Want a taste of what it's like to create the detail on a model?

Flatten out a slab of modeling clay or Play-Doh. In a photo, look closely at the textures and shapes of scales from a crocodile, alligator, or other reptile. Now try to copy those shapes in 3-D with the clay. Experiment with different objects to get the patterns and textures you want. A ball of aluminum foil can be rolled across the clay for a crinkly effect. I've used a stamp made from an orange peel to create the appearance of pores; recently, I used a lychee fruit to make a very scaly-looking stamp. Fingers are the best tools, but toothpicks or other simple objects like plastic butter knives can be used to carve lines and wrinkles into the clay.

You'll see that it can take a lot of work to create just a little sample of scaly skin. Now imagine covering a whole dinosaur with sculpted scales!

--Tyler Keillor