Smaug the Magnificent

DurinsBane · **Posted:** Fri Jun 13, 2008 9:09 am

I really like the update shots as more and more scales are added ! It is really starting to come together and with each update it just keeps getting better and better !!!

lorderkenbrand · **Posted:** Fri Jun 13, 2008 10:27 am

Quote:

By the way, perceive is spelt like this. The 'i before e, except after c' rule.

That is a teacher tip!

Nice update. As everyone has said he's looking great! I can't believe that you have sculpted this, its incredibly detailed for an 'upstart' :wink:

What do dragon feet look like? I've seen lots of version but have you got any ideas for yours?

tidoco · **Posted:** Fri Jun 13, 2008 11:32 am

As everyone has said it looks great though I agree with Ebob about the feet. I am also looking forward to seeing the wings take shape.

PaulF · **Posted:** Fri Jun 13, 2008 12:25 pm

I have an idea. I will swap you my completed Minas Tirith board for the completed dragon. Of course, due to shipping costs the board will have to remain here with me, but will be yours 'in spirit' :wink:

BTW It is wonderful so far, great pose, etc., but it will be the wings that truly define it, along with details like claws, so the challenge has only just begun.

I wish I could give you constructive advise but I have the sculpting talents of a gerbil. However I know what I like, and so far ... I like. It also fits my vision of how dragons would look.

Paul

Natarn · **Posted:** Fri Jun 13, 2008 1:35 pm

Ebob wrote:

You need to consider the feet soon. I suggest you build the fingers/toes in wire and graft that onto the leg wire. How are you going to do the wings?

Thanks for the tips regarding the feet, Ebob.

I'm not sure about how I'll do the wings yet - size, shape, folded, unfolded... What I plan to do is make some wire and paper mock-ups to see what looks right in each respect - then I'll make them up using wire and probably ProCreate. It will be a matter of experimentation, trial and error, (or trial and success!).

lorderkenbrand wrote:

What do dragon feet look like? I've seen lots of version but have you got any ideas for yours?

I thought duck feet would be good, so he can swim. :wink:

Before sculpting, I shall be taking a look at chickens' feet and lizards' feet.

PaulF wrote:

the challenge has only just begun.

Oh, pants!

Dorthonion · **Posted:** Fri Jun 13, 2008 1:43 pm

You get two letters jumbled up and there are upstarts starting up all over the show... mea culpa, no time for spell-checker. I shall be more diligent in my interfrastic pursuit of paradigmic literary communication in the future. Pedagogues beware.

:-)

Captain Ingold · **Posted:** Fri Jun 13, 2008 1:47 pm

natarn ulka wrote:

lorderkenbrand wrote:

What do dragon feet look like? I've seen lots of version but have you got any ideas for yours?

I thought duck feet would be good, so he can swim. :wink:

Before sculpting, I shall be taking a look at chickens' feet and lizards' feet.

Use falcon/ bird of prey feet. Those are the best for dragons. Just paint them dragon-colour.

Natarn · **Posted:** Fri Jun 13, 2008 1:50 pm

Dorthonion wrote:

You get two letters jumbled up and there are upstarts starting up all over the show...
:-)

Neevr mind.

I must apologise for bieng so rude.

Thanks for your encouraging comments, Dorth.

Natarn · **Posted:** Fri Jun 13, 2008 1:52 pm

Captain Ingold wrote:

Use falcon/ bird of prey feet. Those are the best for dragons. Just paint them dragon-colour.

I'm sure that that must be illegal. Birds of prey are protected in the UK.

:wink:

PS. Thanks for the tip.

Dorthonion · **Posted:** Fri Jun 13, 2008 2:03 pm

I would go for feet closer to that of predatory dinosaurs than modern raptors - yes, some dragons (including Smaug) could fly, but they spend most of their time on the ground, quite a lot of it underground lying on heaps of plundered treasure, not perched precariously on a tree branch looking for pigeons, so for some sort of biological accuracy (not a detergent advert!), go for something that is 33% bird of prey and 67% Allosaurus (or similar). An example is shown in the next link:

http://members.tripod.com/~Dinosauria/Allosaurus.html

Those hind legs look like they could do real damage!

Natarn · **Posted:** Sun Jun 15, 2008 10:41 am

OK, Dorth. I'll have a look at dinosaur feet too.

Here are two whacking great pictures that I didn't resize properly!

I know that the belly has had some criticism, but...sorry... I really like those ridged scales.

By the way, Smaug did not have a missing scale. There was a patch on his belly that was not encrusted with jewels - and that was his weak spot.
My version of Smaug seems to have a much tougher, leathery belly... I just ventured more into my own imaginings of dragons and let go of Smaug. So, there won't be any scales missing. My Smaug has not yet lain on the treasures of Erebor.

I've been busy working on scales over the last couple of days. Another few ............ added to the tally.

It will still be a long while yet till I'm busy with claws and wings. This is the most complete side. The left hand side of the dragon has a long way to go to catch up.

Red Corsairs · **Posted:** Sun Jun 15, 2008 11:01 am

My... that's soooooo many tiny scales! Looking brilliant and the belly is mazing especially with those spikes added!

WanderingDunedain · **Posted:** Sun Jun 15, 2008 12:03 pm

just WOW

Dorthonion · **Posted:** Sun Jun 15, 2008 8:19 pm

That first picture from today's WIP is mind-blowing... a veritable painters paradise!

Natarn · **Posted:** Mon Jun 16, 2008 6:15 pm

Dorthonion wrote:

That first picture from today's WIP is mind-blowing... a veritable painter's paradise!

That's true! I'm just itching to paint this model.

Dorthonion · **Posted:** Tue Jun 17, 2008 7:26 am

You might want to finish it first...

KJ Necromancer · **Posted:** Tue Jun 17, 2008 9:54 am

I love the level of detail you are applying to this model!
Great stuff!

The belly looks great, I prefer what you have done here to the whole "jewel encrusted" look.

Keep up the good work!

KJ Necromancer

Natarn · **Posted:** Sun Jun 29, 2008 6:49 pm

I'm still sculpting away, chipping away at the massive number of scales I have to sculpt.
Here's the underside of the leg.

gaarew · **Posted:** Sun Jun 29, 2008 6:59 pm

See, THAT's OCD...

Looking good though. Well impressed.

Natarn · **Posted:** Sun Jun 29, 2008 7:05 pm

gaarew wrote:

See, THAT's OCD...

True. I admit it freely.

I get totally obsessive about things. Most of the time I manage it well, but sometimes the important things in life 'slide' a bit while I'm in my own little world! I'm even counting the scales! Now, I can recognize that that is crazy, but... well, I'm crazy, so it doesn't matter. This must be the 'geek' in me. I love counting things. :roll:

NUTTER!

Ah, well. There are worse things to be addicted to, and at least I will get a beautiful dragon at the end of my travails.

Smaug the Magnificent

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