The modelling of this is pretty much finished, at least what would be visible in photos like this. That leaves the surface cleanup and refining the small details as to what is left to do. I may still add the lettering the originals had, i.e “MERCHANTS NATIONAL BANK 1914” to the face of the shield, but this would have to be done with incized lettering rather than raised as the originals had. I believe the original master models’ lettering may have been metal, wax or wood founders’ letters applied onto the surface of the clay, and while the model was still damp they made the mold of him.

After a few changes and tweeks to the face I’m a lot happier with it, I also started the wings. I hope to have this substantially finished this weekend for the majority of the add-on and subtractive work, leaving the finishing detailing and surface detailing as the bulk of what is left to do. This tops out right about 825 pounds and the photo just doesn’t give the sense of just how big this is.

This shows the scale of the model, I did quite a bit more work on this today, and also pressed out the shield which is laying on my work bench now uncovered to firm up a bit before I mess with it further. And adding 2 more pics tonight, with the shield now in place and the forearms and paws started.

I left the model most of the week to get firmer so it won’t need as much if any external support soon, it is much more stable tonight so I added more clay to the head and neck, now the nose and the top-knot are very close to where they should be, that leaves the rest of the head to model according to the position of those. The chest top is where that should be, and the top of the shield will extend about 3″ above that. The shoulder does not yet have the leg modelled on as I want to avoid putting on any relatively thin attachments for now…

Progress for today on this model consisted of adding more height to and closing the top of the head which is now approx 4′ 2″ from the top of the modelling stand. There is now 525# of clay and I’ve added a second support strap for additional stability. I may, actually, will likely need to come up with a different method and location of support as I need to fill in around the neck now and the face and with the straps there I can’t just yet. Supports also cannot be rigid as clay begins to shrink and a support doesnt “give” a little to allow it, the clay can…