with what do I make an orca model?

Question

Im going to make a model of an orca for 6th grade science, and I was wondering if any good ideas could come up, I heard that styraphome and flom could be a good combo, along with paint, and also a clay model would be absolute. The only problem is that my dad does not want me spending so much money, so I need help! So my question is... If I am gonna use one of the two things above, how do I make it and how much would it cost, also is there any other Idea that can be cheap? Thanxs!!!

Orca=killer whale

Answer 1

I would use newspaper and paper mache paste. You can crumble newspaper and make a base in the shape of the whale. (You may need to use tape to keep the shape). Then use the paper mache paste to glue 1" strips of paper all over it to make it smooth. (like a pinata) Acrylic paints are only 50 cents at Michaels and the sponge brushes work really well and are cheap also. Here is a recipe....

At FAMILYFUN, we've sampled lots of papier-mâché recipes, but our favorite is this smooth, light paste that's easy to work with. To make it, combine 1/2 cup all-purpose flour and 2 cups cold water in a bowl. Add this mixture to a saucepan of 2 cups boiling water and bring it to a boil again. Remove from the heat and stir in 3 tablespoons of sugar. Let it cool; it will thicken as it cools. Once it does, it's ready to use.

Answer 2

Orca Model

Answer 3

If you want to use Styrofoam blocks, you can go to a store that has packaging to throw away, like a place where they sell washing machines and dish washers.
Ask for the big blocks as well as the narrower strips.
With these you can build a shape bigger than the orca needs to be and cut away thee extra bits.
As I do not know what age a 6th grader is I would advice you to talk about using the knife with your parents before you go out to get the foam. (I am from Europa, we do the school classes different).

Try out the glue you have at home for one that dries quickly without melting the foam.

Or you can make a shape a little smaller than your orca needs to be and add paper mache to the outside.
For paper mache you only need wall-paper glue and old newspaper.
You can fill the bigger parts by making a mash of little bits of paper, (about square inches or 2 cm or 3 cm squares teared) mixed with about half the volume of glue. For the top layer you use long strips your dip into the glue, wipe most off by pulling the strip between the fingertips.

If you can make the outer layer of white paper you have a perfect white surface so you only need to paint the black.
Otherwise you need to paint the white part too.

Answer 4

You couold do papier mache.
Get permission to use the blender.
Tear pieces of newsprint into scraps and cover with water, let soak a few hours or over night.
Slop it into the blender and pulse until you create a slurry, (pulpy soup). You could add a few drops of bleach to lighten the mix, it will be grey, and the bleach keeps mold and mildew from forming as it dries.
Also add a bout a half spoon full of white glue.

Take a length of newsprint a little longer than you want the orca to be. Scrunch it together and twist it around and around. Add more paper to the head end and tape it with masking tape.

now you have a form, Cover it in the papier mache and shape the flippers and the eye sockets.
Depending on the size you can use a button or a bead for eyes.
Let dry thoroughly, over night and paint.

Answer 5

The absolute cheapest would be to make your own form, then make your own papier mache or papier mache pulp to go over it. You can also buy the pulp fairly cheap though at a craft store (the cheapest would be Celluclay, in gray or white --you mix it with water at home...it dries sorta lumpy, but can be sanded smoother if you want before painting).

The cheapest paint would be any paint you have around (acrylic or enamel, etc.), or tempera if you have it but that wouldn't be waterproof unless you "sealed" it with a sealer (cheapest option for a sealer would be thinned down permanent white glue like Elmer's GlueAll--it will dry clear and glossy). Guess you could also use black markers or crayons if the model weren't too big.

As for a basic form or armature, the cheapest would probably be newspaper or other paper wadded tightly in the approximate shape you want, then wrapped with masking or other tape to hold the shape... or you could use scrunched aluminum foil (alone, or over a wad of paper to save on foil).
Then you'd cover your form with papier mache strips, or paper pulp... dry and paint.

(You could also cover it with a layer of polymer clay and bake at 275 for 15-20 minutes, but that's more money... the cheapest polymer clay is plain white Sculpey in a box, but it's more brittle than Premo, FimoClassic or Kato Polyclay though, so you'd have to handle it a little carefully after baking. You could also color the clay before covering though or buy a small package of black since deep black would be harder to make.)

Or you could do the same thing with salt dough or bread clay... both of which would be cheaper, but more work to make. Either of those would take a day or so to dry, but could be colored with acrylic paint (inside the clay, or aftewards when baked).


HTH,

Diane B.