Ankylosaurus Sculpture
Melanie Richard
Billings, Montana
The front of the body is being blocked out. One foot is covered in All Purpose Foam Coat. The details are then added with an air drying taxidermy clay that adheres to Foam Coat very well.
Here the front of body is being foam coated and painted, other leg almost done.
Here’s another view of the face during painting. Taxidermy clay blends the edges of Foam Coat and adds wrinkles and touch ups.
I needed to make the dinosaur in small enough sections to fit through my standard-size doors and be light enough to safely and easily carry up stairs since his home will be on the second floor of the museum. After drawing him out on graph paper to scale, I divided the torso into four sections 2ft thick, four separate legs, the head, and two sections of tail.
I left gaps without Foam Coat at all the seams for last minute adjustments. I painted most of him except for seams since he was going to be so large assembled and parts would be difficult to reach. Most of the belly was left uncovered as well, since I felt a continuous run of Foam Coat would be needed to give it strength.
The whole thing was shipped in two van loads. The torso was stacked vertically on the platform, held together with spray foam between each layer, and all seams were Foam Coated, textured and painted. The next day the torso was tipped over (carefully) and hoisted up with straps and a come-along attached to ceiling supports.
At this point legs were positioned and held in place by large wire “staples” and foam spray shot into the seams. After a night for the spray to harden, the excess was trimmed and a skin of foam coat put on the seam and painted.
The head and tail were supported and attached in the same way.
All was left to cure and harden overnight, then one by one, starting with the lightest areas, the supports were removed. The platform is on casters so the entire dinosaur was moved out from under the chains and come-along so it would be safe as they were removed, then was rolled back into position.
Final detailing was done and the platform was decorated. Total weight of Foam Coat was about 275 lbs., so total weight of dinosaur is probably around 300 lbs.
Thanks for the interest and the great service!