In most cases, when producing a sculpture of
such size, a smaller scale model, or maquette,
is made. Because we have crocodilians living
with us today, Gary was able to use the body
form of a spectacled caiman as a guide,
scaling each proportion to match the fossil
bone measurements provided by Dr. Paul
Sereno. Next, plywood templates of the side
and cross sectional views were cut from
plywood, wired together and attached to a
base. The entire structure was then covered
with wire mesh and the skull (a cast from
the actual fossil) was attached.