Above: This is what your special edition badges will look like
Finally ready to go
Finally! All Apex Rex Pre-Production run Limited Edition models will be shipped by early next week! Big apologies for the long ride on this one. I will be honest... This project taught me some valuable lessons, and I learned one or two others along the way as well.
My biggest takeaway is not to sell the piece until I know my plan for the cut will work. I went into the cut with lion-like hubris and came out like a vulnerable little lamb, lol. I was sure I would be able to work out the magnetic head swap, so I spent way too much time trying to figure out how to do it. I was able to make it work in my shop, but no matter what I did, I had to do some grinding and fitting with the final print in order to fit the magnets in properly. I felt like that would make for an un-polished final product ( that is if each customer had to fit their own magnets), so I finally gave up on that pursuit.
SO... that foray left me way behind schedule, and for that, I apologize sincerely. Do keep in mind that each order now ships with a free portrait bust that was not a part of the original plan. That's me just trying to kiss some butt so that ya'll come back to me next time.
You will see that the diorama version has been "Retired". I suffered a catastrophic data loss when I recently reformatted my hard drive accidentally (and was absent-minded enough that I had no backup)! I lost well over 1,000 hours of work, and the Apex diorama with 'X-rex" is one of the models now gone to the ether. Since I cannot recreate it exactly, I am retiring it. I have some ideas for a new version that will fit your existing Apex Rex. So, you may not want to glue yours to the base permanently. If it gets made, one can buy the whole diorama or just the new base and supporting character (to add your existing pre-production Apex Rex to).
Did you notice that I am on the cover of issue #146 of Prehistoric Times Magazine? Well, I am. Mike Fredericks (the editor) interviews me, and the excellent Sean Kotz painted my "Acro-Tack" running acrocanthosaurus model- he walks you through how he did it. In the interview spread, you'll see some images of upcoming work- some of which are gone now, unfortuneatly.
Some good news is that I found a finished cut of my 'Don't Count Your Chickens" diorama. That is the one with a couple of Acrocanthosaurus attacking a baby Suaroposeidon. So, I will be releasing that within the coming weeks. Also, I found the baby's mother fully intact, so we may see her offered up pretty soon... probably so that she can be added to the diorama with the baby, or able to stand alone.
So all is not lost.
Also, we have the first entry into the Model Maker's Market. This is an aspect of the website I am working on to sell the work of other model artists. Only the best will be hosted, so keep checking to see the market grow.
So who is the first artist in our new market? Only one of the very best- DECLAY Studios!
go check them out and pick up a model.
"Don't Count Your Chickens" diorama below:
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