Author Topic: Blaine's Bugs! (Read 7086 times)

bmathison1972 · « **on:** December 03, 2015, 01:58:04 AM »

hey all,

I have started sculpting my own creepy crawlies and the first two are shown here. The figures are made of Super Sculpey and painted with acrylics, with additional detail with Pitt pens.

Thanks to Newt who, through email communication, walked me through a lot of trouble-shooting

.

First, the common bed bug, Cimex lectularius Linnaeus, 1758. Figure is 70 mm, which is 10:1 on average. [will probably touch up the paint in this a little...]

dorsal:

ventral:

Second, the larva of the regal moth, Citheronia regalis (Fabricius, 1793). Figure is 107 mm across its longest points, making it approx 1:1.

Jetoar · « **Reply #1 on:** December 03, 2015, 02:41:03 AM »

Really beautiful sculpts Blaine, I havent seen the Regal moth caterpillar

. If I make the adult, you could have the couple

.

Newt · « **Reply #2 on:** December 03, 2015, 06:52:51 PM »

You did a great job, Blaine! I look forward to seeing more of your bugs.

brontodocus · « **Reply #3 on:** December 04, 2015, 02:01:36 PM »

Wonderful to see that you started making your own sculpts, Blaine!

And the bed bug is an excellent choice, too. The Regal Moth caterpillar looks great.

Have you thought about sculpting an elaterid, too? Too bad I rarely find the time to finish my own sculpting attempts.

bmathison1972 · « **Reply #4 on:** December 04, 2015, 02:36:14 PM »

Quote from: brontodocus on December 04, 2015, 02:01:36 PM

Wonderful to see that you started making your own sculpts, Blaine! And the bed bug is an excellent choice, too. The Regal Moth caterpillar looks great. Have you thought about sculpting an elaterid, too? Too bad I rarely find the time to finish my own sculpting attempts.

as an elaterid specialist I really need to make one, but I think my next figure will be a weevil. I also have ideas for a syrphid fly and a spider (crab or jumping), or maybe an Oxyporus staphylinid on a mushroom! I will be focusing on the Nearctic fauna regardless.

bmathison1972 · « **Reply #5 on:** December 14, 2015, 12:38:29 AM »

My third creation is baking now.

But I need inspiration for a new sculpt so I am going to take a poll. What should I make?

1) Must be extant Arthropoda
~~2) Must be North American (preferably native but not required) or naturally, historically Holarctic/cosmopolitan~~
3) May be terrestrial, freshwater, or coastal, or marine
4) please don't ramble off whatever randomly pops in to your mind or pick something too bizarre or obscure just to be bizarre and obscure; thoughtful considerations please (in other words, don't turn this poll into a STS/DTF style 'wishes and desires' poll

)
5) I am not sure what response to this request will be like. Please do not submit more than three choices (if you do, I will pick your first three listed).

After one week, or longer if I don't get 10+ suggestions, I will put the choices together and 'draw from a hat' to see what gets made.

thanks for the consideration and inspiration!

stargatedalek · « **Reply #6 on:** December 14, 2015, 01:48:21 AM »

I only have one off the top of my head that fits that criteria: Emerita analoga.

bmathison1972 · « **Reply #7 on:** December 14, 2015, 03:36:30 AM »

EDIT: I will take away the geographic/zoogeographic restrictions (many of you are not from North America; perhaps you have local favorites to suggest). I still ask to leave it an extant arthropod and 3x choices only. Thanks

brontodocus · « **Reply #8 on:** December 18, 2015, 02:11:59 PM »

Hmm, I could easily mention quite a few. Personally, I'd love to see figures made of these (both are sufficiently large enough for life-size models, too): Idolomantis diabolica and Ornithoptera alexandrae (actually, I've been thinking about making a pair on my own).

Oh, and if you have fluorescent paint: How about Pyrophorus noctilucus?

bmathison1972 · « **Reply #9 on:** December 18, 2015, 04:13:23 PM »

Quote from: brontodocus on December 18, 2015, 02:11:59 PM

Hmm, I could easily mention quite a few. Personally, I'd love to see figures made of these (both are sufficiently large enough for life-size models, too): Idolomantis diabolica and Ornithoptera alexandrae (actually, I've been thinking about making a pair on my own).

Oh, and if you have fluorescent paint: How about Pyrophorus noctilucus?

Thanks Andre! I have 4 suggestions, I need more! (stars, you have two more coming

).

This weekend I should post images of my 3rd creation after I finish the paint job tonight.

stargatedalek · « **Reply #10 on:** December 18, 2015, 07:09:18 PM »

In that case Rhombodera megaera and Blaptica dubia (especially a juvenile of the latter!).

bmathison1972 · « **Reply #11 on:** December 18, 2015, 09:40:19 PM »

thanks all! Dictyopteroids seem to be the favorite. Need Jetoar, Chad, and Sean to contribute ideas as well!

bmathison1972 · « **Reply #12 on:** December 19, 2015, 01:22:40 AM »

Figure No. 3, cocklebur weevil, Rhodobaenus quinquepunctatus (Say, 1824)

Size 70 mm (roughly 10:0).

While baking I realized I had forgotten antennae! I baked them separately, glued them on with super glue, and painted. Hardest part of making accurate insects is, like little machines, portions of certain parts are often defined! Off-set features can make a figure look like something else entirely!

dorsal:

lateral:

ventral:

brontodocus · « **Reply #13 on:** December 20, 2015, 08:50:51 AM »

Another excellent choice, Blaine!

So is this the first figure/model showing an insect in thanatosis?

bmathison1972 · « **Reply #14 on:** December 20, 2015, 09:39:52 PM »

Quote from: brontodocus on December 20, 2015, 08:50:51 AM

Another excellent choice, Blaine! So is this the first figure/model showing an insect in thanatosis?

Nope, just keeping the appendages close to avoid breakage (although I should have put the snout out forwards)

bmathison1972 · « **Reply #15 on:** December 27, 2015, 07:00:24 PM »

So, I've decided to go smaller and simpler, influenced by of all things UK Yowies to make TOOB/Yowies size figures, preferably with bases.

I've started with two: a mini version of the Citheronia regalis caterpillar and the crab spider, Misumena vatia (I have also made a treehopper, Platycottis vittatav but still have to paint it).

The leaf under the Citheronia is 65 mm (you can also see it's comparison with the original). The flower under the crab spider is 55 mm in diameter.

Figures will be permanently attached to their bases.The insects were made and baked separate from the flower and leaf but will eventually be permanently glued together.

comparison of the two Citheronia:

Newt · « **Reply #16 on:** January 02, 2016, 09:23:28 PM »

These look good, Blaine! Man, I love those crazy Misumena/Misumenoides/whatever crab spiders. Sneaky little devils...

I think a little time spent detailing the joints would pay big dividends. It doesn't have to be anything fancy, just a simple groove to separate the leg segments.

brontodocus · « **Reply #17 on:** January 03, 2016, 12:06:18 PM »

Great to see your arthropod models series is growing, Blaine!

I agree with Newt, the models would greatly benefit from segmented limbs.

bmathison1972 · « **Reply #18 on:** January 03, 2016, 01:02:45 PM »

I went ahead and jointed the legs (with pale green)--not sure it helped the figure though $:-\$

I'll be posting one or two more soon

bmathison1972 · « **Reply #19 on:** January 09, 2016, 06:31:46 PM »

Two more mini's:

Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata
oak treehopper, Platycotis vittata

News:

Author Topic: Blaine's Bugs! (Read 7086 times)