“Jurassic Savage” – Model kit build – custom diorama

“Jurassic Savage” – Model kit build – custom diorama/kit bash

Ok, this is not exactly Halloween related but it just took me a long time to build, complete and get some decent photos of this diorama and I couldn’t wait to share it.

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Allosaurus Marsh Attack on Brontosaurus

I had a vision of this scene based on Rudolph Zallinger art depicting Allosaurus attacking a Brontosaurus. I always liked the painting as a young man and used it as inspiration for this kit/diorama.  I set out to replicate and expand on the scene using several different model kits available on the market.

I painted the Modified Brontosaurus, Rudolph Zallinger style blue-gray to emulate his famous paintings. I decided to go more modern terms with the Allosaurus creating a camouflage mosaic.

I crafted a bloody battle of life and death that would show the savagery of these ancient Jurassic wonders. Hope you enjoy it.

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Jurassic Savage

There are several kits involved, all modified to create the scene I had envisioned.

Main Components: 

Horizon Apatosaurus Vinyl 24″

I turned an Apatosaurus into a Brontosaurus

modifications:

Cut legs to show half body standing in water – elongated leg stems

Exchanged/Remodeled larger head to shape/form of classic Zallinger Blue Brontosaurus including high brow ridge bones, open mouth/extended jaw, modified nostrils

 

Allosaurus

Airfix Tyrannosaurus modified to represent Allosaurus (2)

 

I turned the T Rex model kits into Allosaurus

modifications:

Change face to an Allosaurus by changing line of sight from forward (T Rex) to side (Allosaurus).

Mold flash bone shapes above the eye

add length to arms, add claw (Allosaurus has 3 claws)

Remove back claws from hind legs and reshape feet

reposition legs for attack stances

Base

Custom shape mounted on stained wood

Aurora Prehistoric scenes and Aurora model kit components for land mass

Prehistorix add-on Foliage kit pieces

Prehistorix Rhamphoryncus

Self made Ceolyphysis

Self made Brontosaurus eggs

Self made Name plate with foliage

Water effects – Scene It water effects

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Aurora Prehistoric Scenes – Allosaurus (w/original base) – model kit

 

Aurora Prehistoric Scenes – Allosaurus (w/original base)

This is my original Allosaurus by Aurora. When I say ‘original‘ I mean there are no modifications made to the kit or base. However, it is actually a combination of original released Aurora parts and re-released Revell Allosaurus parts, plus half the base was the recast from Prehistorix.

So, it is original in look and spirit but not all original Aurora parts.

The Allosaurus base was only produced for one year (I’m thinking it was 1971) then the kit was sold without a base for many years from Aurora and re-issued for many years through Revell without a base.

I’d like to thank the guys from Aurora Prehistoric Scenes Historical Society for helping me find missing parts to complete the kit and save it from the trash heap.

Also, I’d like to mention, this guy has been snubbed by the Jurassic Park franchise for too long, what’s the story?

 

Retro Dinosaur Model Kit Diorama

Retro Dinosaur Model Kit Diorama

T Rex vs. Dimetrodon

This is my retro dino diorama. Not only are these vintage kits, but I built the base using retro ideas about dinosaur environment. Because fossils were often found in rocky desert areas like Colorado and Wyoming, scientists thought Dinosaur environment resembled the areas in their current form. You would see many dinosaur depictions in these rocky desert landscapes. So, I gave this diorama the retro landscape feel, kinda’ like Land of the Lost TV show from the 1970’s. I also put dinosaurs that hadn’t lived in the same time period into the kit to do battle.

The kits:

Tamiya – Tyrannosaurus Rex (old style)
Lindberg – Dimetrodon (1979 Pyro Models re-issue)
Tamiya – Mesozoic Creatures – Oviraptor (small dino)

 
The base construction. I used a piece of foam board to cut out a base. I shaped the edges with a plaster-based clay to get a nice look and texture.

 

I built the background mountains with larger pieces of styrofoam, also using plaster and clay for the details. I shaped little rock formations to position around the base. I used Scene-it palm trees and shrubbery to add a touch of desert plant life.
 

I used some desert photos to help guide the look of the base. Roadrunner and Coyote cartoon images provided much needed design detail, lol!

 

Let the battle begin!

this little guy is getting out of here!

CU on Dimetrodon skin colors

Dinos watch as base is built

desert rock formations

base before paint

20 Million Miles To Earth – Ymir – Model Kit

20 Million Miles To Earth – Ymir – Model Kit

This is the Geometric, Ymir model kit. It’s a fantastic kit with excellent detail.

It was fun painting the kit because the skin detail really worked well with dry brushing techniques. I started with a dark green base coat and worked with lighter greens and finally yellow for highlights.

It didn’t come with a base so I made a custom base for it.

I made the title placard with clay. I printed out the movie title image and pasted it on.

 

And don’t forget to watch the video inspired by this kit: Monsters on the Mantle

Model Kits – Cro-Magnon and Neanderthal Man refurbish – Aurora Prehistoric Scenes

 

Aurora Prehistoric Scenes

Cro-Magnon Man
Neanderthal Man

A few months back, I purchased some original, 1971 – 75, Aurora Prehistoric Scenes kits. These were never reissued through other companies and the original molds were lost or melted down for scrap. Trying to purchase these, in the box, un-built, is nearly impossible without spending a small fortune on each. So, I purchased a used, previously built ‘lot’ with some missing pieces.

The kits were not in great shape with broken parts, old glue, and spaces in the seams that could not be re-glued.

So, it was my little project to refurbish these and bring them back to their original glory.

As you can see the kits had huge spaces that I filled with liquid plastic (Tamiya modeling putty). I sanded the areas smooth with fine grade sandpaper. I hate seams so I tried to fill and smooth most of them away.

I had to build a new foot for the Neanderthal Man.

I had to build a new tree for the base of the Neanderthal man model kit. I also built a new spear for the Cro-Magnon Man.

I sprayed both kits with gray model surface primer so I could start with a neutral color and paint them from scratch.

I found a good combination for skin tones using brown, eggshell white, and orange. I used different amounts of white to differentiate between the Neanderthal and Cro-Magnon’s skin tones.

I’m currently using acrylic paints instead of the usual oil-based model kit paints because they offer better control over color mixing. But that means having to spray the whole kit down with a fixative after its done or the paint will chip and peel. Spraying it in some ways brings out the colors a bit more and it gives the skin a natural shine, even though I’m using a matte finish.

I’m very happy with the finished product and to have saved these kits from ending up in the trash.

I also purchased the Cro-Magnon Woman and the Sabertooth Tiger. I will show the refurbished kits in my next model kits post.

Aurora Monster Models and Prehistoric Scenes Kits

Aurora Monster Models and Prehistoric Scenes Kits – Part II

When I was a youngster, I loved to build monster model kits. I would see ads in the back of Famous Monsters of Filmland and I would send away for them via mail order or have my mom take me to local hobby shops to purchase them. The premier company in horror model-kits back then (1970’s) was Aurora. I started with the Universal Monsters model kit collections and soon moved on to the Prehistoric Scenes Kits. Eventually, the kits I owned went to the big toy graveyard where all kids things seem to find their end. For the longest time I thought those model kits were gone forever. But recently, I have found many of the wonderful kits I enjoyed as a kid, still available for purchase.

Aurora Prehistoric Scenes kit molds were first bought by Monogram who only kept seven of the Dinosaurs and the Wooly Mammoth. Sadly they destroyed the other kit molds to reuse the material. Then Revell bought Monogram and re-released the dino kits (twice). Today you can still purchase many of the Aurora Dinosaur kits under the Revell label. Although the box art is different, the kits are basically the same as the old Aurora kits minus the bases and extra accessories.

the same Ankylosaurus model released through the years…

Many of the Aurora Monster Model kits were purchased by several different companies such as Playing Mantis, Moebius, and Polar Lights. It is a bit of work to hunt all of these down as they release them sporadically but you can get almost all of them. I have recently purchased, The Forgotten Prisoner and the Aurora Godzilla model.

On top of that there are several companies that release customizing kits under the “What if…” banner and alternative pieces market which are often called Conversion Kits. You can change the head of the original Godzilla to one that is more in line with the movies. You can change the heads of the Triceratops to create different horned dinosaurs such as the Torosaurus or the Monoclonius. You can change the head of Dr. Jekyll to match the original  film “The Fly” (which looks amazing). You can now buy Julie Adams to fit with your Aurora style Creature From the Black Lagoon, where she will be set in his arms like the famous scene from the film.

Today’s model kits are amazingly detailed and there are quite a few hobbyists that take great pride in the building and painting of these kits. Many are limited release and can sell for upwards of $200. There are 3 types of kits, plastic, vinyl, and resin kits. The resin kits are the most expensive and offer the most detail.

One new kit I’ve been waiting for is Gorgo, by the company, Monarch. It was supposed to be released last year but no one has heard any news since. I hope they continue there plans to release it, because it is a fantastic model. Update: model kit was released – you can see my build here: Monarch Gorgo Model Kit

Below are some links if you care to check out some more info and pics on the subject. Some of the pics used here are from these sites.

If you want to learn more about the Aurora Kits and product lines, a good place to start is with the documentary dvd, The Aurora Monsters: the model craze that gripped the world. You can get the dvd at monstersinmotion.com or Amazon.

www.monstersinmotion.com
www.geometricdesign.net 
www.culttvman.com
www.auroraprehistoricscenes.com
www.tylisaari.com
www.morbidmonster.com
www.universalmonsterarmy.com
http://creaturescape.com

Gallery of classic kits:

this model is gone forever, the molds were destroyed.

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Gallery of new kits and conversion accessories:

same body, different head, new dino.

Model builder vids:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EAWsr3aI0Ic

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlB_rkH2414&feature=youtube_gdata_player

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnWP3cg0olE