fossilized6s Posted August 6, 2018 Share Posted August 6, 2018 I purchased a unsightly Franken-Basilosaurus tooth a few weeks ago for pretty cheap. Seeing as though i don't have $400-700+ to spend on a nice basilosaurus tooth i saw potential and a fun project in this cheap ugly duckling. Yes, it's Moroccan. It came with the typical glue/sand mix covering it, filling all cracks, voids and roughing out transitions of deceptive franken composites. How it came: Ok, first things first. Clean it. I used acetone, a razor, a needle, a tooth brush and my engraver. Hours of delicate work later i finally see what i'm working with. After cleaning: Yeesh, this might be more work than i thought...... And someone composited a incisor or canine tooth tip on the top of my premolar!! Bwahahaha!! Ok, composites need to go. Bye, bye Next i noticed this was not lined up correctly when it was glued back together. So i grab my trusty dremel tool and proceed to carefully saw this baby in half. Then i removed most of the epoxy/sand glue from each side. Continued......... 2 ~Charlie~ "There are those that look at things the way they are, and ask why.....i dream of things that never were, and ask why not?" ~RFK ->Get your Mosasaur print ->How to spot a fake Trilobite ->How to identify a CONCRETION from a DINOSAUR EGG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fossilized6s Posted August 6, 2018 Author Share Posted August 6, 2018 Next i grabbed my favorite fossil reconstruction epoxy, Magic Sculpt. I added just enough to hold both sides in place and let that fully cure. Next sculpting. Magic Sculpt is a two part epoxy that you mix together in even ratios. It will start to firm up in about 15-20 minutes, so you need to work kinda fast. And if you don't have enough time, just work in sections. It also takes about 4-5 hours to cure. Magic Sculpt can be smoothed out using water for an almost seamless transition. It also sands very well when fully cured. I tend to sand mine for a smooth uniform look. If you noticed, i added some cracks and imperfections to add to the "character". Too perfect is a big no no in reconstruction (in my opinion). Also when sculpting make sure to look at ALL of your angles to make sure everything is lining up and looking proportional. Continued....... 6 ~Charlie~ "There are those that look at things the way they are, and ask why.....i dream of things that never were, and ask why not?" ~RFK ->Get your Mosasaur print ->How to spot a fake Trilobite ->How to identify a CONCRETION from a DINOSAUR EGG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Macrophyseter Posted August 6, 2018 Share Posted August 6, 2018 I'm enjoying this reconstruction You should reconstruct another basilosaur tooth using that composite part you took out! If you're a fossil nut from Palos Verdes, San Pedro, Redondo Beach, or Torrance, feel free to shoot me a PM! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fossilized6s Posted August 6, 2018 Author Share Posted August 6, 2018 Lastly, the paint. I tried as best i could given my colorblindness. Looks ok in my eyes. Lol I finished it off with a gloss acrylic clear coat you can purchase at any craft store. Hopefully you guys got some good hints and inspiration to try this yourself. Thanks for looking. 11 ~Charlie~ "There are those that look at things the way they are, and ask why.....i dream of things that never were, and ask why not?" ~RFK ->Get your Mosasaur print ->How to spot a fake Trilobite ->How to identify a CONCRETION from a DINOSAUR EGG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fossilized6s Posted August 6, 2018 Author Share Posted August 6, 2018 12 minutes ago, Macrophyseter said: I'm enjoying this reconstruction You should reconstruct another basilosaur tooth using that composite part you took out! Haha, that would be more epoxy than tooth! Lol I think i'll give it to my son for his collection. He loves his sea monsters. ~Charlie~ "There are those that look at things the way they are, and ask why.....i dream of things that never were, and ask why not?" ~RFK ->Get your Mosasaur print ->How to spot a fake Trilobite ->How to identify a CONCRETION from a DINOSAUR EGG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobby Rico Posted August 6, 2018 Share Posted August 6, 2018 Fantastic job, nicely sculpted and you have matched the colour and texture . Congratulations Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Haravex Posted August 6, 2018 Share Posted August 6, 2018 That is an amazing job, it is very hard to tell its been restored which is a credit in it's self. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LordTrilobite Posted August 6, 2018 Share Posted August 6, 2018 That looks great! Much improved indeed. Olof Moleman AKA Lord Trilobite Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted August 6, 2018 Share Posted August 6, 2018 You are truly an artist, Charlie! This is professional work. Tim - VETERAN SHALE SPLITTER VFOTM --- APRIL - 2015 __________________________________________________ "In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks." John Muir ~ ~ ~ ~ ><))))( *> About Me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ptychodus04 Posted August 6, 2018 Share Posted August 6, 2018 Very nicely done! Regards, Kris Global Paleo Services, LLC https://globalpaleoservices.com http://instagram.com/globalpaleoservices http://instagram.com/kris.howe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troodon Posted August 6, 2018 Share Posted August 6, 2018 Very well done you have a pretty good skill set. Like that you included the tiny black wear facet in the tip. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bone guy Posted August 6, 2018 Share Posted August 6, 2018 Wow! If somebody showed this to me as an unrestored tooth I would believe them. This is flawless work. You should keep working with your talent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TyBoy Posted August 6, 2018 Share Posted August 6, 2018 Wow very nice job Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caldigger Posted August 6, 2018 Share Posted August 6, 2018 Colorblind?! So that's why your avatar is black and white. Well it certainly doesn't show on this piece. Your color matching is amazing and the way you included the crazing and imperfections in the enamel is protection in itself. Truly a magnificent job! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miocene_Mason Posted August 6, 2018 Share Posted August 6, 2018 Wow, for some reason it went to the last photo when I pressed this thread and I thought it was real for a second! Very nice job! “...whilst this planet has gone cycling on according to the fixed law of gravity, from so simple a beginning endless forms most beautiful and most wonderful have been and are being evolved.” ~ Charles Darwin Happy hunting, Mason Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fossilized6s Posted August 6, 2018 Author Share Posted August 6, 2018 7 hours ago, Bobby Rico said: Fantastic job, nicely sculpted and you have matched the colour and texture . Congratulations 6 hours ago, Haravex said: That is an amazing job, it is very hard to tell its been restored which is a credit in it's self. 5 hours ago, LordTrilobite said: That looks great! Much improved indeed. 4 hours ago, Fossildude19 said: You are truly an artist, Charlie! This is professional work. 3 hours ago, Ptychodus04 said: Very nicely done! 3 hours ago, Troodon said: Very well done you have a pretty good skill set. Like that you included the tiny black wear facet in the tip. 3 hours ago, Bone guy said: Wow! If somebody showed this to me as an unrestored tooth I would believe them. This is flawless work. You should keep working with your talent. 3 hours ago, TyBoy said: Wow very nice job 2 hours ago, caldigger said: Colorblind?! So that's why your avatar is black and white. Well it certainly doesn't show on this piece. Your color matching is amazing and the way you included the crazing and imperfections in the enamel is protection in itself. Truly a magnificent job! Thanks, everyone. I really appreciate the kind words. It was a fun little project. 1 ~Charlie~ "There are those that look at things the way they are, and ask why.....i dream of things that never were, and ask why not?" ~RFK ->Get your Mosasaur print ->How to spot a fake Trilobite ->How to identify a CONCRETION from a DINOSAUR EGG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fossilized6s Posted August 6, 2018 Author Share Posted August 6, 2018 5 minutes ago, WhodamanHD said: Wow, for some reason it went to the last photo when I pressed this thread and I thought it was real! Very nice job! Huh.... Thanks. The devil's in the details. It's not perfect, but passable. ~Charlie~ "There are those that look at things the way they are, and ask why.....i dream of things that never were, and ask why not?" ~RFK ->Get your Mosasaur print ->How to spot a fake Trilobite ->How to identify a CONCRETION from a DINOSAUR EGG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sagebrush Steve Posted August 6, 2018 Share Posted August 6, 2018 Outstanding work! You’ve done a whale of a job! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fossilized6s Posted August 6, 2018 Author Share Posted August 6, 2018 29 minutes ago, Sagebrush Steve said: Outstanding work! You’ve done a whale of a job! Thank you. Very punny, sir. Lol ~Charlie~ "There are those that look at things the way they are, and ask why.....i dream of things that never were, and ask why not?" ~RFK ->Get your Mosasaur print ->How to spot a fake Trilobite ->How to identify a CONCRETION from a DINOSAUR EGG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcbshark Posted August 6, 2018 Share Posted August 6, 2018 awesome work Charlie Every once in a great while it's not just a big rock down there! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fossilized6s Posted August 6, 2018 Author Share Posted August 6, 2018 5 hours ago, jcbshark said: awesome work Charlie Thanks Jeff! ~Charlie~ "There are those that look at things the way they are, and ask why.....i dream of things that never were, and ask why not?" ~RFK ->Get your Mosasaur print ->How to spot a fake Trilobite ->How to identify a CONCRETION from a DINOSAUR EGG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fossilized6s Posted August 8, 2018 Author Share Posted August 8, 2018 I was generously given this tooth from STH by fellow member @digit (Ken). It had a busted root and he said "it had my name on it". I told him i'd fix it for him, but he said to keep it after i was done. Since i'm in the resto mood, might as well do it now. Thanks Ken! It's such a beautiful tooth, the colors from STH never disappoint. Here she is. She's not perfect, but still turned out pretty nice. 1 ~Charlie~ "There are those that look at things the way they are, and ask why.....i dream of things that never were, and ask why not?" ~RFK ->Get your Mosasaur print ->How to spot a fake Trilobite ->How to identify a CONCRETION from a DINOSAUR EGG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miocene_Mason Posted August 8, 2018 Share Posted August 8, 2018 Nice! What’s the size on that tooth? “...whilst this planet has gone cycling on according to the fixed law of gravity, from so simple a beginning endless forms most beautiful and most wonderful have been and are being evolved.” ~ Charles Darwin Happy hunting, Mason Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fossilized6s Posted August 8, 2018 Author Share Posted August 8, 2018 4 minutes ago, WhodamanHD said: Nice! What’s the size on that tooth? Thanks. The Mako is 1 7/8" about 47mm. 1 ~Charlie~ "There are those that look at things the way they are, and ask why.....i dream of things that never were, and ask why not?" ~RFK ->Get your Mosasaur print ->How to spot a fake Trilobite ->How to identify a CONCRETION from a DINOSAUR EGG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
digit Posted August 9, 2018 Share Posted August 9, 2018 Sweet restoration job!!! I knew that you were the man for that job. If you look closely, I do believe it did have your name on it. Still out on a roadtrip in the Carolinas on the backside of a trip out to the Meg Ledges. I've got a few other really interesting teeth that might find their way into your mailbox. They are really nice but need a bit of TLC. Cheers. -Ken Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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