Three Horned Dinosaur – Aurora Triceratops – model kit

aurora-ps-triceratops-by-mike-k-pic-3

Aurora Prehistoric Scenes Triceratops – model kit
with the Lava Pool Base extention

aurora-ps-triceratops-by-mike-k-pic-10

I finally tackled another model kit build after a short hiatus. This one is an original Aurora Prehistoric Scenes, Three-Horned Dinosaur (aka: Triceratops). Added on to the build is the Lava Pool base extension which lines up with both, the Triceratops and The Allosaurus original base.

I painted the whole dinosaur with a van dyke brown and yellow ochre undercoat before painting layers of Blue, Gray and Black for the skin color. The horns are off-white with some textures. The main modification I made to this dino was turning its head to the left to create a more dynamic pose. I built the figure, cut off the head and repositioned it by building a new neck area to support the head twist.

aurora-ps-triceratops-by-mike-k-pic-11

 

The Lava Pool extention was created/designed by myself. I shaped it to align with the edges of the Trike base and the Allosaurus base which also has the volcanic activity present upon it.

This is another one of my favorite dinosaur model kits and I’m glad to have the opportunity to build this again. The first time I had built it was over 40 years ago!

 

 

Moebius Mummy – model kit build and paint

 moebius-mummy-custom-by-mike-k-pic-1

Moebius Mummy – 1/6th scale – custom build and paint

Here I’ve taken the Moebius Mummy and made some major modifications to have it emulate the cover art of Monsters of the Movies Magazine, issue #6, 1975.

moebius-mummy-custom-by-mike-k-pic-14

It is 1/6th scale and stands about 13 inches tall.

I was never impressed with the older mummy movies. I thought they were slow and boring. The mummy seemed too slow to really stir up fear and the films dragged on worse than the mummy’s left leg. It wasn’t until I had seen the cover of this Monsters of the Movies issue that I gained interest in mummy movies. My favorite is the Hammer films adaptation, but I eventually developed an appreciation to some of the older films too. Of course the newer films are action movies, not horror movies, and I think they’re entertaining enough, but not my favorite pics for Mummy flicks.

Monsters of the Movies Magazine -1975

Monsters of the Movies Magazine -1975


 

moebius mummy - standard build moebius-mummy-custom-by-mike-k-pic-15

here’s a side by side comparison, standard kit build and my modified kit


 

Modifications:

Repositioned mummy’s arm and sculpted new legs.

Broken Sarcophagus and loose pieces flying outward

Added steps to base, repositioned Sarcophagus cover

Added torch light mounted to wall, skulls and rats (from Aurora Customizing kit #2)

Spider webs/cob webs

Mummy nameplate holder

 


 

 

I’ve been working on this kit for a few months. I’m glad I finally finished it and it came out the way I had envisioned it.

Gallery:

Baryonyx resin model kit build – May 2016

Prehistorix Baryonyx - by Mike K - pic 14

Baryonyx model kit

Prehistoric Scenes add-on kit from Prehistorix -2016

Prehistorix Baryonyx - by Mike K - pic 12

Here’s a kit that I had been waiting for its release for many months since Prehistorix announced they were working on it. When I was young there weren’t as many dinosaur species known as there is now. The Baryonyx is a carnivorous therapod I learned about some years ago but seeing a model kit for it was a thrill.

I built this kit between April and May, 2016

 

I did a few modifications on this kit. The Baryonyx is half submerged in the water. I sculpted a tail to stick out of the water after seeing a similar scene of Godzilla in a movie. In order to accommodate the tail I had to extend the base on water side of the diorama.

modifications sculpts - in progress

modification sculpts – in progress

undertone colors

undertone colors

I sculpted a fish for the Baryonyx to grip in his crocodilian like jaws.
Prehistorix Baryonyx - by Mike K - pic 7

 

A also cut some strips of plastic to simulate sea grass. The Baryonyx color choices were made from studying alligators and crocodiles.

Prehistorix Baryonyx - by Mike K - pic 12

Most builders painted this kit with a river swamp look in mind. I wanted to make it more of a sea/marsh area. This enabled me to use the water effects to create sea waves and a sandy shoreline.

Check out the wonderful new Resin Model Kits at the Prehistorix Website


parlor of horror – model kit post

Aurora Prehistoric Scenes Styracosaurus – model kit

mike k - styracosaurus with forest expansion - pic 7

Aurora Prehistoric Scenes Styracosaurus – model kit

 

I was finally able to build another model kit after a long hiatus. This one is the Revel re-issue of the Styracosaurus. Included with the kit is the Carboniferous Forest base extension (You can get one from Jurassic Arts) and my little Carnosaur in the background peeking through the trees.

mike k - styracosaurus with forest expansion - pic 4
I painted the whole dinosaur with a van dyke brown and yellow ochre undercoat before painting layers of green for the skin color. The horns are black/white/gray and silver. The only modification I made to the dino was adding the skin at the back of the mouth as seen on many reptiles.

mike k - styracosaurus with forest expansion - pic 9
This is one of my favorite dinosaur model kits and glad to have the opportunity to build this again. The first time I built it was 40 years ago!


parlor of horror – model kit post

AMT/ ERTL- Creepy T – Car model kit – 1975

Creepy T monster car by Mike K pic 1

Creepy T
monster car model kit

This is my Creepy T monster car from a small series by AMT/ERTL in the 1970’s. The series was originally released by Fundimensions.

Building car model kits is a bit different than creatures. For one, you have to paint most of the pieces before you put the kit together. Gluing pieces has to be more delicate and precise so you don’t get glue spots on the painted surfaces.

Creepy T monster car by Mike K pic 9

I used Testors enamel spray paint for the red body and the back wheels because it dries smoother and glossier. I used acrylics for the wood coffin-like storage trunk and other misc. parts.

Creepy T monster car by Mike K pic 2

I left the skull head unpainted so it would glow. I just added a little shadowing. The kit suggested keeping the bat(s) as glow parts but I didn‘t like the way they looked and painted them black.

Creepy T monster car by Mike K pic 7

Here are the AMT and MPC/Fundimensions box covers:

AMT-Creepy T 1975 MPC - Creepy T Kit 1971

This is the second kit in the series. I had built the Mummy Machine last year. I managed to find the Night Crawler Werewolf Wagon by Fundimensions/MPC on eBay which was never re-released by AMT. That is the last in the series and plan to build it in the coming year.

Night Crawler MPC Werewolf Car kit 002

Mummy Machine post

 

Aurora Prehistoric Scenes Woolly Rhino

wooly rhino pics 005

Aurora Prehistoric Scenes Woolly Rhino

aurora woolly rhino -2 mike knight

Kit being built – before paint 2

Here is my Aurora Prehistoric Scenes, Woolly Rhino, garage kit.

wooly rhino pics 004

There was no Woolly Rhino kit release from Aurora, so I built this using pieces of Aurora kits and sculpting my own details.

???????????????????? Aurora Prehistoric scenes Tar Pit

This kit uses the head from the Woolly Rhino in the Aurora Tar-Pit kit. I sculpted a body and made a base to match the tradition of the Aurora kits.

See my video for info on the build, sculpting, painting and creating the Woolly Rhino kit…

20 Million Miles To Earth – Ymir – Model Kit

Ymir model pic 1

20 Million Miles To Earth – Ymir – Model Kit

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

Ymir model pic 3

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.

Ymir model early stages pic 9

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.

ymir CU 2

 

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

My newest acquisition! – vintage model kits

fundimensions wasp

Finally got the Giant Wasp model kit from Fundimensions, circa 1973.

Feels like I traveled back in time to get it.

If you recall, I had built the other giant insect models, Mantis, Tarantula, Scorpion, a while back. All three of these were re-released by AMT in the late 1970’s and were much easier to find because of it. The Giant Wasp was not re-issued and is nearly impossible to find.

gigantics full

I saw it on eBay, and kept bidding until I won it. I paid more than I wanted to spend but there are so few of these left, I couldn’t let it go.

Once built, I will post it here for those interested.

 

Original Fundimensions Gigantics model kits – early 1970’s

giant scorp fundimensions 1 mantis Fundimensions 1 fundimensions wasp

fundimensions tarantula 1 Gigantics Fundimensions back cover

the AMT reissues – also in the 1970’s so these are vintage, too

gigantics collection