Sounds like a solid plan. If we map out the major joints, weight distribution, and muscle attachments—just like a crime scene—then the dragon’s form will have a realistic backbone. I can help lay out the measurements and compare them to real vertebrates, then you can tweak the sculpture to fit the anatomy. It’s all data, no guesswork.

Got it, I’ll start with the mythic outline and then overlay a detailed vertebral and muscle map to keep the legend alive while the skeleton stays real.

The spine should have a gentle S‑curve: start with a slight dorsal hump at the cervical‑thoracic junction, then a subtle thoracic concavity, and finish with a gentle lumbar convexity before the tail. Each vertebrae should be spaced to allow that curvature, and the muscle lines should run parallel to the curvature—tight along the dorsal hump, relaxed across the thoracic concavity, and slightly taut again at the lumbar convexity. That way the bulk feels weight‑bearing, not rubbery. Once you have that skeleton in place, the muscle mass will naturally fill the gaps without over‑exaggerating the bulk.

Glad it lines up—just keep an eye on the joint articulation; if any segment feels off, adjust the spacing and we’ll keep the mythical flow intact.