10 replies to this topic

[FSTP]

Well I tried making a formicarium. It didn't come out as good as I would have liked but it was only my first try. I have no use for one yet, but I suppose its good to start building some to get an idea how its done before I actually need one.

 

I used hydrostone and molding clay to make the molds, inside a small plastic container with a nice tight fitting lid.

 

Here is a picture of some of the chambers. Its all dirty because I was working with it.

 

 

 

Then here it is finished. I painted it with non-toxic paint per Crystals how-to. Aside from the chambers you can see, there are three small chambers that are accessible with a syringe and needle to fill with water for hydration.

 

 

 

I also made a small Soil Founding formicarium. It has hydrostone on the bottom with a tube in the center for water I cut from a 60ml syringe. 

 

 

here it is with soil I used Drews recipe and method for the soil.

 

 

here is the water resivoir with a stopper I made out of a syringe plunger.

 

 

Both of them together

 

 

 

Would love to here you guys criticisms.

 

Thanks,

Jess

 

[Loops117]

I think you did an awesome job.

[T.C.]

I think it looks fine! What kind of paint are you using on that?

[ctantkeeper]

awesome job!!!

[fortysixandtwo]

Looks great to me. Nice work.

[FSTP]

Thanks guys! there's some things I want to try differently with the next one. I'd like better defined chambers, so I have a few ideas I'm going to try on the next one.

[T.C.]

Thanks guys! there's some things I want to try differently with the next one. I'd like better defined chambers, so I have a few ideas I'm going to try on the next one.

What paint is that? I want to get some!

[Crystals]

Looks good.

[Kevin]

One tip I have for you next time, carve your tunnels deeper if possible. I like to make them as deep as possible, then carve up and down in the back to make a little ridge. It's good for extra room and provides a dark area that you can still see into. Otherwise, it looks great!

Here's a diagram of what I mean. The arrows show your line of vision and how they can see into the dark areas, and the transparent grey is where it is darker from shadows.

http://imgur.com/a/y6nAy

Edited by Kevin, November 14 2016 - 12:40 PM.

[FSTP]

Thanks everyone!

 

 

One tip I have for you next time, carve your tunnels deeper if possible. I like to make them as deep as possible, then carve up and down in the back to make a little ridge. It's good for extra room and provides a dark area that you can still see into. Otherwise, it looks great!

Here's a diagram of what I mean. The arrows show your line of vision and how they can see into the dark areas, and the transparent grey is where it is darker from shadows.

http://imgur.com/a/y6nAy

 

Its funny you say that. This is exactly what I was referring to in post #8 when I said there was some things I'd like to change in the chamber design in my next one.

 

 

Thanks guys! there's some things I want to try differently with the next one. I'd like better defined chambers, so I have a few ideas I'm going to try on the next one.

What paint is that? I want to get some!

 

 

 

It was an non toxic Acylic paint of various brands I got on sale at the local Crafting store.. There was some technique and several colors (black, brown, terra-cotta, beige) involved to get it to look that way. Though I think I could have done a much better job, as I do have experience with this type of painting, but it was kind of just an experiment mostly to see how the mold would come out. What I did was I diluted the paints with a bit of water. Then with a sponge brush randomly blotted down a base of black and let it slightly dry for about a minute. Then did the same thing with the brown. Then the terra-cotta, then finally the beige. Basically going from darkest to lightest getting lighter with each coat.  The idea is to create a random gradient of  similar colors, much like natural rock and dirt. 

 

Hope that Helps,

Jess

[T.C.]

Thanks everyone!

 

 

One tip I have for you next time, carve your tunnels deeper if possible. I like to make them as deep as possible, then carve up and down in the back to make a little ridge. It's good for extra room and provides a dark area that you can still see into. Otherwise, it looks great!

Here's a diagram of what I mean. The arrows show your line of vision and how they can see into the dark areas, and the transparent grey is where it is darker from shadows.

http://imgur.com/a/y6nAy

 

Its funny you say that. This is exactly what I was referring to in post #8 when I said there was some things I'd like to change in the chamber design in my next one.

 

 

Thanks guys! there's some things I want to try differently with the next one. I'd like better defined chambers, so I have a few ideas I'm going to try on the next one.

What paint is that? I want to get some!

 

 

 

It was an non toxic Acylic paint of various brands I got on sale at the local Crafting store.. There was some technique and several colors (black, brown, terra-cotta, beige) involved to get it to look that way. Though I think I could have done a much better job, as I do have experience with this type of painting, but it was kind of just an experiment mostly to see how the mold would come out. What I did was I diluted the paints with a bit of water. Then with a sponge brush randomly blotted down a base of black and let it slightly dry for about a minute. Then did the same thing with the brown. Then the terra-cotta, then finally the beige. Basically going from darkest to lightest getting lighter with each coat.  The idea is to create a random gradient of  similar colors, much like natural rock and dirt. 

 

Hope that Helps,

Jess

Ok, Thanks