Montauk Monster Replica
Posted by: Loren Coleman on August 7th, 2008
Guess what just showed up on eBay?
Yep, a replica of the Montauk Monster. It looks very well done, nice color tones, and a good representation of the weekend wonder, if you ask me. The fake is above and the photo of the real deal is below.
This is something I definitely want for the International Cryptozoology Museum. Considering I coined the name, perhaps I could get a discount? 🙂
According to the notice at eBay (I’ve edited it for spelling and grammar): “Finally own this piece of history. BMFX FX Studios is proud to present this custom made prop. Made from an original sculpt casted from latex this prop looks real. Each one painstakingly hand air brushed. Each one handcasted as each order comes up. Each piece is airbrushed with F. W. Murray inks. Highly detailed measures around 20″ long hollow inside and cannot be worn. Each piece is made fresh from the mold for each order. Safe acylic paints made in North America.”
Humm, maybe this means there will be multiple pieces and it will be mass-produced to be in stores by Halloween? There’s hope for the ICM yet.
BTW, one (light-hearted) suggestion to the folks at BMFX FX Studios: Next time take your eBay photos of this thing at a beach. It will look more fitting.
The replica does a good job of capturing the essence of how the Montauk Monster was experienced certainly, although it is not particularly precise with regard to the skull (vs “beak”) structure.
Rather nice replica, for often you don’t see something so quickly produced that’s “lifesize” and able to get the colors so correctly (not “lifelike” but “deadlike”).
Well done, Black Magic FX of Canada!
About Loren Coleman
Loren Coleman is one of the world’s leading cryptozoologists, some say “the” leading living cryptozoologist. Certainly, he is acknowledged as the current living American researcher and writer who has most popularized cryptozoology in the late 20th and early 21st centuries.
Starting his fieldwork and investigations in 1960, after traveling and trekking extensively in pursuit of cryptozoological mysteries, Coleman began writing to share his experiences in 1969. An honorary member of Ivan T. Sanderson’s Society for the Investigation of the Unexplained in the 1970s, Coleman has been bestowed with similar honorary memberships of the North Idaho College Cryptozoology Club in 1983, and in subsequent years, that of the British Columbia Scientific Cryptozoology Club, CryptoSafari International, and other international organizations. He was also a Life Member and Benefactor of the International Society of Cryptozoology (now-defunct).
Loren Coleman’s daily blog, as a member of the Cryptomundo Team, served as an ongoing avenue of communication for the ever-growing body of cryptozoo news from 2005 through 2013. He returned as an infrequent contributor beginning Halloween week of 2015.
Coleman is the founder in 2003, and current director of the International Cryptozoology Museum in Portland, Maine.
Seems that some people have really too much time.
It’s awesome (tho’ I do agree about the “beak” structure)! Ok Cryptomundians – no one go bid on it starting a bidding war against fellow Cryptomundians in an attempt to get it for Loren. 🙂 If someone is gonna bid on it (intending to send it to the ICM), let’s be organized about it. 🙂 I’ll bet this won’t be the last one they offer either. I’m going to watch the auction.
I think someone should just make Loren a better one, this one up for bid is kind of disappointing 🙁
but the fact that people are already trying to cash in on it I suppose shows how big this is becoming 🙂
Interesting to see a discovery like this become a pop culture phenomenon. One would almost say “Icon.” I have a feeling this will be turning up as a reference in one of the “Scary Movie” chapters. 10 years from now there will still be buzz about this.
Paris Hilton even supposedly considered having the Monster as a running mate. Personally, I think her second choice Rhianna would be better. The Monster would her help with the Evangelical vote, supposedly. Btw, you go, girl!!! 🙂 🙂 🙂
All cheap kidding aside, I was saying this in another board:
In a way this is sad, because all of this brouhaha has actually “trivialized” the find. What’s more, the carcass is now supposedly decomposed to bones. If someone had had the presence of mind to take the “whatever-the-heck-this-is” to a competent scientist/animal expert, we would probably have definitely identified this once and for all. Maybe testing of the bones would help…
I hope someone doesn’t spend too much on this… As Andrew said, i think somone could make a better one. However it is pretty crazy how fast and how huge the whole Montauk Monster got!
Hi
I am the creator of the replica. Please be advised this is my version of The Montauk Monster. Its beak is more pronounced than the real one as it is hard to see.
As for feedback, some love it, some don’t.
But please do not think this is a piece of imported junk. This took me a lot of time to make & there is a lot of detail.
The paint is over the top to relay rotting flesh.
Folks, please bid all you want on this. I’ve arranged to obtain one through back channels.
Go for it.
I think it is a historically significant piece. I know from seeing lots and lots of replicas, this is actually a rather remarkable work of art.
I knew someone was going to try and make a buck off this poor drowned animal.
I’ve seen a creature like this washed up in Weston-super-Mare (UK) it looked smaller than a dog but bigger than a rat, there were no wounds or fur, my dog peed on it, then we carried on our morning walk on the beach (I didn’t have a camera on me at the time)
I’m amazed at how popular this story has become.
Looks like it might be time to break out the sculpting tools! Yarri
You all know its a raccoon right?
We had a huge raccoon on our deck last night, and I had a nice eyeball to eyeball with it before it slowly turned and waddled away. I just can’t really see that the Monster is a raccoon. The teeth don’t really look right. And what happens to all of the fur? Does it quickly rot/get eaten in the ocean while the body does not? It’s just as creepy to think that raccoons get to be this big! Like cats, without their fur raccoons are probably not that substantial. Between size, teeth and lack of fur, I would have to say pit bull rather than raccoon. I have also seen a male raccoon mating, and his equipment did not look anything like the Monster’s.
Clearly I see way too much wildlife around here, all ages and sexes! Come to think of it, I have seen raccoon roadkill and they did not look anything like this, although they still had most of their fur. They had dark color skin and there certainly didn’t seem to be a beak like this.
Typical of the way things go in this country that no scientific samples were taken, but replicas are already available and huge amounts of paper and internet space are devoted to speculation, free of any facts whatsoever.
hey everyone this is a very interesting replica of the montauk monster. good evening bill green 🙂
This is going to be a big new industry. I can see it. Loren, I hope you jump on the band wagon early 🙂
Well, I’m not so sure it’s a raccoon. I had an eyeball to eyeball with a huge raccoon on my deck last night, and I think the teeth are different, plus I can’t see the “beak” at all. I’ve seen raccoon roadkill and I thought the skin was much darker. Plus the idea that there is a raccoon that massive is creepy on its own. Even the big ones I see around here seem to be more fur than flesh. And their male equipment seems very different from Monster’s.
What does happen to all the fur while it’s in the ocean? How does the fur get eaten/rotted off, but the flesh stay intact? Sadly, I think that whatever this animal was before it died, its body may have been adjusted after death to produce this corpse. Poor animal, whatever he was …
Well next thing you know there will be the Halloween mask, then the complete suit, then alleged sightings all over the USA (particularly in Area 51), then the football mascot, then maybe even the dental hygiene commercials.
Oh yeah forgot to mention the video game
Yes! Yes! Of course a Halloween mask, and board game. But don’t stop there. Posters, coffee mugs, plush toys, talking (growling) dolls, a game show, the possibilities are limitless. Unless, of course, some jerk ruins it all by proving it’s just a fat little terrier that washed up on the beach.
shrike- In one of the earlier phots you can see a fly on its back, that is the only size comparison you can really make. the fly looks ‘big’ in comparrison, so assuming the fly is your typical fly you’d find on a rotting animal, Mon-Mon looks like he’s about the size of a smaller dog (bull breed of sorts, pug, mix, small pitt, etc) or another smaller animal, likea racoon.
Even when they figure out it is a raccoon (probably), there will be merchandising opportunities. The Maine mystery beast didn’t let being proven as a dog get in the way of its everlasting infamy.
Yeah, I am not sure as to how sure anyone could be about the size. Looks within the range of a raccoon. What evidence is there that this is not possible other than personal opinion? Also, some here seem still seem to think that is a beak we are seeing. It isn’t. It is the exposed upper jaw which after decomposition gives the appearance of a beak. I suggest anyone with these thoughts go read the many, many previous posts put up on the subject, as well as Darren Naish’s analysis on his blog. They are enlightening.
I have to admit, I am pretty impressed with this piece. Considering the speed with which it was created and put out for sale, I’d say it is a fine piece of art. I hope Loren is able to get his hands on one.
Just a note besides the beak (skull) difference the tail is too short. But all in all a good replica.
The bid is up to US $48.99 (+ $14.00 shipping), with 3 days and 10 hours to go, as of noon on 08.08.08.
You know, when I first saw this in the news, being a veterinarian’s daughter and having seen ALL KINDS of wounds and decay and abuse on animals, my first thought was it was some poor dog. Seeing another picture of it, it looks exactly like a partially rotted pit bull. That is NOT a beak on the top, it is the skull exposed with the eye teeth missing. This was some poor dog that somehow got tossed in the ocean and probably was weathered and nipped at a bit before it washed onto shore.