Spinosaurus Maquette!

[xr6.turbo]

Nice sig, turbo. You make it yourself?

Nah i got it from the ALP site. Check it out https://alienlovespredator.com/2010/05/05/happy-smothers-day/

 

[Blade-of-the-Moon]

My favorite piece in the line. Shenanigans, good sir.



My dilemma with the piece is primarily the backstory, as the dio itself is just a snapshot of a more expansive fight. Again, I would have liked to see one of the hind claws embedded in the Proto's abdomen, rather than appearing so starkly one-sided, with a story depicting the V.mongoliensis as a bungling dilettante.

The Rex VS Trike Dio is def what brought me to the line..I to decide wether to afford it or not..but it def caught my attention on release.

Our problems with the Velo Dio are def in the same ballpark..a slightly better pose and a more epic story would certainly make me desire it more.

I think the 300, at least for me, would be far better spent on the allosaurs vs. camarasaur. 3 dinos vs. one, and to me the spino's pose just seems a bit dull. Plus I agree that the lack of scars really kinda makes this a lot more "meh" than say the T. rex maquette.

Check above, I pointed out one possible scar on the face that work with the story and could have been blinding if further back..def not a minor thing..

The pose feels a bit meh, but i'm sure when we see this thing in person we'll feel differently, considering the sheer size of this thing. 15" tall and 32" long!!

I just read the story and it was interesting. Definitely some funny moments, although I felt there were a few too many exclamation marks peppered throughout. Kind of brought it down to a childish level with those.

The pose doesn't really bother me so much except for the fear this material the statues are made of might give a little and send it over.

There is something to said for size...heh heh.. this is actually the length I wanted for the Allo VS Camara.

I think this one was intended to be humorous..have you ever seen someone trying to deal with a big live fish ? It's not funny to them..but to those watching..great stuff.. :

I think the Spino is pretty awsome, mabey for me it's becuase it's the biggest and the meanset looking maquette. Besides that the pose is not that great and I am not too crazy about the color. First T-rex looks like a rooster, Spino like a dragon, I personally think SS needs to start experimenting with colors. Spino looks too dark to dull, SS needs to use more vibrant colors. If these beasts are reptilian, look at the reptiles in nature now these days, full of color.

The other issue I am having is SS needs to start making more of a detail, background, with the base. Especially on the maquettes, these dinos needs to come alive within their environment, it plays a major role. Mabey it's just me but I want the bases bigger and more detialed, they are too boring and too small. Another thing I like to see is have them interact with something. Basically what I am trying to say is don't just give me a backstory (I PERSONALLY DON'T CARE ABOUT THE STORY) show me the story, I will make it up in my mind. They should show more of the story and let the collectors go wild with thier imagination.

You could have the piece repainted..I've been thinking a bit about it myself. The colors used on the Spino are pretty much ok..but more patterns on more of the body would have made it pop more.

The stories for the most part remind me of the ones I've read in PT for years..their not a big part of the piece really..but I like to enjoy them.

I like a piece to at least adhere to the story and show some details from it..then both work..the Carno with the footprints on the base and the Rex VS Dio on a cliff side works well I think..the Styrac..wasn't really feeling the story was present at all. The Rex maquette..the story moved from his base to his body..def an outstanding piece. The Allo one also works..but the Velociraptor dio just doesn't really fit the story..some of the blows from it aren't present in the piece at the right time. With the Spino the story works but it's not a good scene choice..I think a bit of splashing water in puddles on the base and maybe some those mangrove roots would've been better.

 

[Agent0028]

My favorite piece in the line. Shenanigans, good sir.

I know, I know. For some reason that dio just never struck a chord with me. I have no clue why.

I think the Spino is pretty awsome, mabey for me it's becuase it's the biggest and the meanset looking maquette. Besides that the pose is not that great and I am not too crazy about the color. First T-rex looks like a rooster, Spino like a dragon, I personally think SS needs to start experimenting with colors. Spino looks too dark to dull, SS needs to use more vibrant colors. If these beasts are reptilian, look at the reptiles in nature now these days, full of color.

The other issue I am having is SS needs to start making more of a detail, background, with the base. Especially on the maquettes, these dinos needs to come alive within their environment, it plays a major role. Mabey it's just me but I want the bases bigger and more detialed, they are too boring and too small. Another thing I like to see is have them interact with something. Basically what I am trying to say is don't just give me a backstory (I PERSONALLY DON'T CARE ABOUT THE STORY) show me the story, I will make it up in my mind. They should show more of the story and let the collectors go wild with thier imagination.

Personally I want the focus to be on the dinosaur, I think if they make the bases very elaborate that will detract from the dino. Not to mention add cost and make it a larger piece making them more difficult to get.

 

[dansdinosaurs]

Nah i got it from the ALP site. Check it out https://alienlovespredator.com/2010/05/05/happy-smothers-day/

Awesome, thanks.

 

[Dyscrasia]

Personally I want the focus to be on the dinosaur, I think if they make the bases very elaborate that will detract from the dino. Not to mention add cost and make it a larger piece making them more difficult to get.

Good point.

 

[Blade-of-the-Moon]

I don't think it would be such a big deal honestly. I mean the Deino's base was nothing but clear resin and that usually adds quite a bit to resin kits and models this time it added nothing.

I think a little more detail showing us how the enviroment and dino interact would be fine...no need to go overboard. Say it was after a forest fire..charred wood and ash..no need to do big flames or anything so distracting. Just small changes can do a lot..say there was a small bit of stream going through a piece..adds something neat and is not so distracting. For example..do these pieces have bases that compliment or take away ? :

 

[Agent0028]

Eh, no, I suppose those don't detract from the piece to much. However on the latter two I did find my eye was drawn to the base as much as the dinosaur.

 

[Blade-of-the-Moon]

Eh, no, I suppose those don't detract from the piece to much. However on the latter two I did find my eye was drawn to the base as much as the dinosaur.

I would say that would be called complimentary right ? As long as it not moreso the base than the dinosaur which of course should be the center of attention.

I think the addition of water really sets those last piece apart..there are other examples here :

https://theclubhouse1.net/museum/modelsdinosaur.htm

Just looks for the ones by Martin Garratt.


This one I wouldn't mind having as a 1/1 scale piece from SS :

I also had to share this one as it's a really simple addition but adds so much to the piece :

A sort of sense of forboding...maybe risk or impending doom... :

Since we're also discussing bases and enviroments...how about one with snow on it ?

 

[Agent0028]

Yeah complimentary works. I just personally prefer when the dinosaur gets the first look completely and base comes second. But that's all personal preference. I wouldn't be opposed to more complex bases. I do especially like that one with the water filled footprint.

 

[LOTRFan]

I also had to share this one as it's a really simple addition but adds so much to the piece :

A sort of sense of forboding...maybe risk or impending doom... :

Since we're also discussing bases and enviroments...how about one with snow on it ?

Is that drool coming from it's mouth?


The elaborate bases would no doubt add more to the price of these, and I think they are already teetering on that very fine line of putting them out of reach for most.

 

[dansdinosaurs]

It's not drooling, it was drinking from the puddle. See the splash right in there? Garret is brilliant.

 

[LOTRFan]

It's not drooling, it was drinking from the puddle. See the splash right in there? Garret is brilliant.

I see it now, aahhhh how cute.

 

[Blade-of-the-Moon]

Is that drool coming from it's mouth?


The elaborate bases would no doubt add more to the price of these, and I think they are already teetering on that very fine line of putting them out of reach for most.

I don't think so, look at what we have so far and then compare to what I'm suggesting. There isn't all that much of a difference really and having some sculpting experiance myself,I can say it wouldn't take all that long for the sculptor to actually add them either. Maybe I'll just put in a suggestion and see if it floats ?

Garratt is certainly brilliant..I really wish I could do what he does with sculpture...and his water effects are amazing.

 

[Scar]

I think the Spino is pretty awsome, mabey for me it's becuase it's the biggest and the meanset looking maquette. Besides that the pose is not that great and I am not too crazy about the color. First T-rex looks like a rooster, Spino like a dragon, I personally think SS needs to start experimenting with colors. Spino looks too dark to dull, SS needs to use more vibrant colors. If these beasts are reptilian, look at the reptiles in nature now these days, full of color.

The other issue I am having is SS needs to start making more of a detail, background, with the base. Especially on the maquettes, these dinos needs to come alive within their environment, it plays a major role. Mabey it's just me but I want the bases bigger and more detialed, they are too boring and too small. Another thing I like to see is have them interact with something. Basically what I am trying to say is don't just give me a backstory (I PERSONALLY DON'T CARE ABOUT THE STORY) show me the story, I will make it up in my mind. They should show more of the story and let the collectors go wild with thier imagination.

To be fair, the colorations are actually extremely plausible. By comparison a modern Bald eagle has a rather ludicrous color scheme, but that makes it no less a menacing predator. The T.rex was meant to evoke more of a vulture or condor than a rooster, and the point being made in that maquette is that the colors should be much more vibrant in a younger adult male in its prime, though age has weathered the hide of the elder statesman. A different approach, no less valid and actually quite in line with what the animal kingdom presents to us, not to beat a dead horse with my defense of Anthony Mestas', in my opinion, sterling choice of color scheme. Likewise unto the Spino, the colors are muted adequately so as to provide a sufficient cryptic coloration, particularly in a female, but still a touch of vibrancy on the sail to keep the animal distinct. No quarrel here. The backstory is really just an accent to the piece, and otherwise it is much to the collector's provence of creativity to contrive a story (which is how I mentally resolved the grandiose size of the Deinosuchus by simply imagining it as a male rather than female). Thankfully there's quite a degree of latitude for creative interpretation, and I've only begun to recently nitpick some backstory elements as they had previously been quite in line with what I imagine. The Velociraptor VS Protoceratops dio's accompanying backstory is the one with which I have the greatest reserve.

 

[Blade-of-the-Moon]

Same here Scar, so far the colors are pretty well done..I would like maybe some more..intricate ?..patterns.

I decided to email Tony Mcvey regarding his first piece of the line and ask a few questions we have been discussing and some I myself were curious about and graciuosly took time out of his Saturday to reply to pretty much all of them..I think many of you will be pleased, I'm certainly a nit more interested in getting the Spinosaurus now :

Hi Chris:

Thanks for the compliments, and while I certainly did some research before starting on the model, I didn't intend to copy any other artists specific interpretation of the animal, ala Todd Marshall for example. However, that being said, adding a crest of dorsal spines seemed especially appropriate given it's assumed amphibious lifestyle and that huge sail, of course.
I did add some scars to the left side of the upper jaw, shins and left thigh just above the knee and the base is meant to be riverside terrain with scattered fern fronds,ginko leaves and a few odd bones. I stayed away from adding any dead fish to the base because the artwork Sideshow supplied (done by Jorge Blanco, I think) showed the animal in a running pose with open jaws and the head turned to the right, so I stuck with that, and I'd seen fish incorporated into previous interpretations and didn't want mimic them. Left to my own devices, I probably would have posed the animal scavenging a carcass, but I can certainly understand that they wanted a more obvious action pose. I don't know if there are plans for alternate color schemes and as of now nobody's mentioned any more sculptures for the line.
As for the work process, I first made a half-scale maquette (16" long) to define the general look and pose and when that was approved I doubled all the dimensions on the maquette to construct the armature for the big version. As the sculpt progressed I would email pictures for approval, and when completed I made a multi-part silicone mold and produced three resin castings, two assembled and painted and the third in several pieces that would serve as the mold master for the production molds. The same process was used for the Salacious Crumb life size model I made a few years ago.
So, thanks for asking and let me know if you have any more questions.

Tony

So if anyone has anything else they would like to ask just let me know !

 

[dansdinosaurs]

So that's why the Spino looks so... salacious.

 

[Blade-of-the-Moon]

I suppose..heh

 

[Dyscrasia]

Thanks for sharing that mail~!

 

[Blade-of-the-Moon]

No problem, anything I can find out and can share I will... ;D

I wonder if Jorge is doing all the concept art for the line ? Having that art beside the pieces woud still be a great bonus I think.

The news that the Spino does have scars def made me happy..hopefully we can see some larger more detailed images that will show them at some point.

 

[Dyscrasia]

Finally pre-ordered this today through a local retailer, and got a $98 discount~~~ (even though it still cost me more than $750 )