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Hey there. Jeremy has been very busy sculpting up the new Ultraforge Dragon kit. I wanted to post up some pics so we can get your thoughts on how things are going. Ultraforge is a company for the people by the people and your feedback is very valuable to us here at home. These are work in progress shots. The Dragon is about half-way completed and still needs a tall scenic base to stand on and wings to fly with. His sculpted base will fit on a 50mm square base no problem.

We are also interested in which conversion kits you would like to see for the Dragon. While keeping the main body and re-sculpting appendages he can become a wyvern, a zombie dragon, a demon dragon, a hydra, etc.

The Ultraforge Dragon is a multi-part kit that is kinda unique in its design.

For example, the howdah/chariot top allows you to include any miniature you wish to represent as the rider. The kit does not include a rider at all. The howdah can fit any base up to 25mm square. This means you do not need to paint up a whole new rider and also a matching rider on foot to use if the Dragon dies during a game. With our Dragon you simply remove the Dragon and plop down the rider.

The other advantage to the howdah is that you can use different riders to match your different armies. Use a dark elf for one game and replace it with a vampire in the next. Just paint up the one Dragon to match up with the look of each of your armies and never buy another Dragon again! You could even share the Dragon with friends.








The Dragon looks especially nice with chains running from his mouthpiece to the howdah slot to represent reigns. I just didn't want to break apart my necklace for the photos but will include chain in the final painted version. There will also be swept back wings where you see the white Apoxie Sculpt wing port.

I also included a pictures of some of the tools used to sculpt the Dragon. He was sculpted with an Apoxie Sculpt armature, Fimo skin and a few details in green stuff. The rivets were done with a paint and glue mixture. There are even a few metal loops made from bent paper clips.

Thanks in advance for your constructive critisism, suggestions and support.

Sophie.

A.MA.ZING.

The detail and proportion of that sculpt are beautiful, but I have to say it's the pose that does it for me most. Really nice work.

Sophia, is the howdah section removable as a single piece? And is the dragon detailed beneath the howdah (so that one does not have to greenstuff it if fielding it without a howdah)?

Gorgeous detail, and a pretty dragon so far.

I'm not totally sold on the pose... it seems a little two-dimensional. While I realise that this is probably due to moulding considerations, it makes him look a little squished... like he's trying to squeeze in between something.

The Howda's a clever idea, but looks a bit high. An indent for the rider's base to sit in would probably help.


Nice work, though. I'm looking forward to seeing what he looks like with wings.

It is interesting you guys mention those things. The platform would have been lowered but it turns out the whole howdah is removable and there is the complete dragon underneath. This was done in case a person didn't want to use the howdah and also to be able to convert the dragon into a hydra, etc.

At first the howdah was even higher and it was toned down to its bare minimum height. There is a little lip at the rear edge as well to keep the figure seated in nicely when moving the dragon around. The body is quite lurking and slithery lengthwise but does not travel out on its sides since that will be the main job of the wings. It is my hope that when it is done it has great depth at every angle but we will have to see how the wings turn out. Thanks so much for the suggestions and comments.

Gorgeous model
Only 1 thing about it and it is utterly annoying me personally
I presume the wings go on that white aprt of the dragon green, now to me, that is far too low on the dragon's back for it's wings to go. The dragon looks fine without its wings but it just seems anatomically incorrect for its wings to be so low down.
Personally, I think it's wings should be higher up, jsut a little lower than it's shoulders
Just my opinion
the sculpt itself is gorgeous, when is it available.

That is a good point. Since the wings are not yet sculpted yet there is a chance to move their placement. I will suggest to Jer that the wings might want to be a little higher up. Thanks so much for the comment.

EDIT: I actually just checked out the howdah piece on top of the microwave (our storage area) in the kitchen (our sculpting studio ) and it certainly looks like the wing ports could be moved.

I also got a picture of the basic body alone to show the armor that lays underneath the howdah. The wings will form from a separate piece that will act as a wing port. It will look like the armor is opening up to allow the wings thru. Having an un-winged basic body will make sculpting a big Ultrasaurus Rex or a Hyrda much easier, if there is demand for such things.

That is absolutely gorgeous!
Penned on my to buy list!

I'll be gettin me one of those!

I like the Hydra idea too, there isnt a really good one on the market.

I don't like Dragon models in general. The only two I have like are the new high elf dragon and yours. Your dragon is ++.

Ultrasaurus Rex? Hydra?
Please say it's so and you're not just teasing me

Armor plates cool +
Dragon itself mean looking +
The podest for the rider... hum well it is a good alternative, defenetly good if the rider is a mage but for someone who wants to fight not so great. As it is down to it's minimum height and I got no better suggestions it's a 4 1/2 stars.
Great work!

Let's face it: if you want to fight personally, riding a dragon, logically speaking, is not such a great place to be regardless of how you're mounted on it. Things would pretty much have to jump or fly up right in your face for you to hit them with anything but the longest of weapons.

The dragon is. . . wow. No complaints at all.

I loves it! Time to stash a little scratch away for when it is completed.

One thing I might suggest for the little howdah, is to put a little socket in it for a 1/8th inch disk or rectangle rare earth magnet. Just a little divot will save me from having to take a dremel to the beastie later, and honestly I don't want my unworthy, knotted hands trembling and ruining it in the process.
I would imagine lots of people would want to have a solid bond between the rider mini (no doubt some highly detailed centerpeice itself) and the dragon when moving it around. The notion of moving the dragon, having the rider fall off and knocking a chip of paint of either or both is making me shudder.

Sophia wrote:... or a Hyrda much easier, if there is demand for such things.

sleazy wrote:I like the Hydra idea too, there isnt a really good one on the market.

I've been looking for a good hydra sculpt for a looong time, with no intention of using one in game. Count me amongst the demanding

The dragon looks superb, great weight to him and I think you've got the style and proportions just right. Agreed that wings farther forward would be preferred, and while the howdah is funky I think it can't be helped. And anyway, if I were to happen upon one of these dragon kits I'd likely build it sans rider ftw

- Salvage

I do love this model. I fully intend to purchase at least one. And I (along with my Vampires) would love you to death (uhm, no pun intended) if you did a Zombie Dragon version or upgrade kit. That'd make it look boss.

But I do have some criticisms, since you asked for them. And these are just personal taste things, really.

I'm not a fan of all the armor. The Dragon is just... VERY armored. I've never liked dragons with alot of armor in general, that's what their skin is for! (and, less of an issue really but it may bug me down the road, the new Zombie Dragon has a 5+ armor save.. it's going to be hard explaining that when he's wearing a full suit of dragon plate, haha). However, this particular armor would look smashing on a High Elf dragon. And others have professed love for the armor so this may just be me. (Oh and I do actually like the armor, itself. It's very well sculpted. I just don't like it on a dragon).

The pose isn't doing it for me. It's not a bad pose, but with the length and shape of his arms and the distribution of weight to his hind legs it definitely gives him a more humanoid look, like a giant lizard man. Not that I'm not fond of that image, but in Warhammer (where you actually have a Lizardman race) it seems a little.. out of place. Hrm. But that is a really good idea. Chop the wings off and use it as a Dogs of War giant for Lizardmen... Oooh....

Still though, overall I love the model. The Howdah is VERY cool, and I think I can make the armor work for my army. And I'm reserving the overall judgement until I see the wings. I mean it is a dragon, the wings are really what make it, I think. That and the head, which is spectacular, by the way. Probably the best part of this model.

I'm very excited to see how this ends up, what the wings look like, what the base looks like, and what conversion kits you supply for it. In addition to the Zombie Dragon kit (which, if I hadn't mentioned before, I would LOVE to see) I wouldn't mind seeing a Hydra kit. I have no use for a Hydra, personally, but I think it would look wicked cool and I'd buy one just as a painting project.

It really is great work too, Ultraforge continues to impress and amaze me.

Hawt! Definitely better than the snakeasaurus dragons!

This model definitely keeps with the surrealism your models have thus far made. Just like the Giant and the Deamonette, this dragon jumps right out of a high fantasy book. However, that is not always a plus.

In this case I think it may have been taken too far with the pulpit-like chariot on the dragon's back. This may have come across better for me if the dragon was posed differently, perhaps standing up more or spread out.

jmurph wrote:Hawt! Definitely better than the snakeasaurus dragons!

Oh god yes, this thing is infinitely better than the "S with wings" snake lizard.

Like a friggin boa constrictor with legs those things are...

I have to say that I love this model. GW has yet to get a dragon model right, and this one is perfect. I might have to start playing an army that uses a dragon so i have an excuse to buy this.

Oh wow, this thing is great. FAR superior to any other currently available dragon... and I can't think of any past one that can beat it either!

The dragon is fantastic and I love the howdah. That way, when the bolt throwers/cannons shoot the dragon out from under my general, it's easy to replace it with the model from the Howdah.

Fantastic work again and better than any dragon model out there (including the FW version).

Ozymandias, King of Kings

Gorgeous! Count me among those that love the armor - it's executed beautifully. I can't wait to see the hydra. Yet another version that you could do with the appendages and separate tail would be an Eastern-style dragon.

"Oh god yes, this thing is infinitely better than the "S with wings" snake lizard"

All of a sudden a giant "Trogdor the burninator" smashing around the table comes to mind!
Great sculp btw, wish I had some cash!

Stunning model. A question if I may. Will the wings be interchangable with those of other models you produce? I, personally, think this dragon would make a fantastic Lord of Change but I assume that you would have membrane type wings as opposed to feathery like a Greater Daemon of Tzeentch. So would the wings, like the ones you made for your female daemon fit on this?

P.S. Do you have a pic of your sculpts standing side by side, so you can see their sizes in relation to each other?

That is an amazing model! I love the armor on the dragon, and the thought of mounting one of my leaders on that beast makes me drool. I will defenetly be picking up one of these onces its finished Keep up the great work.

Absolutely beautiful.

I love the pose. This dragon is hunched and creeping as much as fighting, but it is also the pose of a great beast that
is fighting things much smaller than it.

I am loving the new Ultraforge minis. Keep it up.

I am pleased with the creeping type pose as well. In reality it looks even better, as most miniatures do. It certainly looks a lot more reptilian and snakelike in reality. Jeremy has greatly appreciated the comments as well as the suggestions fo the wing placement and will do his best to apply that feedback.

Having the rider lock into the howdah somehow is a great idea. I was thinking about just using a little blue-tac or clean clay to stick the rider into place, but I will suggest creating some type of system that does not require these materials.

It is also good to hear there are people interested in a hydra variant. This should be a very fun challenge. Personally, I can not wait to take the dremel to a resin cast copy of the dragon and re-sculpt up a zombie variant.

Look quite nice, but I don't think I like the left arm, the one stretching backwards. I think it might look better tucked up front like the right arm.

Sophia wrote:
Having the rider lock into the howdah somehow is a great idea. I was thinking about just using a little blue-tac or clean clay to stick the rider into place, but I will suggest creating some type of system that does not require these materials.

Perhaps an earth magnet in the rider's feet and in the howdah would allow them to apply together?
Then for people who want to use different minis as the rider they can just insert an earth metal in or on the base of their miniature?

Aduro wrote:Look quite nice, but I don't think I like the left arm, the one stretching backwards. I think it might look better tucked up front like the right arm.

I have to disagree with Aduro. It provides a sense of motion and keeps the model dynamic. Having both arms tucked under would cause it to be too static and lose the creeping effect/forward motion.