Cacique Caribe | 15 Apr 2012 9:21 a.m. PST |
Or with 8 or 10 legs, similar to the "Calot" (Woola?) in John Carter of Mars:
cghub.com/images/view/218076 link I imagine someone gaming Fantasy, Pulp, SF or VSF must know. Perhaps something made for 10mm or other small scale, that would look dog-sized next to a 15mm human? Or something that could be easily converted? Thanks, Dan TMP link |
Cacique Caribe | 15 Apr 2012 10:06 a.m. PST |
This is one reason why I see the creature as salamander-like:
That's a picture of a specimen of giant salamander. And here's what a Chinese giant salamander looks like:
Similar to the prehistoric "Hynerpeton": YouTube link Dan |
darthfozzywig | 15 Apr 2012 1:37 p.m. PST |
I <3 your posts, Cacique. |
John the OFM | 15 Apr 2012 3:33 p.m. PST |
It looks like a pit bull I encountered this weekend. |
SirFjodin | 15 Apr 2012 3:51 p.m. PST |
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Cacique Caribe | 15 Apr 2012 4:16 p.m. PST |
Wow, SirFjodin, that looks so cool! Is it being produced already? Dan |
Cacique Caribe | 15 Apr 2012 4:17 p.m. PST |
John, Now that you mention it, it DOES look like a squat little six-legged bulldog!!! Dan PS. Some of those pics and drawings of "Woola" do seem to show another pair or two of legs under the belly. Hmm. |
corporalpat | 15 Apr 2012 4:19 p.m. PST |
Here is the Black Hat version of the Calot. link |
Cacique Caribe | 15 Apr 2012 4:29 p.m. PST |
Interesting. Seem like regular dogs with multiple legs. Here's a description of the Calot: "Calot The Barsoomian dog. About the size of a Shetland pony, omnivorous, the calot has ten short legs. The head bears a slight resemblance to a frog, except that the jaws are equipped with three rows of long, sharp tusks. Described as "pop-eyed" meaning protruding eyes. The calot is endowed with extraordinary strength and stamina. only the thoat can cover more territory in a single day." link And this is the actual description of John's first encounter with a Calot, as written by Edgar Rice Burroughs in "A Princess of Mars", Chapter 4: "Sola motioned me to be seated upon a pile of silks near the center of the room, and, turning, made a peculiar hissing sound, as though signaling to someone in an adjoining room. In response to her call I obtained my first sight of a new Martian wonder. It waddled in on its ten short legs, and squatted down before the girl like an obedient puppy. The thing was about the size of a Shetland pony, but its head bore a slight resemblance to that of a frog, except that the jaws were equipped with three rows of long, sharp tusks . . . I could see from the shortness of his legs that the brute himself was no jumper and probably no runner. Slowly and carefully, therefore, I gained my feet, only to see that my watcher did the same; cautiously I advanced toward him, finding that by moving with a shuffling gait I could retain my balance as well as make reasonably rapid progress. As I neared the brute he backed cautiously away from me, and when I had reached the open he moved to one side to let me pass. He then fell in behind me and followed about ten paces in my rear as I made my way along the deserted street. Evidently his mission was to protect me only, I thought, but when we reached the edge of the city he suddenly sprang before me, uttering strange sounds and baring his ugly and ferocious tusks. Thinking to have some amusement at his expense, I rushed toward him, and when almost upon him sprang into the air, alighting far beyond him and away from the city. He wheeled instantly and charged me with the most appalling speed I had ever beheld. I had thought his short legs a bar to swiftness, but had he been coursing with greyhounds the latter would have appeared as though asleep on a door mat. As I was to learn, this is the fleetest animal on Mars, and owing to its intelligence, loyalty, and ferocity is used in hunting, in war, and as the protector of the Martian man." link Here's an artistic interpretation I've just found. I haven't really stood next to a Shetland pony, but I have a feeling the one in the illustration may be a bit too big:
link I really like how ERB described it as waddling in. So, I guess that a squat creature, the size of a Shetland pony, but with a broad frog-like head is key. Dan |
Cacique Caribe | 15 Apr 2012 4:52 p.m. PST |
I wonder if Waterbears (Tardigrades) could be trained to act as pets, if they were somehow made into the size of a Shetland pony:
link
link Dan TMP link |
Lion in the Stars | 15 Apr 2012 4:55 p.m. PST |
Great, a 4-foot-tall bulldog/greyhound/frog
Except for having to feed the dang thing, I think it'd be great fun to have! Disney totally picked up on the pug/bulldog aspects, makes it more
personable. Even I could probably sculpt one, CC. Is your GS-fu that weak? |
Cacique Caribe | 15 Apr 2012 4:57 p.m. PST |
"Is your GS-fu that weak?" LOL. I might, but it wouldn't look pretty. :) Pain in my arms is almost gone, but the fingers are still weak and trembly. But, with a little more time and exercise, I'll get there. Who knows. Perhaps sculpting a Calot is the best way to get those fingers back again: YouTube link link Dan PS. You guys aren't going to believe this. Now you can have your Woola and eat it too: YouTube link |
corporalpat | 15 Apr 2012 8:44 p.m. PST |
@Cacique Caribe I agree, I like the Movie version way better. They are much closer to the description by Burroughs. But, since I was buying Black Hat back when, I went with their version. They are too small, and way too dog like for my taste. Now, if we can just get Khurasan Miniatures to make a John Carter range in 15mm
hmmm |
Cacique Caribe | 16 Apr 2012 3:44 a.m. PST |
Hey, check this out:
link Wow. Now I can focus more on the details, because color is not a distraction in that image. Dan |
CooperSteveOnTheLaptop | 16 Apr 2012 5:31 a.m. PST |
'Except for having to feed the dang thing' That was my one quibble with the glorious JOHN CARTER movie, I felt we should have seen the food supply. a shot of fields or some sort of hydroponics plant would have achieved this & removed what for me was a disbelief hindrance
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Cacique Caribe | 16 Apr 2012 8:55 a.m. PST |
LOL THAT's what makes an SF/Fantasy movie unbelievable to you!!! :) Just kiddin', of course. I also half expected to see the Martians havesting some sort of (semi or fully) subterranean crops. Edgar Rice Burroughs was often pretty detailed about all aspects of his fictional societies, including their agriculture (or aquaculture, in some cases). Then again, it was a "new" topic for a movie (for the latest generation, that is), and the focus would have been to establish the characters and the main premise as quickly as possible, before they lost the extremely short attention span kids seem to have these days. Dan |
Farstar | 16 Apr 2012 9:56 a.m. PST |
Some of those pics and drawings of "Woola" do seem to show another pair or two of legs under the belly. Yup. This was a point of nerd-rage in several places when the first images of the movie Woola appeared. "Only six legs!? Heresy!" But then a bit more information appeared, and the Director mentioned in one interview that Woola was indeed ten-legged, but the other four were tucked in underneath and not visible in the first pictures released. Makes Woola quite the ATV. |
J Womack 94 | 16 Apr 2012 11:12 a.m. PST |
Who's a good calot? Woola is! Woola's a good calot! |
Farstar | 16 Apr 2012 11:51 a.m. PST |
Looks like a few more model images at link Not "sculpting" as such: link and:
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Lion in the Stars | 16 Apr 2012 4:25 p.m. PST |
Is your GS-fu that weak? LOL. I might, but it wouldn't look pretty. :)Pain in my arms is almost gone, but the fingers are still weak and trembly. But, with a little more time and exercise, I'll get there. Who knows. Perhaps sculpting a Calot is the best way to get those fingers back again.
Well, that does put a little egg on my face! I would like to point out that a friend of mine was told by the docs to practice sleight-of-hand tricks for an hour or two every day to keep his hands from curling into claws with arthritis. Silly Scotsman punched something too hard (like another Scotsman's head) and broke his knuckles one too many times. So making the hands and fingers move is definitely the best way to keep them moving! So do a little sculpting, a little painting, and push some minis around, it's good for you. @Farstar: That's quite the 'cute' picture of Woola, but I keep expecting him to bust out a frog-tongue and snatch that dragonfly right out of the sky. |
Cacique Caribe | 17 Apr 2012 9:36 a.m. PST |
Lion, Dude, you're killing me!!! I went ahead and followed your medical advice and got this far on the head: link NOTE: Apologies for photo quality. I still don't have my regular camera and backgrounds. Anyway, this is my very first attempt at making a Barsoomian Calot for 15mm. Height still needs adjustment, but it stands now at 11 or 12mm to top of head. It's supposed to be a 4-foot tall creature. So, at 3mm to a foot, sounds like it's on track. The only detail done so far is on the face, but I can already see from the photos that the upper lip still needs a little work. Don't worry about the legs yet. Those still need a lot of adjusting before I put putty on them. My hands are going to hurt for a while, so I have to put off making the rest for now. It's actually a good thing, since it will allow me a chance to get feedback from you guys on this specific stage of the work. So, please let me know what you think of the face so far. Thanks, Dan |
Farstar | 17 Apr 2012 9:48 a.m. PST |
He looks so happy to be sculpted. We may need the "Wut?" and "Who farted?" looks too, at some point. |
arngrimson | 17 Apr 2012 9:58 a.m. PST |
Dan thats real nice when will we be able to get hold of a few? Wish I could see to make anything as well as he is. |
Cacique Caribe | 17 Apr 2012 10:48 a.m. PST |
Thanks! It may be a while before he's finished. Though it will get better, my hands still cramp up when I mix the putty and when I hold the sculpting tools. My doctor, my wife and Lion in the Stars all say to exercise little by little, to get the tendons and nerves to loosen up again. I can't argue with them so, don't worry, I will keep working on it a little at a time, as the pain gets better. I feel something is off about the face. You guys care to help me figure it out?
link Dan |
Kev1340 | 17 Apr 2012 11:26 a.m. PST |
Looks like cracking start to me! Seems your GS-fu is stronger than you thought. Cheers, Kev |
arngrimson | 17 Apr 2012 12:22 p.m. PST |
I need new eyes. It's a pity that you haven't got a better close up of his face, but I'm not too sure about the lower jaw; but it could be the pic/my eyes. But it also depends on which of the original pics you are basing him on as they have different faces/lips/jaw structure. |
CAPTAIN BEEFHEART | 17 Apr 2012 12:50 p.m. PST |
Why do you need this stuff? Calm down and buy a nice set of Napoleonic line infantry. "Does anyone make flame thrower equipped Lesbian Nuns with mustaches in 15mm?
.Oh Lord I think I've set him off again
. |
1905Adventure | 17 Apr 2012 12:58 p.m. PST |
Translation: Stop liking what you like and like what I like! What an illogical position to hold when it comes to peoples' hobby interests. Dan, great job on that sculpting. It looks fantastic. |
Cacique Caribe | 17 Apr 2012 2:07 p.m. PST |
Cap'n, now you got me thinking . . . just kidding. A friend keeps trying to get me into Napoleonics and I won't go for it. But it might make a nice little joke . . . hmm. Dan |
1905Adventure | 17 Apr 2012 2:55 p.m. PST |
Dan, you should consider, once it's done, finding out if anyone would cast and sell it (or you could). I know 15mm.co.uk has a section for indie-sculptors. I know I'd like to get my hands on a pack of martian puppies as well and I think it would fit right in with this range: 15mm.co.uk/SHM_Range.htm |
Cacique Caribe | 17 Apr 2012 3:34 p.m. PST |
Let's see how it turns out first. Hopefully, with your helpfull eyes, I might improve on the details and get it done little by little. I'll try to take better pictures, once my wife comes back home on Friday with our regular camera. By then I hope to have made a little more headway on the critter. Thanks, Dan |
1905Adventure | 17 Apr 2012 3:55 p.m. PST |
The pictures from the movie have woola with lips that sort of come out from his mouth over his face hide. I think if you got that effect and the segment/folds on the upper right and left of his mouth to be more pronounced, that would help. |
Cacique Caribe | 17 Apr 2012 4:41 p.m. PST |
Excellent!!! That's what I needed to hear. I'll try to correct it later tonight. Thanks! What about the two bulges on the back of the head (which remind me of the big paratoid glands in a toad)? Too much, too little, or just right?
link I want to finish those details on the face/head before I move on to the body. Dan |
1905Adventure | 17 Apr 2012 5:38 p.m. PST |
They look close, but I can't really tell from the picture. It's certainly giving the right impression. I also can't tell about the height of his nostrols/nose. If you look at the shots from the move, his eyes are about the same height as the top nostrils. |
GypsyComet | 17 Apr 2012 11:03 p.m. PST |
The bulges look like that's how his jaws work. Especially with how elevated his head is with his mouth open. It looks like his lower jaw is hinged to the rest of his body about mid-jaw. The rear of the jawbone rises when his mouth is wide open, carrying the upper skull, with eyes and nose, upward with it. The upper skull is not hinged all the way back, however, so the upper skull appears to grow those bulges. They may be bone-supported, or there may be so much muscle involved in the jaw (which makes sense for a land shark like Woola) that the bones at the back of the jaw are still deep beneath the now bunched up muscles. |
SirFjodin | 18 Apr 2012 6:25 a.m. PST |
2 Cacique Caribe He was received by 15mm.co.uk for SHM range. Hope for soon release. |
Cacique Caribe | 18 Apr 2012 6:44 a.m. PST |
Nice! I must put in on my to-buy list. Thanks, Dan |
SirFjodin | 19 Apr 2012 6:41 a.m. PST |
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Cacique Caribe | 19 Apr 2012 4:10 p.m. PST |
STAGE 2 OF MY CALOT I took and posted another set of 5 pictures on my Flickr account. Here's one of those pics:
The first of the five starts here: link At Stage 2 of the project, the face is just about finished. In a couple of days I will begin work on the lower set of legs, then the outer set and, finally the body. But I can only work a little at a time for now, until my fingers stop cramping and trembling. It's getting better each day since the surgeries, and I couldn't wait to play with putty again. Please let me know what you think of the finished face! For the face I tried to make it look more like the one here, which looks a lot like a salamander. I hope I succeeded a little in capturing the essence of the face on this critter:
Thanks, Dan link |
TheCount | 19 Apr 2012 7:23 p.m. PST |
Looks great Dan! I'd be tempted to fill in the eyes with tiny spots of Stuff but I know how difficult that can be (I sculpt too). Anyway, looking forward to the next stage. Regards, TC. |
Cacique Caribe | 19 Apr 2012 8:20 p.m. PST |
TC, You mean make the eyelids cover more of the eyes? If so, that's definitely doable. Thanks, Dan |
Lion in the Stars | 19 Apr 2012 8:42 p.m. PST |
I think he meant 'make eyeballs'
Looking good, CC! Told ya it'd do you good to get the hands moving again! |
TheCount | 19 Apr 2012 9:12 p.m. PST |
Yes, I meant eyeballs! Cheers, TC. |
Cacique Caribe | 19 Apr 2012 9:30 p.m. PST |
Lion: "Told ya it'd do you good to get the hands moving again!" LOL. So you did! But you should see how swollen they look right now. You are a very bad influence on me. :) Dan |
Lion in the Stars | 20 Apr 2012 3:58 a.m. PST |
That's OK, I have a wonderful recommendation to reduce swelling of the hands: One cold beer plus one ibuprofen, and hold the beer in one hand exclusively. When the first beer is gone, have another beer and one ibuprofen, but hold the beer in the other hand! I am a *very* bad influence on people
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Cacique Caribe | 20 Apr 2012 4:03 a.m. PST |
I have GOT to try that today! A plain bag of ice on the hand just doesn't feel the same. Dan |
Lion in the Stars | 21 Apr 2012 6:54 a.m. PST |
Oh, I should add that the cold beer method works best if you use a chilled stein or glass mug, to slow down how fast the beer warms up. I might be a bad influence, but it works. Murphy's Third Law (of armed combat) states that if it's stupid and it works, it's not stupid. |
Farstar | 29 Jun 2012 10:39 a.m. PST |
Any progress on the Happy Calot? |
Cacique Caribe | 29 Jun 2012 11:22 a.m. PST |
Yes! Thanks for the reminder. I need to post some pics for you guys. I'll see what I can do later tonight. Dan |
Cacique Caribe | 26 Jul 2012 2:46 p.m. PST |
UPDATE Stage 3 (third set of five photos): Face definitely complete. Filled out the legs more and underbelly. The "belly" legs are NOT done yet. Added limits of where the side skin flaps will cover:
link I know I still have a long way to go but, what do you guys think so far? Suggestions? Thanks, Dan |