Smaug the Magnificent

whafrog · **Posted:** Tue Feb 12, 2008 2:13 am

What? A whole weekend has gone by without an update! Where's my scale-fix?

Natarn · **Posted:** Tue Feb 12, 2008 12:17 pm

whafrog wrote:

What? A whole weekend has gone by without an update! Where's my scale-fix?

Sorry about that, whafrog! I'll send a scale-fix soon. I did try the other day but imageshack was working really slowly so I gave up.

Natarn · **Posted:** Fri Feb 15, 2008 3:01 pm

whafrog wrote:

What? A whole weekend has gone by without an update! Where's my scale-fix?

I've begun sculpting some scales on the dragon's left flank.

About twenty more done last night. zzzzzzzzz :wink:

Dorthonion · **Posted:** Fri Feb 15, 2008 9:54 pm

Progress continues... any thoughts about the wings yet? Partial extend, full extend, almost folded?

Natarn · **Posted:** Sat Feb 16, 2008 8:52 am

Dorthonion wrote:

Progress continues... any thoughts about the wings yet? Partial extend, full extend, almost folded?

I do have thoughts about the wings from time to time - but nothing definite yet. I imagine partially extended.

Lots to do before I get to that point though. I'll do the wings last of all.

Order of sculpting

scales
underbelly (rework)
claws
head (rework)
wings

Natarn · **Posted:** Tue Feb 19, 2008 4:37 pm

Beatrice wrote:

Natarn Ulka wrote:

BrentS wrote:

Unfortunately I don't have a running total. I could count them...
If I count what I've done so far (marking each with a pen), I could then keep a record of the ones I do in future.

this sounds like a tiny starting point (or better: starting scale) of insanity ...
to enhance this state I'd recommend to write an article and post a pic of every single scale plus describing its personal shape and character and what it meant to you to shape it at it is ... ;-)

erm... I'll have to turn you down on that one, Bea! My life won't be long enough to complete such a task and I don't think it'll contribute a great deal to the lot of the human race! :wink:

I have, however, counted the scales sculpted so far... :shock:

and remain just as insane as I was in the first place. So, if I keep a running tally - and don't let you all know (obviously), then we could have a 'guess the number of scales' competition, when he's finished, which will be a little bit like 'guess the number of marbles in the bottle' at a church fete!

This afternoon I took a knife to his belly and took off all the gs. It wasn't working for me. I'm going to sculpt it in ProCreate instead, which will give a much better finish. Thankfully, it didn't take too long to sculpt that part in the first place.

Dorthonion · **Posted:** Tue Feb 19, 2008 8:01 pm

It takes real courage to make a radical revision of a significant part of such a large sculpt - the best of luck with it!

Plus not many people can truly say they have gutted a dragon

(but it still only counts as one! - quoting Master Gimli)

Joansean · **Joined:** Mon Feb 19, 2007 12:23 pm **Posts:** 760

That isindeed Radical , destroying all your hard work ... :p

I thin the total number of scales will end up on 12.000 or something ... It certainly looks like that !

Natarn · **Posted:** Wed Feb 20, 2008 6:40 pm

I did some work on his torso today and feel really pleased with it.

Here's a 'before and after' pic.

That head has GOT TO GO! It looks so wrong. The angle is wrong and I'll be able to model it far better with PC.

Dorthonion · **Posted:** Wed Feb 20, 2008 7:12 pm

Here's a suggestion - save the head for use in a diorama - it could be a 'trophy' taken by dwarves or whoever has slain a dragon. It would be a shame to discard it.

JohnandTricia · **Posted:** Thu Feb 21, 2008 12:05 am

better idea send it to me that is a beautiful piece of work

whafrog · **Posted:** Thu Feb 21, 2008 12:14 am

Natarn Ulka wrote:

I did some work on his torso today and feel really pleased with it.

Wow, that is really amazing work! I'd been hoping the belly would have snake-like ribbed scales, but I didn't want to say anything

Quote:

That head has GOT TO GO! It looks so wrong. The angle is wrong and I'll be able to model it far better with PC.

I don't know what you don't like about it (I think it's great), but I'm sure somebody could find a good home for it

Natarn · **Posted:** Thu Feb 21, 2008 7:31 am

whafrog wrote:

Quote:

That head has GOT TO GO! It looks so wrong. The angle is wrong and I'll be able to model it far better with PC.

I don't know what you don't like about it (I think it's great), but I'm sure somebody could find a good home for it

Well, compare the old torso to the new torso...
The head will be improved equally.

Here are a couple more shots of the new torso.

BilboOfTheWhiteTower · **Posted:** Thu Feb 21, 2008 8:11 am

Really well done! :shock:

TheBucklandBrewer · **Posted:** Thu Feb 21, 2008 8:42 am

I love that! The thing you did with the grey stuff is really mindblowing!
The belly-scales you did first, like GW did with their dragonised-pet, were'nt really my mug of beer and are really making it hard to pick a color. These scales so much better and will make it much easier to decide what color to give him!
Splendid job mate!

Did I already send you my address so you know where to ship it once it's finished? :lol:

Joansean · **Joined:** Mon Feb 19, 2007 12:23 pm **Posts:** 760

Very nice ! Much better than the "draft'(not that that was all bad!)

Procreate is indeed a Godsend ! I've been using it for some days now... Brilliant !

BrentS · **Posted:** Thu Feb 21, 2008 2:54 pm

Wow. Looks great. It may be time for me to order some Pro-Create.

revolutionary · **Posted:** Thu Feb 21, 2008 4:04 pm

Interesting, this ProCreate thing. Do you really find it easier to work with? To be honest, I can't really see too much difference between the two underbelly images except the shape of the scales there. Could you have done that same shape in both GS and PC? How does PC differ from GS in terms of usability? Does it smooth itself?

I am quite curious. I have been doing more and more sculpting, and I spend a lot of time smoothing. However, the smoothing is all part of the shaping process as well, so I enjoy it.

The dragon looks great though. I think you might want to ask yourself one question though: Are you more interested in a perfect dragon or a finished dragon? I find that those two goals are mutually exclusive for the most part

thanks,
n. aka rev

Natarn · **Posted:** Thu Feb 21, 2008 5:34 pm

revolutionary wrote:

The dragon looks great though. I think you might want to ask yourself one question though: Are you more interested in a perfect dragon or a finished dragon? I find that those two goals are mutually exclusive for the most part

Dear Rev...

I am aiming at a near-perfect finished dragon. And I'm prepared to take the time to get there. There's no rush.

Yes, a similar shape could have been sculpted with gs. PC is much easier to smooth - something which I find really tricky with gs. I know that you are very good at that, so pc may not be especially attractive to someone with your skills with gs.

When I did the original torso I didn't smooth it very well and there were (shock horror) some finger prints on it. It may well be the curse of the perfectionist but I just can't stand things like that. Do a wash over such a surface and lo and behold - fingerprints! So, the reworking is much smoother, the shape is better and I feel very happy with it - so it's a success for me.

revolutionary · **Posted:** Thu Feb 21, 2008 7:07 pm

Thanks for the info on the PC... Being easier to smooth is definitely a plus... Maybe when I work through the droves of greenstuff that I have (curse the person who thought up bulk orders!) I will pick up some PC and give it a try!

And please, don't get me wrong, my comment about a perfect dragon vs. a finished dragon was supposed to be funny

I appreciate your effort, and I have to admit that I do like the new underbelly much better than the old one. I am looking forward to seeing the new head as well! So far this dragon has been a huge success I think, in anyone's opinion and I look forward to seeing it progress.

It is very inspiring. Thanks for the reply!

n. aka rev.

Smaug the Magnificent

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