I've set up this page in response to the many emails asking for further information and about progress on the BrantWorks Allosaurus skeleton kit. So here are the most frequently asked questions and some rough 'n read progress photos direct from the workbench.
FAQs
When will it be ready?
Mid-2014 should be about right but a date is hard to pin down. The more we get into the project the more complex it becomes! We’re pushing for a level of accuracy and detail that hasn’t been achieved before in a kit of this type. Progress is steady and I’m confident we can produce an outstanding result. It will just take a little longer than initially expected and it will be worth the wait!
Mid-2014 should be about right but a date is hard to pin down. The more we get into the project the more complex it becomes! We’re pushing for a level of accuracy and detail that hasn’t been achieved before in a kit of this type. Progress is steady and I’m confident we can produce an outstanding result. It will just take a little longer than initially expected and it will be worth the wait!
How much will it cost?
This has not been determined yet. It depends on production costs. For example, we are now looking to include appropriate pre-tooled parts and hardware for armatures and connectors to make it easy to assemble. please budget for around US$399.
This has not been determined yet. It depends on production costs. For example, we are now looking to include appropriate pre-tooled parts and hardware for armatures and connectors to make it easy to assemble. please budget for around US$399.
Why are there so many parts?
There are many toy model
dinosaur skeletons on the market. This is not a toy. What sets the BrantWorks model apart
is the degree of accuracy and detail. The mantra here is “3D scientific illustration in miniature”. This is truly a scaled-down museum exhibit and a great way to understand dinosaur anatomy.Furthermore, having separate bones, particularly all the vertebrae, allows the skeleton to be posed any way you like. The entire skeleton will conform to any pose you can imagine within the animal's natural range of motion. Creating a great composition is half the fun of a project like this!
How much is postage?
The kits are made in the USA and ship from there. Exact postage will depend on your location and the final size and weight of the kit, which is unknown at this time.
The kits are made in the USA and ship from there. Exact postage will depend on your location and the final size and weight of the kit, which is unknown at this time.
Will I be able to make it, I'm not experienced with resin cast kits?
Resin
models are a joy to build with. There is a certain amount of part
preparation (e.g. removing seams and sprues, filling gaps) but resin is
very forgiving and with some CA glue and modern epoxy modeling putty
the work is very simple. We are working to make the model as easy as
possible to construct, so some mounting hardware will be included with
the kit. Resin bones are easy to work with and very forgiving (unlike
mechanical model parts with linear edges and blemish-free surfaces). Also, bones must be about the simplest thing to paint or stain! A completed BrantWorks skeleton will be an amazing
display piece that can be re-posed and dissassembled for storage and transport.If I lose or damage a part, isn't the whole kit ruined?
Do not be concerned, we will replace any part for the cost of postage.
Progress Photos
Jan 2014 progress photos. Still rough in places but getting there...
December 2013: Master skull. Mixed media , in progress (resin, epoxy putty, brass teeth). 4 parts: separate mandible halves, separate braincase (below).
Original Scaffold model made from the scaled cutouts shown below. This was originally going to be the BrantWorks Allosaur model but after further consideration we decided to take the model to the next level. Consequently, all ~150 parts were freshly cast in resin to create the Scaffold Cast. These parts are being be detailed to the highest level we can achieve for the final Master model.
September-November 2013: First step was to scale all the drawings, print them, cut them out, stiffen them with glue and sculpt a basic shape part over each cutout to correct scale. This is much the same process as used by Shigeru Yamazaki. Here are pics of a few of the template sheets that were used.
Resulting rough parts were assembled into a Scaffold Cast and this was recast in resin. The Scaffold Cast model was taken apart and each bone was carefully detailed to create a Master model used to create the final production parts.