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Miniatures Adventure => Fantasy Adventures => Topic started by: Alxbates on 05 March 2017, 09:27:47 PM

Title: Sirrush Dragon by John Dennett
Post by: Alxbates on 05 March 2017, 09:27:47 PM
I'm pretty excited to show this off here, and the fantasy forum seemed an appropriate place for it.  John Dennett has just finished sculpting a Sirrush for me (Forge of Ice).  It's based on the Babylonian dragon, the 'Sirrush' or 'Mušḫuššu'.

(http://i.imgur.com/V8kSA1C.jpg)

I tried to imagine what it might look like if the Sirrush was a real creature, and I came up with a giant, long-necked monitor lizard.  Larger than the Komodo dragon, and adapted somewhat for a terrestrial life as a predator, I took some anatomical notes from some extinct terrestrial crocodilians, too.

(http://i.imgur.com/mwd6Gn5.jpg)

I imagine it as a rather lazy beast, primarily a fish-eater.  Most of the long-necked predators I could find in the real world are fish eaters, so it seemed to make sense to have that be the Sirrush's primary diet, too.

The model is nine inches long from end to end.

(http://i.imgur.com/wkspRn0.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/hCeo4pj.jpg)

Rather than giving it a mane like it has in the original artwork, I decided to do something a little different.  I made all the scales on its neck larger and more flexible than the scales on its body - they serve to break up the silhouette of the neck for any fish that are looking up at the shadow as it waits.  Also, they can flare them out as part of a threat display during the mating season - other Sirrushes being just about the only thing in the world that can threaten one.

(http://i.imgur.com/XR8f2H5.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/T3jUL0e.jpg)

Here's an photo of the unfinished sculpt from the back so you can see the movement a little better:

(http://i.imgur.com/spBGVOb.jpg)

And, here are the parts separated for moldmaking.  A second head is being sculpted with an open mouth - snarling.

(http://i.imgur.com/hzOdSIA.jpg)

Hopefully I should have it for sale in a month or six weeks or so.

-Alex
Title: Re: Sirrush Dragon by John Dennett
Post by: Golgotha on 05 March 2017, 10:23:41 PM
Very cute if only I had a Babylonian army to go with him.
Title: Re: Sirrush Dragon by John Dennett
Post by: Alxbates on 05 March 2017, 10:50:00 PM
Very cute if only I had a Babylonian army to go with him.

It's my hope that it'll find use in lost world games, as well as (fantasy) prehistorics and regular fantasy games.  Maybe as a cold drake, or just the generic giant lizard monster-type.

People like dragons.  People like dinosaurs.  People like giant lizard monsters.

This guy is something of a combination of all three!  *fingers crossed* that he'll prove to be popular!
Title: Re: Sirrush Dragon by John Dennett
Post by: barbaric splendor on 05 March 2017, 11:34:14 PM
Absolutely love this - perfect creature for Conan to stumble across deep in Iranistan!
Title: Re: Sirrush Dragon by John Dennett
Post by: M.O.T.N on 06 March 2017, 06:26:30 PM
Very nice would love one of these. How large are they?
Title: Re: Sirrush Dragon by John Dennett
Post by: Alxbates on 06 March 2017, 08:57:41 PM
Very nice would love one of these. How large are they?

It's about nine inches long from the tip of the nose to the end of the tail. 

And I just heard from the caster an hour ago - he's making the molds as I write this!
Title: Re: Sirrush Dragon by John Dennett
Post by: Conquistador on 06 March 2017, 09:23:51 PM
Very nice but it truly would dwarf my 15mm fantasy figures!
Title: Re: Sirrush Dragon by John Dennett
Post by: blackstone on 06 March 2017, 10:25:48 PM
Really great concept and sculpting!
Title: Re: Sirrush Dragon by John Dennett
Post by: Schrumpfkopf on 06 March 2017, 10:54:52 PM
Very inspiring source and fantastic sculpting. I shall buy one of these.
Title: Re: Sirrush Dragon by John Dennett
Post by: Hobby Services on 06 March 2017, 11:02:28 PM
Very nice but it truly would dwarf my 15mm fantasy figures!

Nothing wrong with that.  Just think how many 15mm figures you could put on a scratchbuilt howdah for that brute.
Title: Re: Sirrush Dragon by John Dennett
Post by: ShortscaleDave on 07 March 2017, 01:20:21 AM
Stunning sculpt, and I also adore the amount of thought you put into the fluff and design process - really makes your minis live and breath (if that makes sense!).
Title: Re: Sirrush Dragon by John Dennett
Post by: Alxbates on 07 March 2017, 01:37:56 AM
Stunning sculpt, and I also adore the amount of thought you put into the fluff and design process - really makes your minis live and breath (if that makes sense!).

I do have a game setting book coming eventually.  The 'new monsters' section of D&D books were always my favorite parts to read :)
Title: Re: Sirrush Dragon by John Dennett
Post by: mweaver on 07 March 2017, 03:48:49 AM
Alxbates: "People like dragons.  People like dinosaurs.  People like giant lizard monsters."

Yes.  Yes.  Yes again.  Give us a hollar when they are ready!

-Michael
Title: Re: Sirrush Dragon by John Dennett
Post by: Neotacha on 07 March 2017, 03:50:32 AM
He's cute.  I expect Weavers will have to have one when they're available.
Title: Re: Sirrush Dragon by John Dennett
Post by: Little Odo on 08 March 2017, 08:34:07 AM
Great design and a lovely sculpt. Congrats on bringing your ideas to life.