One heck of a tail!

[kproche]

Further updates on the WorldCon costume project:

Conrad's tail construction, continued

	Endplate for securing the shockcord The elastic shockcord needs something to pull *against* in the base of the tail; it could simply tear through the foam all by itself. This endplate is made of two pieces of WonderFlex with holes put through for the central chain and the top and bottom cords, and then fused together into a single plate
	The assembled tail skeleton The angled base piece has been added, and the chain and shockcords pulled through. The cord has been stretched (the top one more, to give the tail the curve I want) and knotted with figure-eight knots right against the end plate.
	A view of the WonderFlex basepalate and the knotted shock cords
	Fabric for the tail's skin pretty simple: three main pieces and the "fins" to run along the dorsal seam
	The dorsal fins chain, sitting on a piece of the blue fabric
	The dorsal piece all by itself
	Close up of the dorsal crest construction This is very simple: two pieces of the black lizardskin spandex fused together with "Heat'n'Bond Lite", cut to shape and the the top edges serged with a narrow edge (two needles, but with the stitch former pulled out to make the loops narrower)
	It's a tail! here it is in all it's glory, skin pulled over the skeleton.
	another view of the assembled tail I decided not to put batting over the skeleton (as I did in the head) because it would make the tail less flexible. that's why the vertebral segments show as much as they do.
	rear view of tail even though the "vertebra" segments are apparent under the skin, the tail moves as well as I hoped it would, so I think the tradeoff is worth it.

Oh, and the music is mixed already, too! LA Con, here we come... (only feet, remounting the jaw, and jewelling the jumpsuit left)


Yay!

Comments

[jbriggs.livejournal.com]

According to the Anatomy Page, Iguanas have Dorsal Spines. One could suppose this would translate to Dorsal Fins for those wot got fins instead of spines. According to the Stegosaurus Anatomy Page they are "bony plates."

[dinogrl.livejournal.com]

Stegasaurids didn't have crests (bony plates) on the tail, they did have spikes, or bulbus matter at the end, presumably for defense. There is still a great deal of speculation as to what the bony plates were for. Defense is the obvious choice, but ventilation seems to be one possibility. Still, the majority of lizards don't have tail crests, as most can detach and regenerate.

[jbriggs.livejournal.com]

Quote: "So, dinogrl, what exactly is the correct name for that sort of finny/cresty thingy that runs along the dorsal edge of some reptile backs/tails?"

And the answer is...

[kproche.livejournal.com]

Apparently, the general term is "Dorsal Crest", which can comprise spikes, fins, sails or several other vertical manifestations ;-)

Mososaurs had them, apparently. And iguanas do today.

Re: And the answer is...

[dinogrl.livejournal.com]

Heck, if that's what you wanted, no problem. I thought you wanted some paleo or herpitalogical babble. Keep in mind that dinos evolved into avians, so if you really want to shake things up you may want to put a few "proto-feathers" on Conrad's head! (yeah, right)

Re: And the answer is...

[kproche.livejournal.com]

Heck,no, I just wanted to know the right thing to call it in my photo captions! :-)

and if Conrad/Conzilla is related to Godzilla, he might be iquanoid anyway. Except, of course, that polite folk don't talk about such things ;-)