How can I make a model of a green bottle fly?

Question

I want the model to be about 12 inches long. These are some images of the green bottle fly:
http://www.cirrusimage.com/Flies/green_bottle_fly_Phaenicia_sericata.jpg
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/images16/GreenBottleFlyFly4.JPG
http://dereila.ca/dereilaimages/GreenFly2.jpg
http://www.md.huji.ac.il/depts/parasitology/kosta/Maggot%20therapy_files/image007.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Diptera_02gg.jpg

Does anyone have any ideas? Thanks!!!

Answer 1

Well a 12" long model would be kinda big, so you might go for papier mache (or "plaster cloth") over a body shape made of tightly-scrunched aluminum foil, with some added legs.

To make the papier mache** smoother, you can sand it, and/or you can use a layer of Creative Paperclay or other air-dry clay that's smoother, over it.
**for example, strips of newspaper dipped in thinned white glue --or blue "shop towels" on a roll from auto.depts also dipped.... Celluclay from the craft/hobby store mixed with water, etc.

Then paint it.
For the irridescent parts, use metallic acrylic paints, or put some mica powders (like Pearl Ex) from the craft/hobby store into some clear acrylic medium or clear acrylic wood finish then paint or pounce it on, or sprinkle some onto regular acrylic paint while still wet .

For the legs, embed some sturdy wire into your body shape, then paint black --or also glue on a strip of something furry to the back side.

You could make the eyes and the wings separately, then glue them on --from polymer clay, air-dry clays, or even things you find around the house of the right size and shape.


If might help you to look at some of the bugs (beetles, dragonflies, etc.) made from polymer clay to get some good ideas .... this was something done at one point in the polymer clay community, so lots of people tried out different things:
http://glassattic.com/polymer/kids_beginners.htm
(... click on BUGS, under the Sculpting category...)
There may be some others on this page:
http://glassattic.com/polymer/sculpture.htm
(.... click also on BUGS, under the Sculpting Other Items category....)

You might also want to check out this page for more on various ways to make wings, though most of those are smaller:
http://glassattic.com/polymer/sculpting_body_and_tools.htm
(...click on WINGS...)


HTH, and good luck,

Diane B.