Kitbash:Dragon vs Gryphon Done 2025-05-28

[bucketfoot-al]

Now that is much more realistic!!!

[barad_dur]

Continuing to add more texture and details to the wing webbing
Lots of refining left to do

[bucketfoot-al]

Man Joe, I'm feeling real sorry for that dragon!
He's going down!

I can't wait for you to slap some blood red color on those torn wings, the texture you're adding is fantastic!

[barad_dur]

Thanks Vlad.
Not sure if I will make the wing rips bloody.

Started laying in some base colors.
Not sure if I will stay with the green scheme as I am seriously considering a red and black scheme to make the dragon more “evil”…

[bucketfoot-al]

Wow! The colors really emphasize the rips in the wings! Keep going!,

[barad_dur]

Decided to go with a red based scheme.
Put on light base colors

[tay666]

I like that red idea.
Though, have you considered blue?
I don't remember many (or any) of your kits with a blue color scheme.

[barad_dur]

Thanks Trevor
I have not tried a blue scheme on a dragon as I am doubtful that I could make it look “real life”
However, I have some aquatic creature kits that I plan to try more colorful blue and purple color schemes on in the future

[bucketfoot-al]

Rips and tears really starting to stand out now!

[Squidy53]

I like the switch to red though dark green can look really good and evil too. How will the dragon's red paint scheme look with the Gryphon's?

I like the idea that most tears are not recent as it suggests a long history of conflict.

[barad_dur]

Continuing to try and get a leathery red scheme; but I am not at all happy at how it is looking at this point.
Doing my best to resist restarting paint scheme from scratch as the clock is ticking fast for Wonderfest.
I am going to try and push through and use some chalks, washes and dry brushing to hopefully make it look contest worthy.

[barad_dur]

Getting a little better

[bucketfoot-al]

[Squidy53]

Absolutely, much better Joe, particularly on the back which I felt had the bigger issue. You'll get this sorted; this is you we're talking about.

[barad_dur]

Thank you Vlad and Steve !

[barad_dur]

I have the back to where I like it now; but the front ended up too muddy looking.
So going to repaint front side , but also changing wing skin texture while I am at it.
My original approach had a ton of small slits in the webbing which did not look right and made it hard to paint.
See difference in work-in-progress pics below for right and left wings.

[Squidy53]

[bucketfoot-al]

The wing looks 110% more realistic smooth - as you would expect it to be (skin-covered after all). The many lines of texture were distracting and took away from the realism of the creature.

Didn't know quite what it was that was putting me off before - I just knew the Dragon didn't look as good as when you had worked on it a few years ago - because SOMETHING looked "off" and less realistic; And as soon as you started smoothing out the wing it became obvious it was those lines. Good choice!!!

[tay666]

[barad_dur]

Painting continues…