Creature's repairs and customizations

[Creature]

One of my other hobbies is customizing and painting model horses, so I decided it was time to look at applying those skills to some prehistoric critters.

Work in progress Eohippus by Mike Esichen




I recently acquired this Xenosmilus without a base. Now that I've got it in hand I think it might actually be a recast, but I wasn't aware of at the time of purchase.

He arrived with a broken leg...


...which I repaired with the magic of soda glue.


I've made him a new base, but so far getting him to stay on it has been...challenging. The foot peg keep breaking off inside the base. I may need to scrap it and try a new style.

[SidB]

Intriguing ... are you working with larger scales here?

[Creature]

They're both about 1:10, though that still leaves the eohippus pretty small. He's maybe 2 inches tall? I think part of the problem with the Xenosmilus is that he's solid-cast, so he's just a bit too heavy for his hind feet to support. I may need to resort to an acrylic rod underneath his chest/torso.

Anyway, while he sits, I did some more work on the little guy. Originally I was aiming for a blue dun, hence the gray basecoat, but didn't like where it was going, so he'll be a more standard dun color. Still in-progress, but much closer to finished.

[ITdactyl]

'm already liking the color shifts on this WIP. Always good to have more painting projects featured in the forum. Definitely following the progress.

[Shonisaurus]

Great jobs. Keep it up, I would like some day some dinosaur company made prehistoric horses. I only have the anchithiterium from Bullyland. Magnificent work I repeat and my congratulations. Keep it up.

[Bokisaurus]

Very nice work and model. I'm sure you can find a clever way to keep that cat in that impressive pose😃

[Lanthanotus]

Looks very authentic, am curious about the final result

[Pachyrhinosaurus]

I really like the subtlety of the transitions and the muted, low-key colors on your eohippus. I've been meaning to pick up a few of Esichen's pieces, myself but haven't gotten around to it yet.

[Creature]

Thanks everyone! I work pretty slowly, so it may be a bit before I get anything finished. And I have to give some of the credit for the color transitions to my media. I work in PanPastels, and they're AMAZING for blending and color transitions. 

Great jobs. Keep it up, I would like some day some dinosaur company made prehistoric horses. I only have the anchithiterium from Bullyland. Magnificent work I repeat and my congratulations. Keep it up.

There need to be way more prehistoric horses! I have all three by Mike Eischen, and there's 3 bigger resin ones that I'm aware of that I plan to track down. Sean Cooper did this diorama. Max Salas and Shane Foulkes did this diorama. And Laura Skillern sculpted this big girl, who has been sold out for years, alas. I keep hoping CollectA will put one out, because their horse sculpts are usually pretty good, but doesn't seem like it's on anybody's agenda.

[Creature]

I put some more time in on the Eohippus today. I think she's telling me her name is Abigail, though I have no idea why. 

Eohippus WIP by M W, on Flickr

Eohippus WIP by M W, on Flickr

She's gone from a little too gray to a little too yellow, but I think I can tone her back down in the next session.

I've also been working on a base for this Caudipteryx. I got him from Dan's Dinosaurs at a discount because the base was missing. He was in otherwise perfect shape until I broke off a toe tonight during a base fitting.  But soda-glue to the rescue again, and it's back where it should be, and the model can stand on its own!

Caudipteryx WIP by M W, on Flickr

Caudipteryx WIP by M W, on Flickr

Now I have to decide if I just finish the toe repair and leave the figure with its original colors, or do I want to repaint it? I like the current colors, but that pose makes me want to try something a little more flamingo or heron inspired.

I also have to decide if I want the base to be removable before I can finish it. Pros/cons to fixed bases? In model horse land, bases are rarely permanently fixed, because people travel with their models, and it's easier to pack them if they're in separate pieces. However, I don't anticipate traveling with my prehistoric collection, so I'm open-minded both ways.

[Bokisaurus]

That a nice model and good catch on the discount!🤣
I like the colors, but I agree, maybe something more flamboyant, I say a heron would be a better inspiration than a flamingo 🦩😃
As for the base, on models especially resin or delicate ones, I would go with a more secure one, I have had models with detachable base fall off and damaged the figures 🙀

[Creature]

He's already a little bit wobbly, so you're probably right that the a fixed base is more secure.

[Justin_]

I'd go for a slightly larger fixed base. I like a base that is visually balanced as well as practically. There's something about the blue of the clay you've used that sets off the leg colours really nicely. I wonder how that could be utilised in a natural-looking landscaped base? Maybe blue-green moss or rocks.

[Creature]

Thanks for the tip! The base will definitely be bigger when it's done. I was thinking about some sort of watery setting, so yeah, hopefully I can keep some of the blue tones in there.

[Shonisaurus]

The caudipteryx has been very good on you and what other members of DTF have said about the painting effects you have left it embroidered and above all I like its posture supporting one leg. Highly attractive figure.

[Halichoeres]

That Eohippus looks great. Really well done. Looking forward to seeing your progress on the Caudipteryx.

[Creature]

Thanks! I've been working on the base a little bit, but the eohippus is languishing. I'm hoping I can put in a few more hours this weekend and finish her.


@Shonisaurus The pose is what first caught my eye! Definitely not one you see very often.

[Creature]

Finished!


Abigail - Eohippus by M W, on Flickr


Abigail - Eohippus by M W, on Flickr


Abigail - Eohippus by M W, on Flickr


Abigail - Eohippus by M W, on Flickr

[SidB]

Simply a splendid labor of love - well done and thanks for letting us participate as onlookers in this fascinating process.

[Creature]

Thank you!