My first homemade model!

[Avian]

Your figures all always amazing! I tried to make a Hawaiian Crow, Corvus tropicus, but it ended up looking like a lump of clay. The flagtail looks great!

[Isidro]

Thanks! I really would not know how to do a Hawaiian crow that looks like a Hawaiian crow instead a generic crow!

[Advicot]

Looking absolutely marvellous @Isidro The copies look virtually identical, and it seems like they are the same mould. 

[Isidro]

Well, I tried, but the paddlefish rostrum is longer and straighter. It's better actually
By the way, I used the same paint, the same paste, the same tools (mainly my fingers). so no wonder that they look the same

[OkapiBoy]

I love your sculpts and choices of species. Great job on those fish. Almost two years ago I started to sculpt but mostly prehistoric animals. I did a paddle fish, one of the few non-prehistoric, but I never did finish it.
Keep up the great work, you keep on improving with every new sculpt!

[Isidro]

Thanks OkapiBoy. My sculpting paste is soon to end and I must put love in my last figures (until I buy more paste some day!)

[Isidro]

Now guys and gals, I present you the last update of this thread. Some days ago I finished all the models spent with the remain of my modelling paste. I don't plan to buy more for a long while, so I don't think that I will do homemade models again in at least various months.


The goldfinch don't appear here, I forgot to include it in the group shot.

1. This is, again, a requested commision. A collector asked me to do a leafy seadragon. As this is a too complicated model to do for me, I rejected that, but he asked me a Dall's porpoise instead. If you remember well, Dall's porpoise was my first homemade. And casually also my last. This makes me seeing that I really improved a bit my scultping squills. The new porpoise is far better than the older: it have a not so chunky body, the bumps and shrinks are avoided, the fingerprints are much more scarce, the spiracle is centered, and the caudal peduncle is infinitely better.


But it also have a couple of bad issues due to modification of original position during baking. The tinfoil support was apparently not enough for prevent this. The tail fluke is greatly inclined to a side. I suppose that these animals can adopt occasionally this position however.


The second issue is that one flipper was completely broken before being bended a lot during baking (as the model fell over the flipper). I had to glue it in the inverse position. I left the glue to fill the empty space of the crack under the flipper, and I had to use a file for smooth the imperfections. The seam is still very visible but it would be enough well repaired if for my own collection.


Here the newest model (foreground) and the older one (background). The differences in quality are not so easy to appreciate in photo, but in real figures are noticeable. I was tempted to substitute the older one by the newest one, but I can't do, because the newest is not my 100th figure! The older have a symbolic value for me


2. The Russell's viper, Daboia russelli. This is a case of a taxonomic change that I accepted (ex Vipera), tough I could change my mind again Well, is not a great model. Overall, the head is too big, the neck is too thick. Scales are too weakly marked. The paintjob is beautiful and delicate, that took me a lot of patience, but the lateral spots adapting to the curves (one betwen each two dorsal spots) means that they're extremely separated in the outside of curves and extremely joined in the inside of curves. Anyway it's still recognizable and I will keep it in my collection.


Here with my other snakes (that I think are better): Fea's viper and mandarin ratsnake. At the moment all my snakes are Asian!


3. The standard-winged nightjar, Macrodipteryx longipennis. This is a model that I make just because I acquired a thinner wire, so I can do the "standards". You will notice that the original model had the standards in a different position. I sculpted it completely from memory so I only realized that the standards should depart from the upperside of the wing, and not from the back border, when I looked for photos for painting it after being baked. Also the shape of the standards was wrong. So I had to pull them out, glue them and also use a file for downsize one side of the feathers.

[Isidro]

4. The Eurasian goldfinch, Carduelis carduelis. Until now I did birds with the minimum size of a starling, but I tought that I could made smaller birds if they're in flight, avoiding the problem of too delicate/gross legs. The wings and tail are made of hard paper.
This bird measures 2 cm wingspan, so it's scale 1:10 to 1:15. A tiny jewel. And I love tiny jewels



5. The slender sunfish, Ranzania laevis. As many of you know, this is my favourite fish species. When I realized that my mother have a silver pen, I decided to do this model.



It's in scale with its giant cousin, the ocean sunfish (Mola mola) of Colorata, Salt water fish set


6. The Asian green mussel, Perna viridis. With 8 mm lenght, this is the smallest model of my collection.


Here compared with the spotted jellyfish (Mastigias papua) of Colorata Salt Water Fish set (compliment of the ocean sunfish above).


7. The clown knifefish, Chitala chitala. It don't stand upright, so I improved a small hardpaper stand for it. I really like a lot how this figure resulted.

[bmathison1972]

that knifefish looks really good!

[Isidro]

8. And by last, I want to present you, what i think is the best of all my homemade models. Finally, tried to honour my nickname (in STS forum, Pardofelis) by doing a marbled cat (Pardofelis marmorata), as Advicot suggested me long time ago selecting it from my list. I wanted to do something a bit different, so I chosed to do the cat yawning.
I absolutely loved it once sculpted, and I love even more once painted. The only possible issue is that is a bit too fat, but who knows, maybe he likes to eat a lot of squirrels and birds






Underside with the pink paws:


I even did the molars


Size comparison: with Papo ocelot...


Kaiyodo Iriomote cat...


Schleich leopard...


and with its closest cousin: the Bornean bay cat!

[bmathison1972]

that Pardofelis is spectacular! Wow!

You need to start working with someone who can mold and mass-produce these.

[Isidro]

Maybe, but I only have interest in doing special obscure species for enrich my own collection rather than turn into a brand of mass production

[Badger]

That nightjar is just priceless (although so are all of these models); the colours especially are faithful to the real thing.

[Advicot]

Always great to see your amazing models! 

[Isidro]

Hey guys! Look what I had for Epiphany!


Two different modelling pastes! WePam and Fimo Air!
I will use them first for repair/custom preexistent figures. But after, I maybe could restart making my own figures as in the old times

So, suggestions from the list below (and out of it if you want) are welcome!

My next batch is already baked, tough I probably will not find time for start painting before the weekend.

Advicot, as you enjoy giving me suggestions, I prepared a list of "to do", with the problem of which ones should I choose Maybe you (or anybody else is also welcome) would like to choose five species from the next list (and suggesting species not in the list is welcome too)

-Ashy-headed goose (Chloephaga poliocephala)
-Australian shelduck (Tadorna tadornoides)
-Banded hare wallaby (Lagostrophus fasciatus)
-Bearded vulture (Gypaetus barbatus)
-Beira (Dorcatragus megalotis)
-Bharal (Pseudois nayaur)
-Black and white hawk eagle (Spizaetus melanoleucus)
-Black-collared hawk (Busarellus nigricollis)
-Black-footed cat (Felis nigripes)
-Black-necked hare (Lepus nigricollis)
-Black-necked swan (Cygnus melancoryphus)
-Blue eared pheasant (Crossoptilon auritum)
-Blue-headed pigeon (Starnoenas cyanocephala)
-Blue-ringed angelfish (Pomacanthus annularis)
-Bornean bristlehead (Pityriasis gymnocephala)
-Bowfin (Amia calva)
-Butterfly ray (Gymnura altavela)
-Capuchinbird (Perissocephalus tricolor)
-Carolina parakeet (Conuropsis carolinensis)
-Caucasian grouse (Lyrurus mlokosiewiczii)
-Choiseul pigeon (Microgoura meeki)
-Cloven-feathered dove (Drepanoptila holosericea)
-Commerson's dolphin (Cephalorhynchus commersonii)
-Common loon (Gavia immer)
-Congo peafowl (Afropavo congensis)
-Crimson-headed partridge (Haematortyx sanguiniceps)
-Dingiso (Dendrolagus mbaiso)
-Drill (Mandrillus leucophaeus)
-Egyptian plover (Pluvianus aegyptius)
-El Hierro giant lizard (Gallotia simonyi)
-Epaulette shark (Hemiscyllium ocellatum)
-Falanouc (Eupleres goudotii)
-Fanaloka (Fossa fossana)
-Fiddler ray (Trygonorrhina fasciata)
-Flagtail characin (Semaprochilodus taeniourus)
-Flame bowerbird (Sericulus ardens)
-Flat-headed cat (Prionailurus planiceps)
-Flightless cormorant (Phalacrocorax harrisi)
-Giant auk (Pinguinus impennis)
-Grandidier's mongoose (Galidictis grandidieri)
-Great auk (Pinguinus impennis)
-Great blue turaco (Corythaeola cristata)
-Greater adjutant (Leptoptilos dubius)
-Grey peacock-pheasant (Polyplectron bicalcaratum)
-Hooded seal (Cystophora cristata)
-Horned guan (Oreophasis derbianus)
-Huia (Heteralocha acutirostris)
-Hyacinth macaw (Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus)
-Inca tern (Larosterna inca)
-King eider (Somateria spectabilis)
-Kokako (Callaeas cinerea)
-Lady Amherst's pheasant (Chrysolophus amherstiae)
-Large Indian civet (Viverra zibetha)
-Lesser grison (Galictis cuja)
-Maleo (Macrocephalon maleo)
-Mandarin duck (Aix galericulata)
-Marbled cat (Pardofelis marmorata)
-Marsupial mole (Notoryctes typhlops)
-Motoro freshwater stingray (Potamotrygon motoro)
-Mountain coati (Nasuella olivacea)
-Mountain tapir (Tapirus pinchaque)
-Musk duck (Biziura lobata)
-Nilgiri marten (Martes gwatkinsii)
-Northern screamer (Chauna chavaria)
-Nubian ibex (Capra nubiana)
-Ocellated knifefish (Chitala chitala)
-Owston's palm civet (Chrotogale owstoni)
-Painted terrapin (Batagur borneoensis)
-Palm cockatoo (Probosciger aterrimus)
-Pampas deer (Blastocerus dichotomus)
-Passenger pigeon (Ectopistes migratorius)
-Pel's fishing owl (Scotopelia peli)
-Philippine eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi)
-Pileated heron (Pilherodius pileatus)
-Pin-tailed sandgrouse (Pterocles alchata)
-Purple heron (Ardea purpurea)
-Pygmy hog (Porcula salvania)
-Rainbow boa (Epicrates cenchria)
-Red-legged partridge (Alectoris rufa)
-Red-necked goose (Branta ruficollis)
-Regent bowerbird (Sericulus chrysocephalus)
-Ringtail (Bassariscus astutus)
-Ross's seal (Ommatophoca rossii)
-Russell's viper (Daboia russelli)
-Scarlet ibis (Eudocimus ruber)
-Snow pigeon (Columba leuconota)
-Spanish ibex (Capra pyrenaica)
-Spectacled eider (Somateria fischeri)
-Spectacled owl (Pulsatrix perspicillata)
-Spix's macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii)
-Splendid toadfish (Sanopus splendidus)
-Spotted linsang (Prionodon pardicolor)
-Takahe (Porphyrio mantelli)
-Thai bamboo ratsnake (Elaphe porphyracea)
-Thick-billed raven (Corvus crassirostris)
-Torrent duck (Merganetta armata)
-Water chevrotain (Hyemoschus aquaticus)
-White-bellied imperial pigeon (Ducula forsteni)
-White-faced whistling duck (Dendrocygna viduata)
-Whooping crane (Grus americana)
-Winghead shark (Eusphyra blochii)
-Yapok (Chironectes minimus)
-Yellow-footed rock wallaby (Petrogale xanthopus)

[Lanthanotus]

I just got aware of this thread, really great work there ..... my suggestion from your list (in absence of reptiles if I did not miss a thing) would be the Congo Peafowl.

[Isidro]

Done! My new congo peacock made this morning. I fear is a bit small comared with my other landfowl, however it scales well with most of my mammals.



My Galliformes:


The Congo Team:


And there are indeed some reptiles in the list. Not many because they're not easy to do. I especially don't want to mess with lizard fingers! And few reptiles are enough big for make decent models more or less in scale with my other animals. But feel free to suggest more species - colorful snakes would be my favourite because they're attractive and easy to do (I already did Fea's viper, Mandarin ratsnake and Russell's viper).


-Agami heron (Agamia agami)
-Ashy-headed goose (Chloephaga poliocephala)
-Australian shelduck (Tadorna tadornoides)
-Banded hare wallaby (Lagostrophus fasciatus)
-Bearded vulture (Gypaetus barbatus)
-Beira (Dorcatragus megalotis)
-Bharal (Pseudois nayaur)
-Black and white hawk eagle (Spizaetus melanoleucus)
-Black-collared hawk (Busarellus nigricollis)
-Black-footed cat (Felis nigripes)
-Black-necked hare (Lepus nigricollis)
-Black-necked swan (Cygnus melancoryphus)
-Blue eared pheasant (Crossoptilon auritum)
-Blue-headed pigeon (Starnoenas cyanocephala)
-Blue-ringed angelfish (Pomacanthus annularis)
-Bornean bristlehead (Pityriasis gymnocephala)
-Bowfin (Amia calva)
-Brazilian electric ray (Narcine brasiliensis)
-Butterfly ray (Gymnura altavela)
-Cape coral cobra (Aspidelaps lubricus)
-Capuchinbird (Perissocephalus tricolor)
-Carolina parakeet (Conuropsis carolinensis)
-Caucasian grouse (Lyrurus mlokosiewiczii)
-Choiseul pigeon (Microgoura meeki)
-Cloven-feathered dove (Drepanoptila holosericea)
-Comb duck (Sarkidiornis melanotos)
-Commerson's dolphin (Cephalorhynchus commersonii)
-Common loon (Gavia immer)
-Congo peafowl (Afropavo congensis)
-Crimson-headed partridge (Haematortyx sanguiniceps)
-Dingiso (Dendrolagus mbaiso)
-Drill (Mandrillus leucophaeus)
-Egyptian plover (Pluvianus aegyptius)
-El Hierro giant lizard (Gallotia simonyi)
-Epaulette shark (Hemiscyllium ocellatum)
-Ethiopian mountain adder (Bitis parviocula)
-Falanouc (Eupleres goudotii)
-Fanaloka (Fossa fossana)
-Fiddler ray (Trygonorrhina fasciata)
-Flagtail characin (Semaprochilodus insignis)
-Flame bowerbird (Sericulus ardens)
-Flat-headed cat (Prionailurus planiceps)
-Flightless cormorant (Phalacrocorax harrisi)
-Gaboon viper (Bitis gabonica)
-Giant ibis (Thaumatibis gigantea)
-Golden pheasant (Chrysolophus pictus)
-Grandidier's mongoose (Galidictis grandidieri)
-Great auk (Pinguinus impennis)
-Great blue turaco (Corythaeola cristata)
-Greater adjutant (Leptoptilos dubius)
-Grey peacock-pheasant (Polyplectron bicalcaratum)
-Grey-banded king snake (Lampropeltis alterna)
-Hooded seal (Cystophora cristata)
-Horned guan (Oreophasis derbianus)
-Huia (Heteralocha acutirostris)
-Hyacinth macaw (Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus)
-Inca tern (Larosterna inca)
-King eider (Somateria spectabilis)
-Kokako (Callaeas cinerea)
-Lady Amherst's pheasant (Chrysolophus amherstiae)
-Large Indian civet (Viverra zibetha)
-Lesser grison (Galictis cuja)
-Maleo (Macrocephalon maleo)
-Mandarin duck (Aix galericulata)
-Mangroce snake (Boiga dendrophila)
-Marbled cat (Pardofelis marmorata)
-Marsupial mole (Notoryctes typhlops)
-Motoro freshwater stingray (Potamotrygon motoro)
-Mountain coati (Nasuella olivacea)
-Mountain tapir (Tapirus pinchaque)
-Musk duck (Biziura lobata)
-Nilgiri marten (Martes gwatkinsii)
-Northern coral snake (Micrurus fulvius)
-Northern screamer (Chauna chavaria)
-Nubian ibex (Capra nubiana)
-Ocellated knifefish (Chitala chitala)
-Owston's palm civet (Chrotogale owstoni)
-Painted terrapin (Batagur borneoensis)
-Palawan peacock pheasant (Polyplectron napoleonis)
-Palm cockatoo (Probosciger aterrimus)
-Pampas deer (Blastocerus dichotomus)
-Passenger pigeon (Ectopistes migratorius)
-Pel's fishing owl (Scotopelia peli)
-Philippine eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi)
-Pileated heron (Pilherodius pileatus)
-Pin-tailed sandgrouse (Pterocles alchata)
-Purple heron (Ardea purpurea)
-Pygmy hog (Porcula salvania)
-Rainbow boa (Epicrates cenchria)
-Red-legged partridge (Alectoris rufa)
-Red-necked goose (Branta ruficollis)
-Regent bowerbird (Sericulus chrysocephalus)
-Rhinoceros hornbill (Buceros rhinoceros)
-Ringtail (Bassariscus astutus)
-Ross's seal (Ommatophoca rossii)
-Russell's viper (Daboia russelli)
-Scarlet ibis (Eudocimus ruber)
-Snow pigeon (Columba leuconota)
-Spanish ibex (Capra pyrenaica)
-Spectacled eider (Somateria fischeri)
-Spectacled owl (Pulsatrix perspicillata)
-Spix's macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii)
-Splendid toadfish (Sanopus splendidus)
-Spotted linsang (Prionodon pardicolor)
-Sulawesi knobbed hornbill (Aceros cassidix)
-Takahe (Porphyrio mantelli)
-Thai bamboo ratsnake (Elaphe porphyracea)
-Thick-billed raven (Corvus crassirostris)
-Torrent duck (Merganetta armata)
-Water chevrotain (Hyemoschus aquaticus)
-White-bellied imperial pigeon (Ducula forsteni)
-White-faced whistling duck (Dendrocygna viduata)
-Whooping crane (Grus americana)
-Winghead shark (Eusphyra blochii)
-Yapok (Chironectes minimus)
-Yellow-footed rock wallaby (Petrogale xanthopus)

[Advicot]

More than happy to pick you some figures to make! 

Agami heron (Agamia agami)      Such a beautiful heron
Fiddler ray (Trygonorrhina fasciata)   It has a beautiful pattern on its back
Owston's palm civet (Chrotogale owstoni)       My favourite civet species
Snow pigeon (Columba leuconota)   My favourite columbiform
Northern screamer (Chauna chavaria)    We really need screamers in figure form

[Isidro]

Great Adam, they will be my next ones!

[BlueKrono]

My five would be:

Scarlet ibis
Epaulette shark
Horned guan
Marsupial mole

And one of the most brilliantly colored snakes I know of, the rhinoceros viper (Bitis nasicornis). They come in fantastically bright blues, reds and yellows.