Now it is time for the fun stuff. The main componets of the skeleton have been attached and I am ready to sculpt the body shape of the dragon.
The spine is made of 3'' solid round mild steel. This section weighs about 500 pounds. It is the main support for the body weight, which is also offset by the arms and legs being attached to the tree limbs. Careful attention was made to ensure the welds are strong enough.
The first supports of the arms and legs have been attached.
The little dragon model of Eli stands watch as the branches of the perch are set into place.
The skeleton or frame of the dragon looks kind of like a junge gym. The frame mimics the muscle skeleton of the dragon not just the bones. Large pieces of metal will be layed over this skeleton to form the body.
There are many detailed componets of the dragon. This is the end of the tail. The function of the this piece is to help the dragon balance when climbing, act as a rudder when swimming, as protection and a weapon.
The first detail added to the dragon is in the underscales of the tail. My assistant Khris (aka Chaos) has been working hard cutting out each one to fit. This particular part of the tail is slightly raised from the perch. I wanted Eli to show movement.
Have you ever seen a snake move up a tree? Part of it ripples up as it moves forward. In the sculpture this is that part. It is important to me that Eli is animated to assume motion. I want her to look alive!
Chaos is fitting each underscale to fit.
Fierce
Eli says "Where is the mustard?"
The tail wrapping around the tree.
Eli loves kittens!
The body is scaled except for the top of the neck and the legs.The hands have all their componets and the swirly wave-like ridge spine is complete. The legs and belly scales will be on soon.
*Notice kitten on branch. No kittens were hurt in the making of this project. Although, one did show up in front of my place and took to using this dragon as a playground. Thus is the nature of this dragon.
Galvanizing the sculpture insures it will last. It bonds zinc with the steel to give it a coating that will not chip. The pool above is a 850 degree kettle of molten zinc. Nothing like this, to my knowledge, has ever been done before. The fabrication had to allow the zinc to flow through and the air to escape, there was a chance that this may have exploded. The people at Bristol Galvanizing were excited about the challenge of doing this sculpture.
It was a Dragon day at the spa. She sat in a bath for a couple hours, was rinsed, had a mud bath ( flux dip) and a hot zinc dip (galvanizing) after which a half dozen people wiped up any drips and detailed the zinc coating.
Eli says "ahhhhhhhhhh"
more 2 come zoon!