Himmapaan's Customs and What-Nots (DK T.rex, p.5)

[Himmapaan]

Resin Giganotosaurus sculpted by Michael Lovejoy of the UK. I've had this model for a long time time now (three years?), but have only just decided to paint him soon after joining this forum. Even then, it wasn't until this week that I've actually had time to begin.

There is still a long way to go, but this is his current progress. I had originally hoped to just post him once he was fully complete, but we seem to have had a good deal of talk about various Giganotosaurus toys/models on the forum of late, so I couldn't resist showing this progress.



The model originally came in two pieces, which in my case happened to have been cast in different colours of resin. This picture was taken before I had filled in and detailed the joins.

[Tylosaurus]

d**n man this one is very authentic, just love the looks of this one, I look foreward to your progress man
what scale is it 1/40 ?

[brontodocus]

Hi Himmapaan,

given the lovely sculpt and your amazing talents it will be a great piece when it's finished. Not that it wasn't great already but I'm really interested in your paint work... I've seen that kit on Link&Pin if I recall correctly but I didn't know the sculptor was from the UK. Did you also buy it within the UK? I reallly like its low build and already thought of getting one myself... I think I remember it wasn't too expensive. But maybe it's already out of production?

As for the different colours of the resin parts, this seems not to be so uncommon, it was the same in my Paleocraft Dinohyus Daeodon which also had the main body in grey and the baseplate and tail in ivory white. Perhaps the grey one is a different resin mixture that uses less hardener and wouldn't heat up too much during the casting process - which could lead to cracks in more voluminous pieces, just an idea but it would make sense.

[Himmapaan]

Ah, how interesting, Dr. Andre. That could well be the reason. This piece is relatively small and I have far larger resins (of horses, though ;D) which didn't seem to require different material for parts -- but it may be that many of those were hollow cast. I would love to understand more too. According to Michael's website, this piece had indeed been sold via Link & Pin, though I hadn't been able to find it there myself. I actually got this one from Michael himself via eBay. It would be good if it was still available.

Tylo, it's officially described as being in 1:50 scale, although it is almost smaller than the Kinto Favorite T.rex, which is supposed to be 1:50 too.

[Radman]

Y 'know, I'd been thinking about buying this piece from L+P for years, 'cause it was actually reasonably priced. Hearing this, though, I'm glad I didn't; I would have been disappointed 'cause I thought it was at least twice as big.


I'm sure Himma will do an awesome job with it, though.
;D

[sumo]

Whoa. That's an awesome sculpture! Can't wait to see what you do with it - I'm already loving the color!

[brontodocus]

I'm still envious even despite its smallness.

[Himmapaan]

Thank you for all your kind encouragement!

I must say I do like its being on the relatively small side; but you know my fondness for small but beautifully formed things.

I will try taking a picture of it with the Kinto rex for comparison.

[Himmapaan]

Pictures with the Kinto Favorite rex. I said earlier that the resin is 'almost smaller' than the Favorite rex, but that was a rather insufficient description. It's certainly much slimmer and its carriage is lower, but in profile, its body occupies practically the same sort of space (for want of a better description). It's also more or less the same length (in a straight line).






(This one is also in case anyone is wondering what his other side looks like at present ;D)

[postsaurischian]

Beautiful model! It already looks great the way you painted it.
I would definitely get one if I had the chance!

[Horridus]

Nice work so far. I look forward to seeing how it turns out!

[Himmapaan]

Thank you both.

[bokisaurus]

Very nice model, and paint job. I actually like how it looks right now. It has a very subtle and smooth look to it. I was not aware of this figure at all... but again, I was not really looking for model kits, I do hat having to put them together ;D
Can't wait to see the final finished piece

[Himmapaan]

Thank you so much, Boki.

[Radman]

I do like the side-by-side shots. Curious how the giga looks so emaciated from the dorsal view, or is the rex just fat? And are the giga's legs too short; I recall the Carnegie being kinda leggy. Anyway, I look forward to your finished take on this model

[simon]

Its a nice sculpt, (though I am not a fan of the 'arms against body sculpting trouble-saver' technique ;D )

But the legs are definitely too short for that body. Giganotosaurus DID have shorter legs than TRex (massive none-the-less as the animal was probably heavier), but not that short ...

[Himmapaan]

Hehe, it does look rather on the uh... streamlined side next to the Favorite rex. ;D On the other hand, perhaps the rex is portly, as you say. ;D

It's such a well-done sculpture on the whole that I don't mind the arms' position in this case.

Geene Models' Giganotosaurus (which I also have but haven't yet built) also has apparently short legs, and Galileo had been quizzed on that before too. He maintains they are correct though. A few skeleton mounts:
www.fmnh.helsinki.fi/ltm/kuvat/620giganotosaurus.jpg
www.paleofun.com/exhibits/dinosaurs/GIGA-SFSM.jpg
logansdinoworld.com/images/Giganotosaurus2.jpg

Whatever the case, I don't really have any complaints about either of them. ;D

And the current painting progress:





The first was taken in natural light, but is rather dark, now that British autumnal gloom has arrived. The second was taken under my desk lamp, but it looks slightly redder and yellower than it actually is. Please try to imagine something between the two, if you can. The former is closer to the real thing in terms of general colours and appearance, whilst the latter shows details more clearly.

[Himmapaan]

I managed to get a few slightly better pictures.

[bokisaurus]

It really is a nice figure, its very smooth looking
Were there more figures from the same artist? Oh, how did you make the feet attachment/joint look so nicely put together? Did you use any some sort of filler?
I have a figure that I'm assembling, and there are gaps I need to fill out... scared! ;D
Looking good.

[Meso-Cenozoic]

Very nice, Himmapaan! Sorry I'm late with a response. (Boy, there are just so many threads to keep track of, hehe!) But, like I had mentioned before, I am very interested to see how you will paint some of your models.

In this latest phase, you did exactly what I thought you might do next. While I was looking at your first pics, I thought, hmmm? maybe a nice dark wash next would be nice. ;D

It seems like it is nearly complete. Maybe just some small detailing now, right? -- eyes, claws and such. Are you thinking about a subtle dry-brushed pattern of any kind? Could be nice, but, the solid color blends are nice as is too.

I do like this figure. His details are amazing. So amazing, that it almost looks as if he's wearing his muscles on the outside of his skin.