of-the-Moon's Art

[Blade-of-the-Moon]

It looks incredible!  Great work!

Thank ya !

Here are some new pics from today :






I finished the skin work today and hope to start start painting tomorrow if the weather holds out.

Edit:   Does anyone have a link to accurate skeletals of Kentrosaurus and Styracosaurus ?  I need side views and overhead shots.

[Weaver]

Oh my goodness. With the head and neck all attached... I love this. I knew it would be tall but all together now, I'm still amazed. Blade this is incredible! Have you named him/her? I feel as if this deserves a name just because of how much of a show-stopper it is. I love this sculpture!

[Blade-of-the-Moon]

Oh my goodness. With the head and neck all attached... I love this. I knew it would be tall but all together now, I'm still amazed. Blade this is incredible! Have you named him/her? I feel as if this deserves a name just because of how much of a show-stopper it is. I love this sculpture!

Thank you VERY much..I'm a bit of  a showman at heart and I love just how much you guys love these creations of mine.

I do tend to name some of them..my big JP Raptor is " Winston "  after Stan Winston.

This one is " Mary " after my late grandmother.  Her and my mom always called them all " long-necks " and these were their favorite Dinos. I do plan to build a Diplo at some point for my mom who passed away in 98' ..it will be " Kathy " . 

The Spino is named " Zeek " after my spino-loving cousin.  The Dilo and Pteranodon's aren't named yet.

[Blade-of-the-Moon]

Took this one last night :



Man it was FREEZING ! Darn cold spell moving through here again...makes it hard to work. :/

[Seijun]

My only suggestion on this piece would be that the neck is probably far too thin, especially where it meets the body. Otherwise, she's really good!

[Blade-of-the-Moon]

My only suggestion on this piece would be that the neck is probably far too thin, especially where it meets the body. Otherwise, she's really good!

Really ?   Did you see the side shot ? I thickened it up quite a bit after attaching it. I  compared it to the new WS Brachio mostly . The head though is larger when compared since it's a juvenile animal.

Here are a couple new ones from today :




Wind's been blowing a LOT so it's really hard to get any paint done.

Styracosaurus sub-adult frame :

[Weaver]

The paint on the Brachiosaurus is just fantastic. She's going to be very pretty when she grows up. Is it just me or is your raptor eyeing her up from behind the fence? Watch out!

Aaaaah! Stryctosaurus frame looks good, I like those front feet, and I'm excited to see that one take shape as well.

[Blade-of-the-Moon]

heh , I guess she's about big enough to care for herself..but the handlers will keep an eye on them..

This Styrac has given me fits figuring out how best to make it balance..I've corrected it about 4 times or so already. Still a bit more framing to do before  I can get wire started on it.

[Seijun]

My only suggestion on this piece would be that the neck is probably far too thin, especially where it meets the body. Otherwise, she's really good!

Really ?   Did you see the side shot ? I thickened it up quite a bit after attaching it. I  compared it to the new WS Brachio mostly . The head though is larger when compared since it's a juvenile animal.

Yes, in reply #140 where you can still see a patch of wire mesh, I was expecting that to be the outline of the base of the neck. so the base of the neck would have been twice as deep as it is currently, and slowly tapered up to the head. I would guess that a lot of muscle was needed on sauropod necks, particularly at the base. I am not expert though. (also, I adore thick, muscular sauropod necks)

[Blade-of-the-Moon]

My only suggestion on this piece would be that the neck is probably far too thin, especially where it meets the body. Otherwise, she's really good!

Really ?   Did you see the side shot ? I thickened it up quite a bit after attaching it. I  compared it to the new WS Brachio mostly . The head though is larger when compared since it's a juvenile animal.

Yes, in reply #140 where you can still see a patch of wire mesh, I was expecting that to be the outline of the base of the neck. so the base of the neck would have been twice as deep as it is currently, and slowly tapered up to the head. I would guess that a lot of muscle was needed on sauropod necks, particularly at the base. I am not expert though. (also, I adore thick, muscular sauropod necks)

I see what you mean. In the model I have the neck would have been a bit thicker.  I was assuming a juvenile animal would be lankier and have less muscle  I suppose.  That thought is in my head and it certainly could have influenced this piece. I'm not sure how fixable it is though at this point. I will have to look at it today and see. I was considering cutting and raising the neck..maybe it could be done then.  I'm not too good on ladders though..so we'll see.  I do wish I had received more input on this as I was building..sometimes you just have to guess..and I hate doing that you know ? 

[Simon]

Blade - how do you protect the finished pieces from the elements?  Also - have you ever considered donating these works to a natural history/science museum?  That way they would be appreciated in-the-flesh (err...chicken wire?) by loads more people.....

[Blade-of-the-Moon]

Blade - how do you protect the finished pieces from the elements?  Also - have you ever considered donating these works to a natural history/science museum?  That way they would be appreciated in-the-flesh (err...chicken wire?) by loads more people.....

The material they are made from is pretty durable..I haven't had a weather related issue with it yet.  The thought had crossed my mind. Really at one point or the other I would like to open a Dino Park myself..right now funding is stopping me and it's a dream..but it is do-able..I've already planned out a bit of it.

[Darko2300]

I can't believe you've got the Styracosaurus frame going up already! 

[Blade-of-the-Moon]

I can't believe you've got the Styracosaurus frame going up already! 

The body frame is about done now actually. I'll post a couple more pics tomorrow.    I'm going to wait til the body is all wired in before starting on the head..it will help me figure the size of it.

The Brachio's neck angle was bugging me so I bit the bullet and did a little surgery raising the head a little over a foot. Will post a new pic of it tomorrow. I added a slight cock to the head and upper neck so it appears to looking down at you..

I looked at thickening the neck... I don't think it's possible.  The material I use once painted won't stick to itself...had some problems with that today and had to get creative. I'm not sure it would work on  a large scale though...i.e. the whole neck. It would be very difficult and probably give mixed results. I'll keep researching it though.

[0onarcissisto0]

Oh man, great work, Blade! I just chuckle at the idea of trespassers entering your property in the middle of the night and being surprised by a juvenile Spino and a full-grown Velociraptor lool 

[Blade-of-the-Moon]

Oh man, great work, Blade! I just chuckle at the idea of trespassers entering your property in the middle of the night and being surprised by a juvenile Spino and a full-grown Velociraptor lool 

I have dreams of animating one and letting it stalk around patrolling the property... heh heh 

[Blade-of-the-Moon]

Brachio after some neck surgery to raise it :





Styrac :



FInished the wood frame, started wire work.

[Himmapaan]

Really amazing work, Chris. I applaud you once again.

[Blade-of-the-Moon]

Really amazing work, Chris. I applaud you once again.

Thanks bud !

I know it gets hard posting something on every update like this, but I appreciate..helps fuel my get and go to keep working.

If you guys notice anything that looks WAY off please let me know.   To be honest I loathe drawing / sculpting ceratopsians..those skulls make me want to scream in frustration..lol and so big compared to body size. I just made my first piece for the main skull last night and it looks so huge compared to the body..but that appears to be right. I'm using a combination of the Papo Styrac, X-Plus one ( it's easy to tell where the bones are on it ) and the Sideshow statue for references.

[Darko2300]

With those as references, you should be okay. But post pictures if you'd like feedback - I've got a pretty good eye for proportions, ect. 

The Brachiosaurus is gorgeous! I love the paint scheme as well - it's very appropriate for a sauropod. I really want to pet it. Even through the screen, lol. Have you come up with a way to transport it to it's new location? (Assuming, of course it doesn't stay there to do battle with pirates.  )

Awesome work again, man.