Sirrush Dragon by John Dennett

[Alxbates]

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'.



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.



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.




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.





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



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



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

-Alex

[Golgotha]

Very cute if only I had a Babylonian army to go with him.

[Alxbates]

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!

[barbaric splendor]

Absolutely love this - perfect creature for Conan to stumble across deep in Iranistan!

[M.O.T.N]

Very nice would love one of these. How large are they?

[Alxbates]

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!

[Conquistador]

Very nice but it truly would dwarf my 15mm fantasy figures!

[blackstone]

Really great concept and sculpting!

[Schrumpfkopf]

Very inspiring source and fantastic sculpting. I shall buy one of these.

[Hobby Services]

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.

[ShortscaleDave]

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!).

[Alxbates]

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

[mweaver]

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

[Neotacha]

He's cute.  I expect Weavers will have to have one when they're available.

[Little Odo]

Great design and a lovely sculpt. Congrats on bringing your ideas to life.