1:20 Clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa)

Looking at a clouded leopard - the next FFP menber- I always held fascinated.

Although it is an incredibly disproportionate cat -with such a big neck  and  head and those broad paws… in a body of a length of hardly one meter, with so short legs and such a large tail, stout like a panther but agile like the most  nimble cat…
… and the most incredible thing:  its exceptionally long, piercing canine teeth, the upper may measure more than  4 cm – the cat with the largest canines in proportion to their body size- the reason why is often referred to as a “modern-day saber tooth”

So, for sure it would be one of the principal actors of FFP!!!

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Again a beautyful kitty !!!
I don't think it is disproportionate, it is extremely elegant

I look very much forward to see your model

That's another great challenge, clouded leopards were the most desired cats in this forum for a long time. They now are regarded as two different species and we can identify them using their pattern. I believe you'll make the continental species, unless it is what you are showing in that picture.

That is right. My initial plan is to  make the continental clouded leopard although  being different species later I am going to make the bornean one too.

However, according with my researches and as you well pointed, the only significant difference between the two species is the pattern, with smaller "clouds" in the the Sunda one (as can be watched in the picture) ...so I still can change the selection of the specie as I am now in the sculpting process...the decision has to be adopted before painting.

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So I learned something new today

SUSANNE wrote:

So I learned something new today

Me too... Susanne, give me five
Actually, I have to say, that I`m here- in the forum, almost a year..and for this time I lurned so much more about the animals...

Mgarat , good luch with this beautiful cat :)))
I`m shure you will make it great

Clouded Leopards are sooo beautiful! I cannot wait to see your model come together

First sketch:

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Looking fantastic You capture your big cats so well

Mgarat wrote:

That is right. My initial plan is to  make the continental clouded leopard although  being different species later I am going to make the bornean one too.

However, according with my researches and as you well pointed, the only significant difference between the two species is the pattern, with smaller "clouds" in the the Sunda one (as can be watched in the picture) ...so I still can change the selection of the specie as I am now in the sculpting process...the decision has to be adopted before painting.

Yes, you're right, they have found slight morphological differences but not enough convlusive and relevant to a sculpture. This picture you're providing is very good to illustrate the differences in pattern.

Lovely sculpt

Perhaps it is the photo, - but is the snout perhaps a bit too heavy ?
From the pictures, it looks like the head is slightly cone-like ( without the tip, of course )

Sorry, I am no artist at all, so I don't want to play smart-gal

Thanks Emma, Rogério, Susanne for your supportive words.

SUSANNE wrote:

Lovely sculpt

Perhaps it is the photo, - but is the snout perhaps a bit too heavy ?
From the pictures, it looks like the head is slightly cone-like ( without the tip, of course )

Sorry, I am no artist at all, so I don't want to play smart-gal

I am not sure I understand you      ...so, here there are some adittional photos just in case you want to clarify your points on them for me...      

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It look`s that will be very nice model, like all your models :)
Just check the shape of the head of clouded leopards.....I can`t say very clearly from your photos....but perhaps, the cheeks ...maybe they have to be a bit smaller.... the characteristic of these cats is the muzzle - it has to look a more long.... so i think you maybe have to make it, a bit more fine...especially down part ...behind the chin..
Last thing, about the texture.... will be very nice if you try to make it more soft..not so strong... the skin of these animals is very smooth :)
I just made some points...but of course, you have to check, am I right... :))

Very very good points!!! ....again. 
Many thanks Kosta.

Mgarat wrote:

Very very good points!!! ....again. 
Many thanks Kosta.

I think , Susanne maybe has the same feeling for the muzzle... :)
I know, that you will make it great :)

Mgarat wrote:

Very very good points!!! ....again. 
Many thanks Kosta.

... many thanks also to you Susanne. I hope I will make the best of so well-aimed remmarks from you both...

So, I deeply studied the face of the clouded leopard with so prominent cheeks an the cupboard-box style muzzle (see following photos)

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then I made some transformations in my initial model and this is the provisional result:

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Much better head Mgarat :)
And of course, the paint job is helping a lot for that :)
Also, you made the texture more soft :)
I`m shure, that final result will be great :)

costicuba wrote:

...Also, you made the texture more soft ...

Of course I did and now while the painting process I am getting the good effects you anticipated...thankyou!

Lovely model

Thank you Susanne. I am happy you like it!

So, this is the final model:

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a complete walkaround will follow...

Arrrhw

Such a beautyful, lovely model

Many thanks Susanne!!!

The walkaround!!!:

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