Michigan Cichlid Association

General Category => DIY => Topic started by: Steve on February 17, 2014, 01:48:55 AM

Title: Next project (better than a 3D background)
Post by: Steve on February 17, 2014, 01:48:55 AM
Someone whom has helped me immensely over the past year posted a pic of the following and said he wanted me to build this for him. I know he said it in joking and never expected to have it done, but he's been a world of help/info for me since I got back into fish keeping/cichlids and if I have a question I know 99% of the time he will have the right answer. So even though he said this somewhat joking, I decided as a payback for the help, I'm gonna build this for him.  Not just as a payback for help, but I just love a challenge and this will be too cool IMO.

This is what I am going to attempt. I do have one twist though, I think an air line through the back of the head and into an air stone in the mouth so it blows bubbles to look like his dying breaths would add a cool touch to it.

I know I still have to finish resealing my 265g lol....but I'm looking forward to tackling this project because it's just too dang cool to pass up IMO.

Gotta find some thick foam blocks this week so I can start carving, I'll post pics as I progress.

(http://imageshack.com/a/img834/8995/iipvl.jpg)[/quote]
Title: Re: Next project (better than a 3D background)
Post by: Stan M. on February 17, 2014, 06:45:17 AM
Cool.
Title: Re: Next project (better than a 3D background)
Post by: Regalblue on February 17, 2014, 08:33:58 AM
This is badass!
Title: Re: Next project (better than a 3D background)
Post by: four_by_ken on February 17, 2014, 09:08:29 AM
So cool!!

 8)
Title: Re: Next project (better than a 3D background)
Post by: rcombs on February 17, 2014, 08:29:42 PM
dammmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmnnn sweeeet
Title: Re: Next project (better than a 3D background)
Post by: Saulosi77 on February 18, 2014, 01:00:40 AM
So amazingly awesome! 
Title: Re: Next project (better than a 3D background)
Post by: Steve on February 20, 2014, 01:35:24 AM
Been doing a lot of research the last couple nights on some different ideas of whats going to be the best way to do this. One thing I have been reading up on tonight is how to make a home made vacuum form mold. One idea I am kicking around is perhaps making this out of styrofoam, then if I could build a home made vacuum forum I could then mold it over the foam. That would take care of the buoyancy issue and do away with the need to weight it down. Plus it would leave the door open to actually make more of them from the master form model I come up with.

Not sure yet what route I will take but have been reading up a bit on the whole vacuum form building thing tonight and certainly liking that idea so far as long as I could do it with some sort of fish safe material.
Title: Re: Next project (better than a 3D background)
Post by: Ogre44 on February 20, 2014, 02:12:29 PM
That piece is originally intended as an outdoor Halloween decoration:
http://www.designtoscano.com/product/garden+statues/extraordinary+statues/the+zombie+of+montclaire+moors+sculpture+-+db383020.do (http://www.designtoscano.com/product/garden+statues/extraordinary+statues/the+zombie+of+montclaire+moors+sculpture+-+db383020.do)

It's called the Zombie of Monclaire Moors
It looks like quite the nice piece
Title: Re: Next project (better than a 3D background)
Post by: Regalblue on February 20, 2014, 07:00:33 PM
Damn it, Matt! You just had to spoil the excitement.  :P

I'm sure Steve's version will be even better & more suitable for an aquarium.
Title: Re: Next project (better than a 3D background)
Post by: Steve on February 21, 2014, 01:56:25 AM
Yeah I actually saw it in a Skymall add awhile back for sale.....but where's the fun in buyin' something already done ;)
Title: Re: Next project (better than a 3D background)
Post by: JG on February 22, 2014, 05:15:38 PM
Wow! Creepy but creative!
Title: Re: Next project (better than a 3D background)
Post by: Ogre44 on February 22, 2014, 06:49:11 PM
Damn it, Matt! You just had to spoil the excitement.  :P

Didn't mean to be a spoiler  :-[
Thought it might be easier to acquire the resin one and modify it.
But, Steve seems to be claiming victory with the old styro and drylock so it seems I was too late anyway  8)
Title: Re: Next project (better than a 3D background)
Post by: Regalblue on February 23, 2014, 01:12:51 AM
Damn it, Matt! You just had to spoil the excitement.  :P

Didn't mean to be a spoiler  :-[
Thought it might be easier to acquire the resin one and modify it.
But, Steve seems to be claiming victory with the old styro and drylock so it seems I was too late anyway  8)
I was just busting yours balls a bit.
Title: Re: Next project (better than a 3D background)
Post by: rcombs on February 25, 2014, 12:49:34 PM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXxo_yvTbmQ

heres an idea steve