Blade-of-the-Moon's Art

[triceratops83]

The Horizon Stego works pretty well for Skull Island.
The Baby Apatosaurs look like they are going to be a hit, I bet kids are gonna want to take them home!

[Blade-of-the-Moon]

Yeah I think it would bud.

lol hopefully they have a truck! D 

They can take em' home..for the right price!   I can make one for sale but we're talking about 2,000.00 bucks for labor involved mostly.

[triceratops83]

They can take em' home..for the right price!   I can make one for sale but we're talking about 2,000.00 bucks for labor involved mostly.

You thought about casting your Shapeways Allosaurus or something similar in a cheap material to sell as official Dinosaur Park merchandise? If possible it'd be great to see a line of smaller duplicates of your full size dinos - really collectable. Even something like those Mold-a-Rama thingies. I noticed Pith Helmets in one of your photos, how do you go about producing those?

[amargasaurus cazaui]

I always wondered why you dont produce a dinosaur figure for the park that the kids can paint on.....so they can learn that dinosaurs may have been many different colors or patterns.

[Blade-of-the-Moon]

They can take em' home..for the right price!   I can make one for sale but we're talking about 2,000.00 bucks for labor involved mostly.

You thought about casting your Shapeways Allosaurus or something similar in a cheap material to sell as official Dinosaur Park merchandise? If possible it'd be great to see a line of smaller duplicates of your full size dinos - really collectable. Even something like those Mold-a-Rama thingies. I noticed Pith Helmets in one of your photos, how do you go about producing those?

I don't think it would work. If I went through Shapeways they would too expensive even in their cheapest material. The Shapeways Allo hasn't even paid for itself yet and it was ordered around this same time last year.  I'd love to commission more but the value for the Park has to be there.

Oh the white ones with the logo? Those are easy, they are construction helmets from Lowes and I get decals made and added to them.  Cost about 20.00. The kids like wearing them in the dig site while brushing away the "sediment".

I always wondered why you dont produce a dinosaur figure for the park that the kids can paint on.....so they can learn that dinosaurs may have been many different colors or patterns.

The simple answer is cost. So far I haven't found a cheaper way to produce figures others than Shapeways. The minimum price there for our Allo in 1/72 ( we also have 1/40) is around 10.00 if I purchase it. I feel judging by our giftshop sales very few parents would pay that for one. They also need to washed to remove residue and there is how fragile it is..most kids would break it before they got home. :/

[Patrx]

You thought about casting your Shapeways Allosaurus or something similar in a cheap material to sell as official Dinosaur Park merchandise? If possible it'd be great to see a line of smaller duplicates of your full size dinos - really collectable. Even something like those Mold-a-Rama thingies. I noticed Pith Helmets in one of your photos, how do you go about producing those?

I don't think it would work. If I went through Shapeways they would too expensive even in their cheapest material. The Shapeways Allo hasn't even paid for itself yet and it was ordered around this same time last year.  I'd love to commission more but the value for the Park has to be there.

What about actually casting from one "master" Shapeways print? I don't know much about the process, but I suspect that after the mold's been made, the individual castings could be produced pretty cheaply. Making a mold, however - that could be pricey.

[Blade-of-the-Moon]

You thought about casting your Shapeways Allosaurus or something similar in a cheap material to sell as official Dinosaur Park merchandise? If possible it'd be great to see a line of smaller duplicates of your full size dinos - really collectable. Even something like those Mold-a-Rama thingies. I noticed Pith Helmets in one of your photos, how do you go about producing those?

I don't think it would work. If I went through Shapeways they would too expensive even in their cheapest material. The Shapeways Allo hasn't even paid for itself yet and it was ordered around this same time last year.  I'd love to commission more but the value for the Park has to be there.

What about actually casting from one "master" Shapeways print? I don't know much about the process, but I suspect that after the mold's been made, the individual castings could be produced pretty cheaply. Making a mold, however - that could be pricey.

Yeah that would be a way to go..but there is substantial cost involved in that. Our Park operating on donations only just doesn't make enough yet to justify it. My main goal is to get more new 1:1 creatures out in the Park and expand. The worth your dollar, hopefully the more of them you'd give in support is my line of thinking.

We really need some good strong sponsors..like local companies and businesses. I just don't have time between, building, scheduling, repairs, advertising, designing...ect..just so much needs doing and it's mostly just me doing it all.. heh

[Blade-of-the-Moon]

Nothosaurus progress :


Having some trouble figuring out the motor placement. The side to side motion didn't work, just couldn't get past the frame to attach it that way so I'm trying up and down..but it will be a strain on the motor to place it at the base of the neck..further up and it will look out of place..so I'm at a bit of an impasse.

[Meso-Cenozoic]

But on the upside, it's looking really amazing! This guy needs to become a movie star. Haha! He could easily be the star of a SyFy movie of the week. He blows any of their CGI outta the water! (OK, yes, pun intended. LOL!) But yes, you do have to get him moving. I wish I could help, but I suck at electronics!

[Blade-of-the-Moon]

We're working on the problem..maybe something to move the entire creature via platform up and down or back and forth?  I don't know..there just isn't much room for the motor in the body either...very frustrating. :/

Agreed, I do love Nothosaurus..the original sea dragon! lol

[Blade-of-the-Moon]

Design of Nothosaurus showing possible neck animation.


The side to side motion of the first concept didn't work out so now we're hoping to try up and down. I'm honestly getting annoyed with these animated pieces..I can't seem to ever get them to work out 100% the way I want. ugh.

Progress pics again, I jsut need to finish the tail :

[triceratops83]

What about something simple like a bobble-head, and have something underneath the actual body to rock it? Is that similar to what you are going for?

[Blade-of-the-Moon]

What about something simple like a bobble-head, and have something underneath the actual body to rock it? Is that similar to what you are going for?

The sketch above shows my current plan. The rod connected to the motor will be placed under the neck and partially hidden with a faux rock and maybe some "seaweed" on the rest of the shaft. If the motor is strong enough to lift it that is.

I'm not exactly sure how a bobble head functions..I think it's a spring? the head and neck on this weigh around as much as a single cinder-block I think..that's the best guess I can make without actually weighing it.  If we're lucky it will have enough torque to do it.

I do have a motor out of an old hospital bed that has plenty of torque and would certainly do it, but has to be controlled via remote. I have yet to find something I can wire in that will let the motor run it's course then retract it and repeat. It's also VERY slow. Around one cycle per 20-30 seconds.

We considered creating a platform to move the entire creature, but I worry as to the stability of it and how durable it would be..also probably not very realistic. :/

[triceratops83]

I think the guys at Jurassic Park had it easy...
How close to the viewer is the Nothosaur going to be?

[Blade-of-the-Moon]

I think the guys at Jurassic Park had it easy...
How close to the viewer is the Nothosaur going to be?

lol sure seems that way! Wish I had a few of those engineers of theirs...

Pretty close.  The floor space is roughly 8x8' where she is supposed to fit. She's around 9' though. I've been tempted to leave the tail off and hide the base of it.  I'm hoping I can fit her in horizontally, if so her head will be around 1-2' from the viewer.

[Blade-of-the-Moon]

Nothosaurus, about 9' + long. still needs the motor and tail attached, I can't do that til it's out of the house.

[fabricious]

That's looking great, so far!

[Blade-of-the-Moon]

Just a couple tweaks ( motor testing, neck flaps, tail permanently, paint) attached and it's done. Whew!

[amargasaurus cazaui]

If you will be displaying it somewhat in the dark, you could simply suspend the thing from wire, and using pulleys provide the movement needed, and then paint and adjust the platform beneath to the animal rather than vice versa...that would be smoother motion, using a more suited method of drive, and also give you alot more control over what moves how

[Blade-of-the-Moon]

If you will be displaying it somewhat in the dark, you could simply suspend the thing from wire, and using pulleys provide the movement needed, and then paint and adjust the platform beneath to the animal rather than vice versa...that would be smoother motion, using a more suited method of drive, and also give you alot more control over what moves how

It's a thought to be sure. It will be in a dark-ish area..( it's supposed to be a seaside cave) I'll have to ask my friend what he thinks. We're only really moving the head up and down. My concern was I don't want it to be too obvious where the motor is and what's driving it.  We also need a motor with suitable torque. I ordered one and have received it but I have to make a trip to Lowes to get some hardware and rod before I can test it.