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Joe Parasaurolophus Skull Sculpt Project


LordTrilobite

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As soon as I saw that publication of the juvenile Parasaurolophus skeleton. Since it's been my favourite dinosaur since childhood, I was like, I have to make this skull. Since adult Parasaurs are gigantic, this is a nice small project. (I don't have space for a full sized Para skull anyway.)

With all the information in the publication, it was really easy to make some life size prints to use as reference.

Here are some early pics of the process.

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Olof Moleman AKA Lord Trilobite

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Rock on! You have my admiration :)

"There has been an alarming increase in the number of things I know nothing about." - Ashleigh Ellwood Brilliant

“Try to learn something about everything and everything about something.” - Thomas Henry Huxley

>Paleontology is an evolving science.

>May your wonders never cease!

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great start! :)

"Your serpent of Egypt is bred now of your mud by the operation of your sun; so is your crocodile." Lepidus

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Looking good so far! :)

What is the material you are using? Some kind of art foam?

Very cool project. Thanks for showing us.

Regards

    Tim    -  VETERAN SHALE SPLITTER

   MOTM.png.61350469b02f439fd4d5d77c2c69da85.png      PaleoPartner.png.30c01982e09b0cc0b7d9d6a7a21f56c6.png.a600039856933851eeea617ca3f2d15f.png     Postmaster1.jpg.900efa599049929531fa81981f028e24.jpg    VFOTM.png.f1b09c78bf88298b009b0da14ef44cf0.png  VFOTM  --- APRIL - 2015  

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"In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks."

John Muir ~ ~ ~ ~   ><))))( *>  About Me      

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Thanks for the positive comments all. And yes it is styrofoam for isolation. But sculpting it with a sharp knife works really well.

Here's an update of today's progress. Though I only have time to work on this project in the weekend, so it may take a while to finish it completely. Nonetheless it's coming along nicely.

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Olof Moleman AKA Lord Trilobite

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Here's another update. I added some extra layers of foam to the eyebrows and jaw since it wasn't wide enough. I still need to add a layer to the cheeks to make those stick out more as well.

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Also, WIP dodo skull behind it.

Olof Moleman AKA Lord Trilobite

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Some more updates. Most of the sides of the Para is done. Now I'm blocking out the back and undersides.

I've also been working on a dodo skull at the same time. Since it's a little smaller and there are better more complete refence pictures I've mostly finished that. I based the dodo skull on the Oxford specimen.

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Olof Moleman AKA Lord Trilobite

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Wow, Lord Trilobite!

Excellent work! :wub:

Thanks for the updates.

Regards,

    Tim    -  VETERAN SHALE SPLITTER

   MOTM.png.61350469b02f439fd4d5d77c2c69da85.png      PaleoPartner.png.30c01982e09b0cc0b7d9d6a7a21f56c6.png.a600039856933851eeea617ca3f2d15f.png     Postmaster1.jpg.900efa599049929531fa81981f028e24.jpg    VFOTM.png.f1b09c78bf88298b009b0da14ef44cf0.png  VFOTM  --- APRIL - 2015  

__________________________________________________
"In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks."

John Muir ~ ~ ~ ~   ><))))( *>  About Me      

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Excellent work! How much have you learned about skull anatomy from your project?

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My attempt at creating a museum and community center to help people find an interest in the world around them.

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Well I have replica skulls of a Maiasaura, Velociraptor and Phorusrhacos. So I'm fairly familiar with the anatomy of those. The Parasaurolophus is of course fairly similar to the Maiasaur. But I haven't really been able to properly study bird skulls besides the Phorusrhacos. So the Dodo was a challenge. And I'm struck by the similarity to dinosaurs, it's really cool. In the Para sculpt I still need to make the base of the skull and I'm not sure if I'm gonna open up all the fenestra or just leave them closed as if filled with matrix. But I've definitely learned a lot already. The dodo is pretty much done. And once I finish the Para I'll probably paint them both.

I was also working on some foot bones for a half complete cave bear paw composite I have, real bones, but not from the same individual. and adding some sculpted bones to complete it helps the presentation a lot.

All of these are still very much experiments though. But since it's going so well so far I probably won't stop here. I was also working on a digital model of Compsognathus and Archaeopteryx, with plans to 3d print them. but I couldn't find enough details on the insides of the skulls so I haven't finished those yet.
but yeah, I'll definitely make more skulls. Maybe some more dinosaurs, or maybe some other reptiles or cool amphibians.

Olof Moleman AKA Lord Trilobite

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Another update. With some effort I managed to separate the lower jaw from the skull. Now I can add lots more detail. And making the teeth will be easier now too.

I wasn't sure at first if I should remove the jaw. But I think I made the right decision.

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Olof Moleman AKA Lord Trilobite

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Still impressive work, DODO is great. What will you use for finishing? Sand paper, painting...?

I will definitely try to paint them semi realistically. And I'll probably try to replicate the colours of the original Parasaurolophus Joe fossil. Not sure what colour I'll make the Dodo though, maybe a dark tar-ish colour, which is a common colour for many Dodo bones that are found in the ground in Mauritius.

I don't think sand paper will be a good idea though, I think the material will ruffle a lot if I do that. Though I suppose I could try it on a test piece.

Olof Moleman AKA Lord Trilobite

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Another update. I added some suture details on the surface on the left side. The posterior side is also mostly done.

Though, right now I'm thinking if I should remove the imitation-stone from the orbit and other fenestrae and open up the whole thing. If I open it up completely. It'll probably look really cool. But the problem is that I lack the proper reference for this.

On the fossil of Joe the Parasaurolophus itself there isn't much info on the internal skull elements.

So I'm wondering if anyone has some good details publications or pictures on Lambeosaurine skulls. Any help would really be appreciated.

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Olof Moleman AKA Lord Trilobite

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Another update. I gathered some more reference from Parasaurolophus and other Hadrosaurs with details of the internal skull elements. So I removed the stuff on the inside and made the general shape of the braincase. I also made the outside of the teeth. The skull is mostly done now. Mainly just details to finish now.

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Olof Moleman AKA Lord Trilobite

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Incredible work! I have carved foam rock formations for taxidermy & model displays but never thought of doing this....... may have to give it a try.

Can't wait to see it completed

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  • 3 weeks later...

Here's another update. I used some sanding paper to remove those ugly facets that remain from carving the shape. It looks a lot smoother now.

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And I made a lower jaw for the dodo.

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Next, I'll have to paint them.

Olof Moleman AKA Lord Trilobite

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very nice job, I will look forward to the next phase :)

"Your serpent of Egypt is bred now of your mud by the operation of your sun; so is your crocodile." Lepidus

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I was testing some different types of paint to see what worked best. One type of primer actually partially dissolved the foam on a test piece.

In the end in went with a water based paint. And it works great.

Here's the first layer of paint for the Para. I'm gonna try to get the colour close to the original fossil to make it look a bit more authentic.

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For the dodo I went with a clean bone colour. It's mostly one colour but I added some very subtle splotches of dark and light.

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Also claws I made for a cave bear paw composite I need some remaining bones for.

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Olof Moleman AKA Lord Trilobite

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