Making dogs - (or any 4 legged animal)

[eBob]

This is a comission I am currently working on for two Irish wolfhounds (for 28mm) but the method used can be applied to any 4 legged animal in any scale - including horses, dogs, big cats, camels - etc.

First thing is to scan the internet for images of Irish wolf hounds - and in particular a drawing of the skeleton which can very often be found with no trouble - in this case I found not just a dog skeleton - but an Irish wolfhound skeleton - bonus!

Then the first stage is to create an armature. For this I shall use 3 lengths of 15amp fuse wire. (You would use heavier 30amp wire for a horse).

The middle wire will become the spine from tip of tail to end of snout. The two either side will form the legs each wire being a hind leg and front on each side.

I am not a fan of paper clips - although I have used them myself - because paperclips are too hard to bend - and difficult to adjust once you have bent them. Fuse wire is much more flexible - and milliput will be used to strengthen the structure where necessary.

The wire is tacked together with superglue.

[eBob]

Next a ball of milliput forms the rib cage - and it set rapidly using a hot lamp. Now the legs are bent into place using sharp nose pliers and tracing the wire over the skeleton image which I have printed out at the desired size.

Snipping the excess wire off at the feet - the dogs quickly take shape.

[eBob]

Next the dog is bent into a running pose - using my 'Eadweard Muybridge' - Animals in motion for reference and also finding images of Irish wolfhounds running from the internet.

Once the armature is bent into the new pose - the major areas can be bulked out and main muscle shapes added to get the right dog shape.

At this stage I'm just looking to achieve the correct silouette - not detail. This is like a skinned animal - the final layer of skin and hair will mapped on last when - and only when - I am happy with the silouette.

[eBob]

'skinned' dog now complete - we're ready to dress him.





And size comparison with the Gripping Beast hound.

[eBob]

A final layer of putty is applied in small amounts at a time - and stroked with a sharp tool to form the hair.

[dorthonion]

I see Wolfhounds and Deerhounds frequently and that is a very very good sculpt - most statues are 1:24 scale or larger and in some cases they have had the actual dog to work off. Fantastic.

Ahem. Any chance of a woodsman/hunter and some hounds, from a sort of, arboreal, medieval north European fantasy type era... perhaps?

[goatman]

I've never thought much about 28mm dogs but thats fantastic! It must only a few mm long but the detail is great.

[angus147258]

That looks great. Now could you please do a tutorial on small eight legged animals. *cough* spider *cough*.
Jake