Model making, help needed

From Crochet to Collectables and other Interests
Post Reply
User avatar
Bollybarb
Legendary Laner
Posts: 3014
Joined: 20 Jun 2008, 18:35
Gender: Female
Location: Cheshire

Model making, help needed

Post by Bollybarb »

Hi, my son has been set a homework project of making a scale model of the solar system, i've just started looking for clay and am bewilderd by the variations.

Can any of you expert crafters point me in the right direction, Thanks
:-D
I have chickens Blaze, Star and Comet, who have met Sunny Clucker in Cheshire :-)
I'm training to be a midwife!!!!!
Top
User avatar
p.penn
Moderator
Posts: 33921
Joined: 07 Jun 2008, 21:46
Gender: Female
Location: Rural Sussex

Re: Model making, help needed

Post by p.penn »

I would just get one that doesn't need firing BB. :?
Helen xx

3 children, 3 grandchildren, 3 chooks, 3 fish, a shrimp that thinks its a prawn and a dappy dog.
http://www.acountrygrandma.blogspot.com
Top
Totally Scrambled
Site Admin
Posts: 13291
Joined: 07 Jul 2009, 20:33
Gender: Female
Location: Wateringbury, Kent

Re: Model making, help needed

Post by Totally Scrambled »

Can't help with the clay, but my eldest says if the earth is the size of a pea then the sun would be the size of a beachball. Looks like your going to need a lot of clay and a forklift truck to move it. :-D
Dom
Found a list of household things that will give you the right scale.
Sun-any ball, diameter 8.00 inches
Mercury-a pinhead, diameter 0.03 inch
Venus-a peppercorn, diameter 0.08 inch
Earth-a second peppercorn
Mars-a second pinhead
Jupiter-a chestnut or a pecan, diameter 0.90 inch
Saturn-a hazelnut or an acorn, diameter 0.70 inch
Uranus-a peanut or coffeebean, diameter 0.30 inch
Neptune-a second peanut or coffeebean
Pluto- a third pinhead (or smaller, since Pluto is the smallest planet)
Last edited by Totally Scrambled on 19 Jan 2010, 18:23, edited 1 time in total.
Ali Woks My World
Top
User avatar
p.penn
Moderator
Posts: 33921
Joined: 07 Jun 2008, 21:46
Gender: Female
Location: Rural Sussex

Re: Model making, help needed

Post by p.penn »

Could you not use paper circles for the planets?
Helen xx

3 children, 3 grandchildren, 3 chooks, 3 fish, a shrimp that thinks its a prawn and a dappy dog.
http://www.acountrygrandma.blogspot.com
Top
User avatar
Polliesmum
Lively Laner
Posts: 381
Joined: 05 Apr 2009, 19:58
Gender: Female
Location: Little Baddow, Essex
Contact:
Contact Polliesmum

Re: Model making, help needed

Post by Polliesmum »

Or good old fashioned papier mache and balloons................. >gl<
Jane
XXX
1 rescued girlies & 2 new Orpington, 1 poofy dog, 3 kids (flown the coop) and one very long suffering husband

http://www.thebuntingcompany.com
Top
User avatar
Bollybarb
Legendary Laner
Posts: 3014
Joined: 20 Jun 2008, 18:35
Gender: Female
Location: Cheshire

Re: Model making, help needed

Post by Bollybarb »

Thats for that we might have to re think but he was quite clear he wanted clay......
I have chickens Blaze, Star and Comet, who have met Sunny Clucker in Cheshire :-)
I'm training to be a midwife!!!!!
Top
User avatar
mikey
Lively Laner
Posts: 268
Joined: 01 Apr 2008, 09:23
Gender: Male
Location: Isle of Man

Re: Model making, help needed

Post by mikey »

You can get an air drying clay in most art/craft shops in a range of colours if thats any help
Top
User avatar
Polliesmum
Lively Laner
Posts: 381
Joined: 05 Apr 2009, 19:58
Gender: Female
Location: Little Baddow, Essex
Contact:
Contact Polliesmum

Re: Model making, help needed

Post by Polliesmum »

Well if it's got to be clay I use Makin's clay for modelling. It's a 24 hr air dry clay, not cheap but good. I get it from a local art/craft shop but I've just looked at the box and their website is www.makinsclay.com.
have fun
Jane
XXX
1 rescued girlies & 2 new Orpington, 1 poofy dog, 3 kids (flown the coop) and one very long suffering husband

http://www.thebuntingcompany.com
Top
User avatar
Bollybarb
Legendary Laner
Posts: 3014
Joined: 20 Jun 2008, 18:35
Gender: Female
Location: Cheshire

Re: Model making, help needed

Post by Bollybarb »

Thanks everyone. I've just read the instructions, and it does not need to be to scale (thankfully since reading Totally scrambled post yike* ) and just artisic so i'm thinking of fimo as my DS does not have the best fine motor skills and a new medium might excite him and keep him working at the project. Thanks for your advice {hug}
I have chickens Blaze, Star and Comet, who have met Sunny Clucker in Cheshire :-)
I'm training to be a midwife!!!!!
Top
User avatar
p.penn
Moderator
Posts: 33921
Joined: 07 Jun 2008, 21:46
Gender: Female
Location: Rural Sussex

Re: Model making, help needed

Post by p.penn »

What about making one out of recycled stuff - to save the planets? May get extra marks for that!
Helen xx

3 children, 3 grandchildren, 3 chooks, 3 fish, a shrimp that thinks its a prawn and a dappy dog.
http://www.acountrygrandma.blogspot.com
Top
User avatar
Bollybarb
Legendary Laner
Posts: 3014
Joined: 20 Jun 2008, 18:35
Gender: Female
Location: Cheshire

Re: Model making, help needed

Post by Bollybarb »

We have done lots of 'junk modeling' ( ushally ends up in the recycling box) I would like to have something that could be kept...... but thats me living in my little la la land........
I have chickens Blaze, Star and Comet, who have met Sunny Clucker in Cheshire :-)
I'm training to be a midwife!!!!!
Top
User avatar
Babycakes
Legendary Laner
Posts: 2798
Joined: 05 Oct 2008, 19:25
Gender: Female
Location: Whitehead, Co. Antrim

Re: Model making, help needed

Post by Babycakes »

The cheapest air drying clay will be quite heavy. I think Crayola do a good one, it;s extremely light when dry and it's white so very easy to paint once dry.
Waiting to welcome Sunny Clucker to Northern Ireland!
Top
Post Reply

Return to “Handicrafts and other Hobbies”