Goatraffe
the genesis of an idea, a simple observation
Did your goat come with really long casting gates on each of the legs like mine? They make me want to get another to create.... a Goatraffe, half goat, half giraffe and all danger (as they'd say on 'when animals attack')
Well adapted to life in the endless snow of Baalors realm the Goatraffes legs and neck have grown longer to raise it's body away from the cold ground, and to allow it to see above the highest drifts. A long thick tail has also developed which can be curled beneath the body to provide more insulation when resting. As only the hardiest plants survive the ice the Goatraffe eats both the tender shoots at the tips of evergreen trees and, where it can find it, fresh meat. Comical at first glance it can swing it's head and neck like a huge club inflicting massive damage with it's paired horns, or split open the thickest hide with the knife like dew claws on it's legs spilling blood and entrails on the frozen ground. Despite their unnatural appetites some Gabrax warchiefs seek to capture these impressive beasts to ride into battle, and this suits the Goatraffes well as they are provided with the flesh they crave from those that fall in battle, and when no battle calls, from the weakest in the band.
A couple of shots for you this warm Sunday morning, first the prototype Goatraffe, the legs will be in a 'walking' pose rather than just standing but i'll need to do some research of that first
On the subject of composite monstrosities goatrafe advance
A bit more Goatraffe work done, I need to add reins and tack and do the tail but the basic look is there, and I've started work on the rider, although the weapon will probably change to a spear and the angle he's sitting at will need to change
A bit more Goatraffe work done,
I need to add reins and tack on the neck and tidy up the joint, also decide what (if any) horns I'm going to go for, I'd like to go for a 4 horn look, but without adding any more real height and do the tail and dew claws but the basic look is there... (I might go for some wood/bone armour on the lower legs, not sure whether that will look good or not I'll have to rough in one leg to see) and I've now started work on the rider with a modified head with an armoured brow plate added to echo the one on the mount, I'll play a bit more with the shoulder armour to make him look more distinct from Chagamuuth. I think I will probably change the pole arm to a spear and possible give him a sheath with a couple more on the goatraffe and the angle he's sitting at will need to change
and on a different tack
you've goat to see this.... oh I am so funny this morning, lack of sleep when getting up early to do this... now I've got to figure out making the reigns (long, thin flat bits of greenstuff, ouch) and putting them through the rings
I'll step up to entertain (?) Goatraffe, latest WIP
What's this ? The goatraffe rider is armed with 'baalor's tears', spears tipped with black ice that never melts (or perhaps obsidian if you asked a disinterested observer)
and since once he throws the spear he'd be unarmed some more spears, a big choppa (probably too big to put on his back as originally intended) and a somewhat smaller sword WIP that I'll use instead
The goatraffe has his horns
and reins
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v348/orlando_the_technicoloured/DSC02219_zps0mpabj7k.jpg
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I think it's getting close to being finished I've got to work out some harness straps for the spears which are blutac-ed on at the moment my original idea for a 'quiver' type arrangement was dropped as impractical, the long shafts would wave about far too much as the goatraffe worked, but I think this echoes the horns in a similar position on the original goat which is cool I've also scrapped the idea of lower leg armour or dew claws (they made the legs look wrong) so I've started work on the base with a little tree/bush type thing which I'm quite pleased with