Looking for a model of an elephant

[JimSawyer]

I'm trying to make an elephant for my niece, (who loves elephants). She'll be home on leave in early May. I downloaded the elephant pattern for issue #37 WCI, and I've got it mostly blocked in, but I'm having a hard time seeing the elephant in the wood. If anyone has carved this project, I'd really love to see what it's supposed to look like finished. I can't afford to buy the back issue and don't have much time for a mailing. (I'm thinking seriously about buying the back issue offering). Any image will do.
Thanks in advance.

[doris]

here in germany we have pretty cheap toy elefants, about 6.5cm(2 1/2'') high, made from hard rubber, which look quite realistic. maybe you can get such as a model ?

[JimSawyer]

Hmm... That's a good idea, and actually I have a really good book on elephants with all kinds of pictures, but... The elephant that I'm refering to is the cute little cartoonish little guy in issue #37 WCI. I was just hoping to see the finished project itself. I'll probably manage somehow, but it would be nice to have an image to get, specifically, the geometry surounding the head, trunk, and tusks.
Thanks for trying though Doris, it's appreciated.

[doris]

ah, i see...i downloaded the pattern, to see how it looks, i think i know how the final should look, i can make you tonight a 3d model and screenshot different views, so you can see as if you were holding it... give me the night for that ;-).

[JimSawyer]

Wow... That's really generous of you Doris!! You're too cool. (That's an American slang for Really really great, lol). Thanks,

[chuckbolton]

there is a line of toys-- from germany i think-- of animals-- very realistic-- i see them at micheals and some farm supply stores-- u might check there for a visual for your desk

[doris]

ah, i just try to help,,,, so here is my take on how the pattern can look as elefant...
in each view i put the raw object, so you can see the planes clearly (i find this particularly helpful for carving), then smoothed with wireframes, and finally smoothed as it could look in wood...
i marked the holes for the tusks in pink....

if you need more images, just tell me which views, no problem to make them now i have the model... and, if you have a 3d-program, i can send you the 3d-model in .obj-format via email if you wish, then you can turn it around and look at it from every angle. you can download wings3d for free if you want, that is the program i used to create that elefant...ok, i hope this helps...

[JimSawyer]

WOW!!! This is fantastic!!! It definetly helps! I'm just about to go and get back into it now. Your post was just in time! Was it hard to do? This is great, Thank you so very much for taking the time to do this for me.
I'm going to go look up wings3d later on, (gotta carve right now).
Again, Thank you so very much. You're the best.

[JimSawyer]

Oh yea, I printed the images out and will take them over to my bench.

[kahunakalai]

Doris, That is awsome designs of the elephant and should do the trick. At the Texas Woodcarvers Guild Spring Round-up in Kerrville Texas, Walter Wharton will be teaching a 3 class on an elephant. More information can be found on their class schedule site.
Class Schedule