Hi all, brand new to the RPF, so please be gentle with me!
This is a project I first thought of several years ago, I'd always wanted a life size Tyrannosaur skull, was never keen on the prospect of purchasing a cast of a real one, so thought I'd make one.
Apologies this isn't a stage by stage account, rather I have a series of photos up to todays point, I have a few changes to make for the final cast which I hope to get done next couple of weeks.
I started with a scale drawing based on an actual specimen of a Tyrannosaur skull, AMNH 5027. I loved the contour and shape of this, and hoped to capture it in my sculpt. I made a simple plywood jig and a bit of fibreglass to form a lightweight form, over which I took a gamble on using air drying clay to sculpt the overall shape. I planned on used thixo silicone to form a huge mould (brush on) which would ultimately end in a resin cast. The total length of the skull is a shade over four feet, doesn't sound much when you first say this but when you see the completed skull, you appreciate the cubic volume of this animals head, it is enourmous. I made the jaws separate so I can mount in any position I like, when happy with the final gape, I'll probably bond in a bit of bent tubular steel to hold the position. teeth I made separately in clay and cast each one, I made a couple of versions for some irregularity. I have made a total of three of these so far, mostly for friends, I still have the original 1st one made.
pics:
1) Basic clay sculpt
2)" "
3)Jaw clay sculpt (right)
4)1st upper skull complete polyester resin cast unpainted
5) Jaws and upper skull assembled
And, this is where the skull is at present. I'm reasonably happy how it has turned out! I have since painted it a much darker fossil grey brown, which I much prefer but there is still a little bit to do on this yet, so I'll update as soon and often as I can.
Update: 5th Jan
Here's the original in fossil grey/brown, much prefer this finish.
I need a second version for another project coming up, so Ill cast a new one in plaster of paris or something similar, I'll rework the overall shape, and make some fine adjustments, and focus in a little more on the micro detail of the bone texture etc, and enlarge the teeth a little. From this I hope to produce a final cast which will be my final version. Will keep the updates coming along.
This is a project I first thought of several years ago, I'd always wanted a life size Tyrannosaur skull, was never keen on the prospect of purchasing a cast of a real one, so thought I'd make one.
Apologies this isn't a stage by stage account, rather I have a series of photos up to todays point, I have a few changes to make for the final cast which I hope to get done next couple of weeks.
I started with a scale drawing based on an actual specimen of a Tyrannosaur skull, AMNH 5027. I loved the contour and shape of this, and hoped to capture it in my sculpt. I made a simple plywood jig and a bit of fibreglass to form a lightweight form, over which I took a gamble on using air drying clay to sculpt the overall shape. I planned on used thixo silicone to form a huge mould (brush on) which would ultimately end in a resin cast. The total length of the skull is a shade over four feet, doesn't sound much when you first say this but when you see the completed skull, you appreciate the cubic volume of this animals head, it is enourmous. I made the jaws separate so I can mount in any position I like, when happy with the final gape, I'll probably bond in a bit of bent tubular steel to hold the position. teeth I made separately in clay and cast each one, I made a couple of versions for some irregularity. I have made a total of three of these so far, mostly for friends, I still have the original 1st one made.
pics:
1) Basic clay sculpt
2)" "
3)Jaw clay sculpt (right)
4)1st upper skull complete polyester resin cast unpainted
5) Jaws and upper skull assembled
And, this is where the skull is at present. I'm reasonably happy how it has turned out! I have since painted it a much darker fossil grey brown, which I much prefer but there is still a little bit to do on this yet, so I'll update as soon and often as I can.
Update: 5th Jan
Here's the original in fossil grey/brown, much prefer this finish.
I need a second version for another project coming up, so Ill cast a new one in plaster of paris or something similar, I'll rework the overall shape, and make some fine adjustments, and focus in a little more on the micro detail of the bone texture etc, and enlarge the teeth a little. From this I hope to produce a final cast which will be my final version. Will keep the updates coming along.
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