Skull model for reference?

**Stormslegacy** · February 29th, 2012, 11:30 AM

I'm looking into buying a model human skull for practicing with. I'm looking for something that's of a heavier resin that is proportional with removable jaw. Something of good enough quality that it will help and not hinder my study of heads. Some are really out of proportion or "unique."

There are several decent-looking ones on Amazon, but most of the reviews are by medical students, and it's very hard to tell if the few buy art students are those that know what they're talking about. I expect to pay somewhere around $80 for a decent model, if my research and experience with animal skulls is any indication. I'm in the US, and would prefer not to ship overseas.

I tried searching the forums but could not find any recent topics on this subject.

What skull-models would people recommend for art study? Does anyone know of any that have been reviewed by art-folk? If you have one, what model is it and do you like/hate it?

**JeffX99** · February 29th, 2012, 12:05 PM

This model from Dick Blick seems decent and at $31 very affordable: Budget Skull

**Stormslegacy** · February 29th, 2012, 01:40 PM

I had seen that one but all of the reviews are from med students. I'm hesitant as their needs are different than an artists--they care that the canals are there or the landmarks are reasonably accurate. In my research so far I've seen med student give good reviews to even poor-quality skulls =/. Maybe someone here has bought it for art and will chime in their thoughts?

Thank you for taking the time to look for me though =D I appreciate it.

**Saramel** · February 29th, 2012, 01:53 PM

Originally Posted by JeffX99

This model from Dick Blick seems decent and at $31 very affordable: Budget Skull

Oh snap! That is the best deal I've seen in my searching!

Stormslegacy - this looks like a pretty accurate skull (and I too have seen some strangely positive reviews on some pretty crappy looking reproductions). It may not be as heavy material as what you are looking for, but the savings could probably be used towards purchasing more animal skulls ;D

**JeffX99** · February 29th, 2012, 01:59 PM

Well, I wouldn't be overly worried about getting "just the right one"...that one is from Dick Blick which is a major artist supply outfit, they've probably looked to find the most reasonably priced, accurate model.

**Slothboy3000** · February 29th, 2012, 03:09 PM

I like the look of these ones http://www.thegnomonworkshop.com/sto...Artist-Version

I've just got a plastic cast of a skull from a medical shop (complete with removable teeth and brain). If it isn't to 'ideal' proportions, so be it. Better to draw that one than nothing!

**Arshes Nei** · February 29th, 2012, 03:14 PM

The budget skull can't be worse than the urban outfitters coin bank.

Actually even though the Jaw doesn't move, if the paint was scraped off it could be great. Though sometimes the paint itself makes for interesting lighting situations.

Think it was 15 bucks? Someone gave me one.

**Elwell** · February 29th, 2012, 03:33 PM

Originally Posted by JeffX99

This model from Dick Blick seems decent and at $31 very affordable: Budget Skull

I have one of those (among others), it's fine. It's pretty much the standard easily available, affordable skull model these days. If you wan to spend quite a bit more, the best selection is at Bone Clones.

**Vermis** · February 29th, 2012, 06:48 PM

Originally Posted by Arshes Nei

The budget skull can't be worse than the urban outfitters coin bank.

I saw that meself recently. £20 here, unpainted, black or white. Thought about it for a while, but walked on.
I still have to check elsewhere, though.

**Stormslegacy** · February 29th, 2012, 07:18 PM

Thank you everyone that commented!

Thank you Elwell, I really wanted to hear someone that's seen it in person chime in. I didn't want to spend and be disappointed, I can't really afford to buy a few =) If I'm spending $30 or more I want to be sure it's the right one. Bone clones look awesome but $100 was my top limit if it was needed.

**Arshes Nei** · February 29th, 2012, 07:37 PM

Originally Posted by Vermis

I saw that meself recently. £20 here, unpainted, black or white. Thought about it for a while, but walked on.
I still have to check elsewhere, though.

The coin bank actually is pretty nice, just don't like the gaudy paint - though the bronze one isn't that bad in the lighting at home. Wish the Jaw was removable but other than that works well.

**Alice Herring** · February 29th, 2012, 09:34 PM

Originally Posted by Elwell

I have one of those (among others), it's fine. It's pretty much the standard easily available, affordable skull model these days. If you wan to spend quite a bit more, the best selection is at Bone Clones.

Holy crap! I've been searching for a site like this! (for animal skulls, actually. I keep running into weird..uh..boutique sites.)

Thanks!

KT · February 29th, 2012, 10:11 PM

Yeah, bone clones have an awesome selection. I bought a skull recently from them and it is excellent. Another good place is the bone room. I wish real human skeletons were cheaper, even the good reproduction skeletons are high in price.

**Stormslegacy** · February 29th, 2012, 11:28 PM

Originally Posted by Alice Herring

Holy crap! I've been searching for a site like this! (for animal skulls, actually. I keep running into weird..uh..boutique sites.)

Thanks!

I love the animal skulls I have from The Skullery on etsy. They aren't perfect but awesome for the price, and of a very good solid resin. I have several including a glow-in-the-dark coyote

. I saw her booth at a convention and was amazed by the quality, so now own at least 4 from her.

Link:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/skullery

**Clean3d** · March 1st, 2012, 12:22 AM

I got this skull made by 3B. It's expensive, but seems to have very accurate proportions. The price compels me to draw it often, too.

The jaw is removable, and is held in place with a spring. The spring on my model does not retain its shape, though. Once stretched, it may stay that way! I think it was only intended to keep the jaw in place, and it works very well for that.

Really, I think it should be possible to find some public-domain or CC licensed 3D data taken from medical scans and convert that into something printable from shapeways.

**OldJake666** · March 1st, 2012, 12:25 AM

Depending on how sketchy you're willing to get you could always go the eBay route...

**manlybrian** · March 1st, 2012, 01:55 AM

Here are some similar topics.

http://www.conceptart.org/forums/sho...d.php?t=168512

http://www.conceptart.org/forums/sho...d.php?t=218131

http://www.conceptart.org/forums/sho...d.php?t=160321

http://www.conceptart.org/forums/sho...d.php?t=168801

**Stormslegacy** · March 1st, 2012, 11:59 AM

Originally Posted by manlybrian

Here are some similar topics.

http://www.conceptart.org/forums/sho...d.php?t=168512

http://www.conceptart.org/forums/sho...d.php?t=218131

http://www.conceptart.org/forums/sho...d.php?t=160321

http://www.conceptart.org/forums/sho...d.php?t=168801

Thanks, I tried different combinations of "skull" "reference" "model" and others and came up empty handed, except for the post about Job Lots which is very outdated-they change their stock frequently, and this Halloween had little.

I should add, I was looking for reviews of particular models, not where to buy. I want to know what others have bought and if they liked the quality.

**Stormslegacy** · March 1st, 2012, 12:16 PM

Originally Posted by Clean3d

I got this skull made by 3B. It's expensive, but seems to have very accurate proportions. The price compels me to draw it often, too.

The jaw is removable, and is held in place with a spring. The spring on my model does not retain its shape, though. Once stretched, it may stay that way! I think it was only intended to keep the jaw in place, and it works very well for that.

Really, I think it should be possible to find some public-domain or CC licensed 3D data taken from medical scans and convert that into something printable from shapeways.

I think that may be the one I buy, it's the nicest one for under 100. I want one I can also display with my animal skulls when it's not in use. It looks very detailed for the price! Thank you for your review, that's exactly what I was looking for

. Ooh I should add, I'm pretty sure this is the same model going for $83 with free shipping on Amazon.com
http://www.amazon.com/3B-Scientific-...0622221&sr=8-1

**Kapri** · March 9th, 2012, 08:06 AM

For Europeans stumbling upon this thread: I just bought http://www.vosmedisch.nl/contents/nl/d28.html > model A-20. I paid €66,- and am impressed with the details. It's a copy of a real skull so it's life size and has accurate proportions.

The jaw is removeable and has a spring keeping it in place. The top of the skull is also removeable.

The site is in Dutch but that's nothing a little Google translate won't fix. They ship to Germany, the United Kingdom, France and some other countries.

**truro** · March 9th, 2012, 02:03 PM

http://anatomytools.com/products/skeletons/?show=skulls

adorable, no?

**iMigraine** · March 10th, 2012, 07:23 PM

Originally Posted by truro

http://anatomytools.com/products/skeletons/?show=skulls

adorable, no?

Those are cool looking but seem a bit pricey.

Hey, I found this site http://www.anatomywarehouse.com/by-anatomy/skull/ with various price ranges and models.

**Eclectix** · March 14th, 2012, 09:20 PM

The Dick Blick one looks as accurate as most I've seen, and I've had quite a few model skulls over the years. The fact is that real life skulls vary quite a lot from specimen to specimen anyway, so if you're looking for the "perfect" skull, you'll need to get more than one; you'll need a mesomorph male, a petite female, a child's skull, an Asiatic male, etc. You should be able to get by with a "sufficiently accurate" skull and infer whatever variations you need from that; just make sure it's modeled after an actual human skull and not a cheesy Halloween decoration.