The Tarrasque miniature project.

Hello, At the moment I am in the workings to turn an ERTL star wars Rancor model kit into a big T. This page shows a review of the model & its parts. not my review BTW

Originally I was going to use the classic toy of the Rancor but I got the model kit for 10 bucks on Ebay :bounce: . Not to mention the toy has about 1/3rd the detail of the model kit.

Current plans

-The earring is already gone

-remove the manacle when I shorten the arms.


-Add horns. I may make them attached above the eyes or behind the eyes in the visible depressions and curve the horns forward [ Suggestions would be VERY appreciated ]


-Reduce arm length slightly on both arms [ the manacle on its right arm is about how much I will take off .]

-Trim down the fingers to a less ridiculous length

-Lengthen toes or replace feet completely

-Use white glue strengthened Spackle & epoxy putty to build up spikes & carapace.

-hunt down an appropriate tail or sculpt[y] one

BTW for inspiration I will be using the 3E concept art http://www.wizards.com/dnd/images/mm_gallery/Tarrasque.jpg & the Tony detrlizzi [sp] 2E Monstrous manual art NOT the gooney color 3E MM illustration. Notice how the big T looks like the rancor model?

I will do my best to keep you updated on this colossal project. I will try to borrow a friend's digital camera to show my progress on this project and a few others.

Here are links of SW Rancor models that are assembled [ not mine ]

http://users.pandora.be/hobbytime/Images/rancor.jpg Those fingers are LONG!

http://www.culttvman.com/assets/images-EVENTS/sfmcrancor.JPG This one, apparently is a scene of a government test site.

http://www.goldenapplecomics.com/jan98/rancor.jpg Quite dark but very menacing.

http://www.starshipmodeler.com/events/wfest2k1/fig_rancor.JPG Those spikes are too small to be 3E compliant!

http://www.antsnest.net/Gallery/Rancor1.jpg & http://www.antsnest.net/Gallery/Rancor2.jpg Front and back views of a nice paintjob [ remember to copy and paste this link into the address bar; some hosting sites like this one do not allow direct linking ]

First question.

Any suggestions for color of body?

The Monster manual Creamy coffee & orange caramel colors do not feel threatening enough. One of my friends suggested a very dark glossy steel[ drow adamantine] to represent both the toughness of its hide & reflective powers. Too bad that color scheme will be impossible to take a decent picture of.

Go with a glossy metalic green or something. The glossiness could be indicative of the Tarrasques ability to reflect spells that don't penetrate. Green, since it sorta looks like a giant reptile anyway. As for the horns, you could go either way, a yellow-dirty ivory, or possibly dark brown-black. Maybe even dirty ivory-to-black with a touch of red at the tip?

dont paint it like the MM, it looks retarded. maybe keep the dirty-yellowish color of the body, but not the shell, maybe multi-colored scales based on its resistances/abilities...

just food for thought

Hi frankthedm mate!

Funnily enough I also have the Rancor toy and I was considering painting it up in a diorama.

The best picture of the Tarrasque I ever saw was the one where its fighting the 'king kong' size enchanted gorilla. Do you have that picture? Although the Sam Wood concept art is great!

Anyway, I agree the arms are a problem - hopefully removing the manacles will address this.

For the tail, try and find a suitable dinosaur model.

I would have the horns cover the 2nd & 3rd ridges behind the 'eyebrows'.

For colour, perhaps yellowish underbelly blending to green as you spread out - to perhaps dark green on its back, With the bulk of the model green. Any 'scale reflectiveness' can be achieved with gloss varnish at the end.

Keep us up to date with how things progress! Good luck!

1st off I am soooo glad I compose my posts in MS word. The server too busy message would of cost me this whole post.

Originally posted by Upper_Krust
The best picture of the Tarrasque I ever saw was the one where its fighting the 'king kong' size enchanted gorilla. Do you have that picture? Although the Sam Wood concept art is great!

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I have seen that Tarrasque VS Summoned / Illusionary Ape, the art quality is good but that big T is only s’awright in my book. Sam’s concept art really looks like he used the rancor model kit as a basis for posture.[right down to the held victim] .Though no way will I use shell spikes the size of the 3E illo!

Originally posted by Upper_Krust
Anyway, I agree the arms are a problem - hopefully removing the manacles will address this.

Click to expand...

That is about the trimming they need, though both Tarrasque and roncor have fingers that are way too long :rollyeyes:.

Originally posted by Upper_Krust
For the tail, try and find a suitable dinosaur model.

Click to expand...

Good Idea, but I will have to buy one for all my old toys like that are gone. I do have 2 of the Duke Nuke’em Octobrain toy [its giant spinal collunm may work well for a bony spiked ridged tail.

Hi frankthedm mate!

frankthedm said:

1st off I am soooo glad I compose my posts in MS word. The server too busy message would of cost me this whole post.

Click to expand...

I know what you mean!

frankthedm said:

I have seen that Tarrasque VS Summoned / Illusionary Ape, the art quality is good but that big T is only s’awright in my book. Sam’s concept art really looks like he used the rancor model kit as a basis for posture.[right down to the held victim] .Though no way will I use shell spikes the size of the 3E illo!.

Click to expand...

Actually I really liked the massive carapace shell.

frankthedm said:

That is about the trimming they need, though both Tarrasque and roncor have fingers that are way too long :rollyeyes:

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True.

frankthedm said:

Good Idea, but I will have to buy one for all my old toys like that are gone. I do have 2 of the Duke Nuke’em Octobrain toy [its giant spinal collunm may work well for a bony spiked ridged tail.

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I'm guessing the model is hollow so it might be better to buy a replacement tail (maybe a Godzilla kit would have a number of spare parts?)

http://www.godzillatoy.com/gtoys.htm

http://www.godzillatoy.com/ToySale/dxset.jpg

Even better its a plush King Ghidorah!

http://shop.store.yahoo.com/outerl/tyghidgodplu.html

Is it me or from the illustrations the Big T looks like it has long thin fingers like the Rancor, so I'm not sure if trimming them down is a good idea.

I thought the 3ed MM pic looked like the "new" Godzilla with that thick jaw it had.

I'm guessing the model is hollow so it might be better to buy a replacement tail (maybe a Godzilla kit would have a number of spare parts?)

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found this for 8 bucks at toyzzz.com. it is a foot tall so the shell might just be the right size for the shell. should be arriving later today. Maybe this will inspire me to get working on this beast.