Ray Harryhausen's Rhedosaurus - Soft Vinyl Kit SA9025M

Taking a break from my VF-1S Strike Valkyrie & MADOX-01... This is a SINGLE segment of FOUR tail pieces - this monster is going to be larger than I thought (the box says "12 Inch soft vinyl kit")!!!
Using baking soda as a CA glue curing accelerant & join integrity enhancer. These parts are NOT light. LOL 

3 of the 4 tail segments! These alone measure about 13" in length! 

Oof.
Let me tell you, the base section of this monstrous tail, was a monster to get attached to his hind quarters!
It's a flared "plug" connector, that frankly is too flared. I filed and filed and filed... Began to flashback to the VF-1S situation (which is not a happy place) and ended up getting out my rotation tool (AKA Dremel knockoff) to really get some reduction going. Bit by bit until, at last, I could finally force it into place! Let me tell you, my hands were not happy - this beast's hide is bumpy, rough and spiked! LOL 

In search of the right "maw" shades. 

Mixing darker to get some variation and... 

Hopefully help shade contours and recesses. Also applying the first coat of dental color (Insignia White).
I hope to give him a sense of "used" chompers. 

Stippled gloss varnish in attempt to simulate saliva 

Lower jaw got a complete coat of gloss varnish 

Mix of satin and gloss for the upper jaw 

Fitted its dentures into the head to get a look at the overall impression after a couple of sprays of paint to the head, body and tail. 

 

Some light spraying in attempts to get some realistic color variation that will highlight cheeks and cranial ridges 

 

 

Finally ready to permanently attach the lower jaw and discover there's a significant gap in the neck. Time to break out the baking soda to gradually add to beadings of CA glue. Starting at the points where the parts are closest to meeting... 

And gradually spreading and building it up to the larger gaps. 

Time for tiny eye part painting.
Try saying that 3x fast. 😉 

Masked up for a final spray session to color in that filled neck gap and touch up before giving it a top coat. 

Topcoat applied. Trying it out atop a bookshelf. 🙂
I could call him done. I'm leaning toward more detailing around the claws and perhaps a shading wash down the belly scales... 

Uh oh, it's seen me! LOL 

I am very pleased with the head. I went with eyes more like Harryhausen's than that chosen for the kit's box art and promos.