Replica Hippo Skull

[TylerDynamo]

Ok so for a while now I have been wanting a hippopotamus skull. I'm no master sculptor, however. Hard edge lines are really easy for me to do like guns and ship models but I can't really sculpt organic shapes that well. I want a replica of this caliber. How does one go about doing this. How did that guy make this skull look so freaking nice. I don't think a cast would be possible would it? The mechanics don't really work, there's too many hollow points at awkward angles like the areas around the eye sockets. I figure at least one person out there has attempted a skeleton replica of some sort and any tips would be AMAZING.

 

[division 6]

IIRC Bone Clones take molds off there real thing that's how they get the detail they do.

Your picture is tagged with their name.

 

[Tiki]

I can vouch for the amazing realism of Bone Clone's work. Back in the day we used many of their skulls for filmwork, and a few of our shop moldmakers worked for them. They started as a really small shop, and it is a treat to see their work all over the place when I travel to National Parks and zoos all over america. I've got their human adult male, female, and child scull for reference tools, and they are second to none!

 

[TylerDynamo]

Thanks for shedding some light on this for me guys. It's clear now that the only way I'm getting an authentic hippo skull is if someone let's bme borrow one to cast; or I kill one myself. Weeeeeeeeelp, time to go take on Africa's most dangerous animal.

 

[Mostly Fantasy]

I carve skulls out of 4 lb. density foam, and then sculpt on top of that with either Aves epoxy putty or sculpey. The foam allows you to do undercuts, etc. pretty fast, and the epoxy lets you do the detailing. I have a real hippo skull, but no jaw, so that's what I'm doing for the jaw.