Dragon Kit (aka Smaug)
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Tolwen wrote:Hi All,
not a Mithril as such, but an amazing model (made from Resin) nonetheless. Have a look here for it. IMO it is the perfect size for the dragon. Not too big (far too overblown in the movie), and not not too small for the grestest dragon of the Third Age. Apart from that issue, the basic movie design of Smaug was phenomenal – the best I’ve ever seen so far). Compare especially the size of the 28mm (GW) Hobbit with it.Cheers
TolwenEDIT: It seems I’m getting old. I just noticed that there is already a thread dedicated to this Smaug…
Don’t worry, we are all getting older Master Tolwen :lol:.
I have seen neither ‘in the flesh’ so to speak, but Cang the Magnificent (Coolminiornot) is also a rather impressive beast
.ddaines wrote:Don’t worry, we are all getting older Master Tolwen :lol:.I have seen neither ‘in the flesh’ so to speak, but Cang the Magnificent (Coolminiornot) is also a rather impressive beast
.Yes indeed, I have seen the impressive diorama with him. I wish I’d have time and skill for such.
Aside from this, what I especially like about the WETA design of Smaug (and thus the Geene models dragon), is its look. Many dragons (Cang included) both in miniatures and illustrations have a certain “humanoid” design: Subtract the tail, extra extremity (wings) and set him upright, the torso and arm/leg part often have a very distinctive human outlook in terms of relations of appendages and overall anatomy (muscles, ribcage, joints etc.).
The WETA design addressed this by giving the dragon not six extremities (four legs plus a pair of wings), but four, where the first two form part of the wing structure (as in birds, Pterosaurs or bats).Of course it is a fantasy world with the necessary artistic license, but the problem of how the – mostly big – wings as an additional pair of extremities with their necessary muscles and tendons fit believably (i.e. giving the needed power to lift the beast) into the musco-sceletal system of a tetrapod creature where the entire system (and room within the body) is needed to facilitate the four-legged movement. A simple “it’s magic” statement is quite easy and somewhat unsatisfactory I fear.
Again, the WETA design is positive, giving Smaug really huge wings for a relatively light and slim (again, in relation to the wings) body, making it a very plausible approach and making the “suspension of disbelief” necessary for good fantasy easy. Tolkien’s own depictions of Smaug are more difficult unfortunately, giving him relatively small wings. But of course the professor was more interested in artistic rather than biomechanical aspects of this
But I may digress…
Cheers
TolwenI think I understand master Tolwen humanoid statement. Just focus on your cang picture master Turambar. I see human arm with biceps and human leg with mollet.
Then I have to say I don’t care as Cang looks just marvellous to me
Milo wrote:I think I understand master Tolwen humanoid statement. Just focus on your cang picture master Turambar. I see human arm with biceps and human leg with mollet.
Then I have to say I don’t care as Cang looks just marvellous to me
Yes, it is indeed as Master Milo says. The muscular “human” arm and leg (calf and thigh) illustrate it very well and the torso behind it looks very similar to a muscular human one as well. This does not belittle the superb sculpting in any way though.
What I mean with this, is that a more reptilian overall physique would lend to an easier “suspension of disbelief”. This has nothing to do with artistic quality which is very high for all the depicted dragon models.Cheers
Tolwen
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