Museum exhibit - 1:1 Nothosaurus - WIP

Dark Side Sith Lord

I was asked by the local stone museum if I could build a full size model of a Nothosaurus for them, so I thought since they can't just go to a dinosaur store and get one, I might as well try building it.

I have never built a full size dinosaur model before or anything like that, but I've already got the plans and such on how to do it, only I have absolutely nothing to go by for reference. Sure there are some photos of it here and there, but not really enough for anything detailed, and I can't find any models of this thing anywhere either.

So I thought I might ask here if anyone could push me in the right direction where there would be models, measurements, photos, and so forth...

Here's a photo of the thing:
File:Nothosaurus BW.jpg - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Thanks for any help.

Dark Side Sith Lord

Well then I'm slightly screwed here! I guess I can manage to make something anyway, but any tips on such a project would be helpful.

SingleSeat

You might ask Dinosaur Josh for tips. Here's his Compsognathus, Dilophosaurus, and Velociraptor.

Gigatron

IIRC, Ronculus used to make full size creatures (Jabba, HammerHead, etc) from carving foam and the like. Haven't seen him post in a while, but you might still be able to get in touch with him.

-Fred

Dark Side Sith Lord

Thanks, guys, I will ask these people for any tips they might have.
Ahh yes, actually I am going to carve this thing out of foam first and reinforce it, so his tips might be useful for that.

BladeoftheMoon

There is a small replica by Safari that you could use for a model here :

Prehistoric Sealife "Toob" by Safari

He's the 2nd one over on the bottom from the left.

You can also ask the members at the Dinosaur Toy Forum..there are several great dinosaur sculptors on there..if you can get a reply try member Dinonikes first..he does museum exhibits extensively. Also the forum owner is a paleontologist specializing in prehistoric marine reptiles.

Nothosaurus is one of my favorite marine reptiles..so I would be happy to offer any help I can.

There is a guy I know from DA who builds dinos in Finland : http://mallimaakari.deviantart.com/

Maybe he can assist as well.

MooCriket

I would NOT reccomend asking him anything, as there are a NUMBER of members here owed a great deal of product from him. If anything, he needs to busy himself fulfilling the many orders owed first

BladeoftheMoon

Seconded. As one of those members I can say Josh def doesn't have the time to answer questions right now.

Dark Side Sith Lord

Ahh, well then I won't ask him then, but I'll try to get the time to contact those other guys. So far I have found a few more good photos, though small, of the creatures skeleton from the sides and above, so they might possibly be of good help.

Thanks again, guys, I'll try to get this one started soon.

BladeoftheMoon

This company here actually makes one : DinoCasts.com - Nothosaurus Sauropsida: Nothosauridae Early Late Triassic SCULPT MODELS RESTORATION RECONSTRUCTIONS CAST CASTS COPYING REPLICAS RECONSTRUCTION RESTORATIONS DUPLICATIONS REPRODUCTION COPYING DUPLICATION REPRODUCTION IMITATION IMITATION

But I really think their prices are a little high...a Google image search turns up even more pics and other replicas : nothosaurus - Google Search

Dark Side Sith Lord

Dang, I thought that was a small toy the first time I saw that photo. Doesn't really look like what I want mine to look like, and yeah the price is not that good.

Yeah I've Google'd so far that I can't Google no more, even searched through other photo hosting sites, so I think I've got enough photos of the thing now to manage something.

So far I'm planning on taking the photos I have of its skeleton and skull and outline its flesh and skin around it, then cut the photos up in sections that I use as reference to build each piece separate, should work well enough and give me the right proportions.

And of course it's raining today when I wanted to start this thing!

NAZGÛL

Oh heck, make them a sando monster. You are a SW fan right?




Seriously, cool that they asked you to do this. Post pics on the progress.

Dark Side Sith Lord

Haha, yeah sure, and full size too would be perfect, they could have it standing over the museum building then

SingleSeat

I don't know Moo, Blade, or Josh, but I sure am glad someone is here to make these decisions for him on an unrelated topic. DSSL's question didn't appear to be contracting anyone, just asking for advice.

Ok, so you're dissatisfied customers on deals I have no idea about -- I get it. But to mandate that someone doesn't have time for a phone call because he owes you something is preposterous. God forbid he take too long on the toilet. Even my worst performing subordinates are allowed to eat their lunch. It doesn't matter that I don't know any of the parties involved -- you guys are implying that this guy has zero time in his life for anyone but you, which is highly unlikely.

DSSL, I gave a suggestion, yours to do what you will with it. I would tell anyone to find their own answers no matter what anyone said. Good luck.

Dark Side Sith Lord

Yeah I was just asking for some advice like "you should paint it this way and then that way" "its tail is this long, its head is that long" "do this to make its skin look real" "its teeth were green" "sticking a potatoe up your nose is not a good idea", but so far about the shape of the thing it seems I'm just going to have to figure it out from photos of it from the side and above.

And yes it's raining again so I can't work this day either...

MooCriket

My advice was given more so as protection than anything for a member who I would think may want to steer clear of a problem child despite said problem childs talent in this area. Another member brought up contacting him, which would also be a joke, considering he seldom logs on here because he has taken a number of orders/money which he has yet to deliver on. By all means, contact him for some advice on how to paint if you like, and while your at it, go ahead and wire him some money too

blipper

Maybe give Trap Joe a pm, he's pretty knowledgeable in these things having built a full size humpback...

http://www.therpf.com/f9/life-size-whale-sculpt-82501/

Dark Side Sith Lord

Man, that's one impressive whale. Actually I have not had the time to ask any of these guys about anything since I've been busy with this project after finding the perfect reference for the size -

This is the exact same fossil cast that they have at the local museum, only they have one part of it since it actually came from a cast someone else was throwing away.


I measured the length of the skull to a little over 60 centimeres, then after calculating the size of the thing from a full skeleton reference, the size of the whole thing was nearly 4,8 meters long stretched out, so I used that as my size reference and also used this exact skull shape as a template for the head.

This is what I have so far. It's still very "foamblocky" and doesn't look like much, also the legs are missing as you can probably see.



The head is still missing the meaty flaps between the jaws where it is marked "flesh"

Moi moi, mesa loves you!



So what do you all think of this so far? Looking anywhere near a Nothosaurus?

BlindSquirrel

Looking great! I can't wait to see this develop!

The BDK

Quick chuck it in your nearest lake and start all kinds of myths!


Seriously that is turning out great!

Betamin

People would freak! Great work! I can't wait to see more!

Clutch

Mucho cool!!

Dark Side Sith Lord

Thanks, guys

Haha, yeah I should, we need that kind of myth in Norway now that the scientists have concluded that trolls are not real after all.

MooCriket

Outstanding work

smoothrat

That's really coming along nicely. Can't wait to see the end result...