I think he is awesome! Nice job Natarn

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what is 'signature'

I left the head and neck for a bit to spend some time sculpting scales on the body.


I don't want to overdo it with a variety of 'fantasy' scales that are a bit outlandish. I'm still trying to keep this a 'believable' dragon, so the scales are similar to those on the neck.

There is a triangular idea, with the soft, snake-like underbelly being bordered with larger, projecting scales, then the scales leading up to the sharper, horn-like scales along the spine. Sorry if that's a duff explanation, but I know what I mean. (At least someone does!)

[center][/center]

I may end up changing the head completely. Sorry if you like it that much. Rest assured that if I do, the new head will be much better than the current one. Still, lots to do before that happens and after that it will be the wings.

Dagorlad's distracted me with his Halfling dwellings and now I want to have a go at that! It looks like fun and will give me a break in between modelling these scales.

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Painting again...

Leave the hobbit architecture to the Master - hurry up and finish Smaug!

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Published ebooks:
Instrument of the Empire
A Note of Defiance
Phantom Ships, Ghost Flotilla
More to come!

nice work Natarn looks really great, it must really take a hell of a lot time! good luck

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if somethings hard to do its not worth doing

What would Yoda say, Dorth. 'Patience, patience!'

Good things come to those who WAIT!

Don't worry. My other projects won't hold up Smaug - but they will stop me from going insane. The saner I am, the quicker the dragon will be finished. But, I'm in no hurry.

I'm also experimenting with using grey stuff (pro-create... no, it's not a fertility aid...) which I might use for some of Smaug once I get to know it a bit better.

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He's coming along a pretty quick pace Natarn Ulka!
And looking great all the way!

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No one feels as helpless as the owner of a sick goldfish.

What's the rush, Dorthonion? Don't you have anything to paint at the moment!!!

I throw down the gauntlet! I challenge you to paint all your backlog before I finish Smaug!

The race is on!

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Painting again...

Careful Natarn, he might sambuca you!
Great work on Smaug

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what is 'signature'

:evil:

I think that was neccesary

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what is 'signature'

Nice to see you challenged him Now it will go even faster then now And I love to see Smaug complete and painted, because it is really a master piece!

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Eclipse Painting - Let Miniatures Shine - Commissions

No, I think I can put my feet up for a few decades!

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Painting again...

you might underestimate dorhonion if he hire's some paiters it will be finished in in half a decade ( my apologies dorthonion, had to do this )

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if somethings hard to do its not worth doing

Trust me...that Dragon will never fit in a halfling hole !!!

Scales look wonderful and perfect !

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There are fouler things than Orcs in the deep places of the world

Last night I sculpted some more scales on Smaug and did some work on my Hobbit hole.

Smaug is such a detailed, long-term project that I am desperate to just finish something. That's why I'm having a go at a 'twee' little Hobbit dwelling - it'll be finished in under a week!

I can only do so many scales at a time and then I wait for the green stuff to go off. This helps to prevent squashing work that took ages to complete. So it was a pleasure to sit and sculpt some scales, then fiddle around with some wood work on the 'Tudor' front of the Hobbit hole.

Pro-Create is an excellent putty! Fabulous! Much, much better than green stuff in the way it handles and, because it dries matt, it looks far more natural, even unpainted. I've got myself a scalpel as well - and the putty holds the detail superbly.

Perhaps I'll do some more scales tonight. Do re me fa ...

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.. sol la si do...

Sounds great! Now stop the Hobbit hole and continue the dragon
Heheh...

I just wondered, do you sculpt the scales on a seperate sheet of whatever kinda material and then pull them off once hard and glue them on the dragon?
Or do you sculpt them directly on the dragon itself?
... I'm just a bit confused now..

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CMON-gallery

The scales are sculpted (almost) directly onto the dragon. Because green stuff loses some of its adhesive power about two minutes after mixing, I cannot apply scales directly to the milliput. What I do is smooth a thin layer of gs onto the milliput straight after mixing and then sculpt the scales on top of that. This allows me to work for a slightly longer period.

To make each scale, I roll out a tiny sausage of green stuff and cut off a small amount, which I then roll into a ball. The ball is then applied to the thin layer of gs on the model and shaped with a sculpting tool. Working in this manner, the scales can be made to interlock. As you can see, the scales vary in size and shape. This is intentional. I have to use the appropriate size to fill the gap between other scales.

Here's hoping that's a bit clearer!
Natarn.

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I think there are no more complimentary words that can be said about the way this is turning out. It is awesome every time I see a further WIP picture I just get blown away. Mate you have got to get this cast up "PLEASE" lol as I want one. Failing that let me paint it up for you please.

Would I get to keep it afterwards?!

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Painting again...

Now THAT's a dragon!

At least you have your work cut out with you on scales to make the OR comps "safe" for the rest of us for a while.

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Wait ye the finish! The fight is not yours.
Beowulf

http://TacticsInMiniature.com

Yep,