Kamiya’s next two models (from Works 2; square 27.9 cm) are both mythological creatures. Actually, the next four are, but I have to space these posts out. I’ve always liked all kinds of mythologies, and, apparently, so does Mr. Kamiya.

The first is Sleipnir, Odin’s eight legged horse from Norse mythology. Sleipnir is traditionally grey, but I think I should have added some silver, or gone with a different grey, or something. Now he seems kind of normal, in spite of having eight legs. Sleipnir is supposed to be the fastest horse ever, but I always thought all those legs would get in the way. Maybe he rotates them or something.

Norse myths are great. Sleipnir came about from a complicated story, which I’ll try to abridge. Early on, the gods wanted to make Asgard great, so they found some random dude to build a wall. They agreed that if he finished on time they’d give him all the things (they didn’t have many things at the outset, so these were the sun, moon, and Freya). Loki brokered this deal, setting an impossible time limit. However, the dude could use his horse, Svadilfari, to help. The horse basically did everything (imagine hooves placing masonry blocks at lightning speed), and the gods were going to have to pay. So, Loki turned into a horse and seduced Svadilfari away. In the end, they went racist (or specist? He wasn’t god or human) and had Thor kill him anyway. Later, Loki gave birth to Sleipnir. Loki was a female horse “at the time”, but did he have to stay a horse the whole time? Anyway, I can’t wait for the Marvel movie of this.

The other model is Cerberus, the three-headed dog from Greek mythology. Not to be confused with Cerebus the aardvark, who is an aardvark and not a three-headed dog. Everyone knows bringing Cerberus up from the underworld was Heracles’ last task, but Heracles also encountered Cerberus’ brother, Orthus the two-headed dog, while stealing cattle, one of his earlier, heroic (?) tasks.

I had made this Cerberus model before when the crease pattern came out in Tanteidan Magazine. Either I got a little better or there are some subtle locks holding this in shape, because the previous one kept flattening out (like cartoon road kill). By the book, Cerberus is properly 3D and looks like the middle head is trying to stay professional, while both side heads want to party/get belly rubs.