Basilisk

[TaleSpinner 44660]

I recently got a commission to sculpt a basilisk.   I'm really excited about this one as I've been wanting to do one for several years.  Due to cost constraints, I can't quite do the version I had originally wanted to do, but my client and I worked it out and I am very excited about what we came up with.  He also gave me permission to share it with you.  This one will be featured in a indie campaign later this spring I believe.

 

Here is the rough concept (please don't laugh at my rough drawing skills; I really need to take a page out of @Morihalda's book and work on  drawing more):

 

 

 

From that, I created the armature.  Note that the rear two legs on the left side will be on a rock which spans under the beast as it is climbing over it, touching the inside of the right-side rear leg.  This allows me to account for all 8 legs and still have a one-part casting.

 

Right Side (head pointing to the right):

 

 

 

Top (head to the right):

 

 

 

Left Side (head to the left):

 

 

 

Angled View (head tot he left):

 

[Sirithiliel 67159]

Very cool

[TaleSpinner 44660]

In looking at the following photo, I noticed that I have made and error.  Can you spot it? 

 

 

 

Let's see if anyone can see it.  I'll actually need to break apart part of the armature to fix it.

[Glitterwolf 179543]

2 minutes ago, TaleSpinner said:

In looking at the following photo, I noticed that I have made and error.  Can you spot it? 

 

 

 

Let's see if anyone can see it.  I'll actually need to break apart part of the armature to fix it.

 

The legs are going in different directions?

two pair walk forward, two pair seem to be attached backwards?

[TaleSpinner 44660]

12 minutes ago, Glitterwolf said:

 

The legs are going in different directions?

two pair walk forward, two pair seem to be attached backwards?

 

Nope, they are all on in the right direction (the two that look backwards likely do because of space left for the rock and or lifted feet.

 

Hint, it can only be seen looking at it from the top.

[Sirithiliel 67159]

Second set of legs is too wide?

[Kang 676]

There's one leg at top right in pic that can't be seen from above...  I am OK at wrapping my head around molds in general but rubber molds are not my specialty, would that tucked-under leg maybe cause a problem for molding this guy?  Just a wild-elf guess, tbh I'm stumped...

 

Kang

[alchemist 5463]

Is this meant to be a D&D-type basilisk?  Your design reminds me of the old Ral Partha one:

Spoiler

 

It might be worth bearing in mind, though, that most versions of the D&D rules list basilisks as medium sized creatures, and it doesn't look as if yours would fit on a medium sized base (neither does the Ral Partha one).  I seem to recall that some versions had a large-sized greater basilisk, so maybe that is what you are aiming for?

[TaleSpinner 44660]

37 minutes ago, Sirithiliel said:

Second set of legs is too wide?

 

Close.  You have the right spot/problem, but wrong diagnosis.

 

5 minutes ago, Kang said:

There's one leg at top right in pic that can't be seen from above...  I am OK at wrapping my head around molds in general but rubber molds are not my specialty, would that tucked-under leg maybe cause a problem for molding this guy?  Just a wild-elf guess, tbh I'm stumped...

 

Kang

 

No, since the molds are coming side to side, it won't be an issue.

 

 

Answer:

 

Siri's on to it.  The second set of legs from the left is positioned wrongly.  Note that the spine passes closer to the right side of the beast that to the left. It must be centered.  I could probably make this up in the putty, but it would be risky and could leave the model with a subtle "Off" vibe.  I actually like the location of that set of legs, it is the spine that needs adjusting, so I will need to break the putty away on the two front leg sets , bend the spine to travel down the center of the model, and then secure it again.

 

Analysis:

 

 

 

Correct spine path:

 

[Sirithiliel 67159]

Ahhh I knew something in that area did look a little weird but thought it was the width 

[TaleSpinner 44660]

16 minutes ago, alchemist said:

Is this meant to be a D&D-type basilisk?  Your design reminds me of the old Ral Partha one:

  Hide contents

 

It might be worth bearing in mind, though, that most versions of the D&D rules list basilisks as medium sized creatures, and it doesn't look as if yours would fit on a medium sized base (neither does the Ral Partha one).  I seem to recall that some versions had a large-sized greater basilisk, so maybe that is what you are aiming for?

 

D&D, Pathfinder, game of your choice. 

 

<Base size rant>

Spoiler

One of the things that annoys me most about D&D since 2003 is the sudden obsession everyone has over "base size", especially for creatures that are normally long but thin.  Suddenly, you need to coil up every snake and go vertical with the rest.  It really makes no sense.  They don't even stick to the concept in their own artwork.  It is very frustrating.  Even more frustrating is that some mini houses care a great deal and others not at all, so one must always be double checking with each client (the version I first posited to this client had it wrapped around a stalagmite on a square base, but he preferred the old-school look.  I miss the days where you played the game without worrying so much exactly how big the minis on the mat are.  They are as big as the DM says they are...done.

</rant>

 

As for size, I'm aiming for the size my client specified.  He wants it to fit on a Cavalry Base.  PF has rules for easily increasing or decreasing the size of any creature; I often use those.

[Sanael 14870]

*applauds rant* preach, brother!

 

Also, basilisks are awesome, and I'm excited to see yours.

 

This one looks long enough to comfortably add a saddle and a kobold... Which is a thing I need in my life. So I'll look forward to seeing this on indiegogo.

[TaleSpinner 44660]

d20 SRD has them as either Medium or Large in the Advancement line, so maybe that is what my client is going for:

 

[TaleSpinner 44660]

I another interesting note, in reading the description for them, they are listed as being 11 to 13 feet long in the descriptions.  How the broccoli are we supposed to fit that on a 5 foot base.  D&D makes no sense and contradicts its own rules. 

[alchemist 5463]

Sorry if I touched on a sore point.  It wasn't my intention to make a big issue out of the size thing - just wanted to be sure you were aware.