Paper mache snake scales

Today, Glykon's snake tail is getting scales.  There are a lot of ways to do scales with paper mache, and it really depends on what kind of scale effect you want.  Dan the Monster Man uses folded cloth to make amazing spiky scales.  Janet Juarez uses irregular cardboard cut-out scales with a paper layer over top to create an effect that's more subtle, but just as impressive.  I want subtle pebbly scales, so I'm going for paper pulp scales with a paper layer over top.

This isn't the first time I've made paper pulp scales.  This time, however, I'd like rounder, smoother scales.  When finished, they look like this:

They start life as tiny, squishy little balls of pulp like this...

...and are then stuck onto the snake before being papered over with a layer of tissue.

 

There are larger scales on the snake's back, small ones on the sides, and large oblong ones under its belly.  The key to getting good scales is making sure the shapes and sizes reflect what you'd see on a real animal.