Warlady Posted December 3, 2007 Share Posted December 3, 2007 Omigod! She's awesome - I love what you did with the wings! I will have to try that, as I am in a dragon-painting mood myself. This is an amazing thread - glad you came back to it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mousekiller Posted December 4, 2007 Share Posted December 4, 2007 Glad to see you back working on the old lass... She is looking beautiful. Those wings looks amazing, very nice job on those. Also, great work on the bathroom, that is a great set up with the shower separate from the bath. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stubbdog Posted December 4, 2007 Share Posted December 4, 2007 Ditto on both things MouseK said. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
olliekickflip Posted December 4, 2007 Share Posted December 4, 2007 This is a great thread! Especially all the bits you use in your Dremel tool. Gonna have to get some of those! Aaron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LordColdsteal Posted December 5, 2007 Share Posted December 5, 2007 Those wings are intense... transparent almost... nicely done Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator TaleSpinner Posted December 6, 2007 Author Moderator Share Posted December 6, 2007 Thanks for all the support guys! You really keep me wanting to paint. It seems so weird to be done with the bathroom and actually have some free time again. I almost feel guilty for spending time in my studio, like I'm getting away with something. I started her hands last night. If I can get a few more nights in the next couple of weeks, I may have another update or two by Christmas. @oliekickflip: you can get most of the Dremel bits I use at Micromark. Again thanks for the support and keeping me going. I'm really hoping to have her done before the two year mark! Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kang Posted December 6, 2007 Share Posted December 6, 2007 Very informative WiP, especially the early steps using your Dremel. I always wondered how people were able to use them to clean up their minis without totally destroying them. Thanks to this thread, I'm beginning to see the light - quite amazing what you're able to accomplish with it, and I'd imagine you end up saving a lot of time on much of the preliminary cleanup as compared to using nothing more than stone knives and bearskins... er, I mean needle files and X-Acto knives! The only question I have is, am I correct in assuming one would need a Dremel that can be set to lower RPM's to safely apply these techniques? I've got a cheaper model at home that only goes at full speed, and if it could be used without too much extra difficulty and risk, I could see it maybe being worth springing for some of those micro-bits you're using. But if I would need a whole new rotary tool then it's probably a little out of my range... Aside from the Dremel stuff, I just have to say that Cinder is looking absolutely incredible. Thanks for posting this; do continue! Kang Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator TaleSpinner Posted December 6, 2007 Author Moderator Share Posted December 6, 2007 Very informative WiP, especially the early steps using your Dremel. I always wondered how people were able to use them to clean up their minis without totally destroying them. Thanks to this thread, I'm beginning to see the light - quite amazing what you're able to accomplish with it, and I'd imagine you end up saving a lot of time on much of the preliminary cleanup as compared to using nothing more than stone knives and bearskins... er, I mean needle files and X-Acto knives! The only question I have is, am I correct in assuming one would need a Dremel that can be set to lower RPM's to safely apply these techniques? I've got a cheaper model at home that only goes at full speed, and if it could be used without too much extra difficulty and risk, I could see it maybe being worth springing for some of those micro-bits you're using. But if I would need a whole new rotary tool then it's probably a little out of my range... Aside from the Dremel stuff, I just have to say that Cinder is looking absolutely incredible. Thanks for posting this; do continue! Kang For the diamond bits and the rubber polishing bits you want to use high speed, so those would work fine in your Dremel. For the carbide tool, I usually use mid-speed so it doesn't load-up with filings. You clould probably use it at high-speed, but you would have to pause occasionally to allow the tool to clear itself. I do recommend that you get the flexi shaft, as it makes everything easier and you have better control. I use the diamond bits for about 70% of what I do. You can always polish with a needle file. It is the diamond bit set that is the real workhorse time saver. The carbide bits are great, but are only really useful for doing heavy conversions. The diamond bits can be used for a lot of light to moderate changes. Just don't force them or they will heat up and the diamonds will wear off faster. Here is the set I use most: Diamond burr set. I have several carbide cutters, but I use the pointy one the most. Here is a selection of them. They cost about $13 each, but are well worth the money. The rubber polishing points I use are made by Dremel. Micromark doesn't carry them, but you can find them elsewhere. They are cheap, but they wear out, so buy several. Have a good day, Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator TaleSpinner Posted December 6, 2007 Author Moderator Share Posted December 6, 2007 Oh, by the way, you also definately want high speed for using the cutting wheels. For drilling with a dremel, I use low speed, but even that can be too fast and I some times still use the pin vise. Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator TaleSpinner Posted January 8, 2009 Author Moderator Share Posted January 8, 2009 Well, it's winter again in Minnesota and that means I am spending a lot more time in my studio. Contrary to appearances, I've been giving Cinder some love from time to time throughout the year. Unfortunately, my attention span for the monotony of a large mini is just not great. I get bored with her quickly these days and then I find all sorts of reasons not to paint. So I am painting her when the mood strikes and doing other minis when it doesn't. I will get her done someday. That said, I have gotten the pebbled skin of her hands and feet done. I should note that these areas are purposefully left more subdued and dull than the main scales. I essentially painted them in the same way as I did the face (which is several pages back). I should note that after examining the photos, I think I may need to glaze/or dark line a bit of brown shadow between the pebbled scales as they appear to have blended together a bit too much in some areas. It was hard to judge this on the hands especially, and the pebbles weren't always very distinct. On to the pictures: First, this is an older picture of how the base coated hand looked before I painted it: The following are shots after finishing the hands and feet: Some of these show a bit of a shine. As we discussed before, the browns and reds have are somewhat shiny. Eventually I will hit her with Dullcote again and that will go away. As always, your insights, thoughts, and comments are most welcome. Thanks, Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator TaleSpinner Posted January 8, 2009 Author Moderator Share Posted January 8, 2009 Hmm...it seems that a couple of these pictures are a bit washed out this time, especially the feet. Sorry. Usually I have the opposite problem and everything is too dark. I must have overcompensated. Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jabberwocky Posted January 9, 2009 Share Posted January 9, 2009 Great to see you giving some luv to Cinder. I think you are right about the pics being washed out a bit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator TaleSpinner Posted April 9, 2009 Author Moderator Share Posted April 9, 2009 Wing fingers and claws are now mostly done. Still need darklining and possibly some smoothing of the blends on a couple of the nails. Wow, she is really tough to photograph. As you can see, she doesn't even fit into my large photo box well. I have to start figuring out how to photograph her for the final pictures. So all I have left are the back spines, to darkline everything (including re-darklining that area where it turned white on her left side), touch-ups over-all, and the base. I expect to have the whole dragon done next week and hopefully the base by the week after that (though that is a very large base). I REALLY WANT TO GET HER OFF MY BENCH!!!! Take care, Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stink Posted April 10, 2009 Share Posted April 10, 2009 Holy, sweet Jesus. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Renowyth Posted April 10, 2009 Share Posted April 10, 2009 yeah, she's beautiful. Query, now that you've worked on a few other things inbetween, are there bits that you look at and go "oh, since I did the Chimera, I know that _______ works better. I wish I had...." ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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