Soleil Royal by EricWiberg - Heller - 1/100 - started 45 years ago

[EricWiberg]

I have patiently carved eleven different dolphins, and I think that the one on the copper penny is just about what I want. The two above the penny were iterations #8 and #9... for some reason, I really liked the look of the carved wooden furniture dolphin below, specifically the big lips!

 

The dolphin on the penny needs some clean up work; I was very frustrated at my ability to make nice, thin, sweeping curves of the tail fins - see iterations #8 and #9! However, I discovered that a very small woodworking gouge that has a shallow curve could allow me to do a much better job than with my #11 Xacto blade. I currently have a 4mm wide shallow curve gouge, and I am patiently waiting for the delivery of several smaller gouges: 1.5mm, 2mm, and 3mm. I know that will allow me to finish off the tail with nice, long fins as I visualized in my drawing, and also thin the body.

 

I also want to add texture on the head ala the "mane" on my drawing and where the small pectoral fin is be in the drawing. I experimented with Apoxie Sculpt, and the tiniest ball of maybe 1mm flattens out into an oval, and lets me mark some very fine striations in it - much easier for me than attempting that in plastic. So I just have to be patient until the gouges arrive later this week.