"Things" in jars

[punkbound]

Don’t know if it’s been mentioned yet but one term I was taught was Wunderkammer. Not exclusively things in jars but interesting anyway. I was told by someone that had done some research as part of her Fine Art PHD, that in the 17th century creatures like mermaids and dragons were sculpted out of manta cartilage... dont know how that helps make such critters now but though someonw might be interested. I use fibreglass resin a bit, should work the same as most craft type polyester/epoxy resin's and its probably a fair bit cheaper. (the one i use also dries a bit yellow.)

[sidecar_jon]

"in the 17th century creatures like mermaids and dragons were sculpted out of manta cartilage"

Yes thats a "Jenny Hanover"... a dead ray is sliced in such a way that the wings can be curled up and its dried, the dragon variation is similar with a smaller head.

Googleing "Jenny hanover" doesn't bring up much info sadly (though it does bring up   a bit of a book i once wrote lol)

[punkbound]

Googleing "Jenny hanover" doesn't bring up much info sadly (though it does bring up   a bit of a book i once wrote lol)

haha, if its Jon Cole and a hope it is, I wouldn’t mind reading more of your work. Also nice to find a name for the process.

[sidecar_jon]

ha tiz me indeed....if you want the whole thing, then an email can be arranged.

[polyphemus]

Try googling "Jenny Haniver" under images.

[sidecar_jon]

Try googling "Jenny Haniver" under images.

ah ha!... you are indeed exactly right. where can i get a skate...

[polyphemus]

http://zymoglyphic.blogspot.com/

Further to the subject of Jenny Hanivers I came upon a site called the zymoglyphic museum. Sorry I can't seem to get a link to work. It isn't steampunk. I'm not sure what in blazes it is, but then an unsuspecting stranger could say much the same about us... There are some very good monsters and such though. Astonishingly there doesn't seem to be any site providing step by step instructions, a lamentable state of affairs which really should be remedied.

[Herr_Dokter]

Hello.  There's some excellent work here.  I think I'm ready to undertake my own 'Thing' in a jar.  What materials do people sculpt in?

Herr Dokter, esq.

[sidecar_jon]

Hello.  There's some excellent work here.  I think I'm ready to undertake my own 'Thing' in a jar.  What materials do people sculpt in?

Herr Dokter, esq.

skeleton of brass or garden wire, over that kitchen foil to bulk it up then outer layer of Epoxy putty (Milliput)

[CapnHarlock]

"Sculpey" and other polymer-clays need baking to set, but I like it.

[Herr_Dokter]

AHAH!
I am well aquainted with the wonderful sculpy!
I had wondeered, though, if there wasn't something more Jelly-Like.

-Herr Dokter, esq

[Herr Döktor]

Something familiar about the name, but I can't quite place it...

[Crow]

I have a few question pretaining to this subject (as I finally have some funds) so yeah, where can one locate odd creature props without having to make them myself, I unfortunatly can't order off the aethernet.
most specifically an extraterrestrial of some kind (local toy stores suck, I used to have stuff like this as a kid, but they aparantly no-longer exist).

also s there something hat I can use to resemble dirt, that can be fitted into in this case a lightbulb, but that will harden so as to not move.

thanks

[CapnHarlock]

For the dirt-simulation, I would recommend "CelluClay" or some other brand of papier-mache` mix available at craft shops. It is usually a white coarse powder intended to be mixed with water. Instead of pure water, mix it with water and a mix of cheap acrylic paints (your choice of browns/blacks/greys) from the same shop. This is frequently used in railroad/military modeling as a base dirt-surface. It gives a lot of texture without much work

[Daemon]

My first jar put together for my future curio cabinet.
The fluid is 75.5% Ethyl Alcohol (Everclear) as is often suggested for preservation of specimens like this.
A quick dip of a teabag gives it a hint of color.

Not vegan friendly.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

[Prof. Brockworth]

Something familiar about the name, but I can't quite place it...

Hungry Cities, it's Anna Fang's little scavenge-built airship.  I just read the whole series thinking "Where have I heard that name before?" 

[Noadi]

I use acrylic resin for my perma-pets and it is a tad expensive.  It's very durable stuff and should last pretty much forever, however I'm selling my creations so longevity is a big concern for me.  If I were creating them solely for myself I would use something more inexpensive like glycerin or water.

I sculpt them in polymer clay which is my sculpting medium of choice because it's so simple to use and takes minimal equipment.

[Capt. Nicodemus Gooding]

I've been toying with the idea of creating a kind of blue "Energy crystal", crafed out of polymer clay and placed in a specimen jar. However, I also want it to glow in the dark while submerged in the water, a faint blue glow. Would any of you gentlemen happen to know a medium to coat the 'crystal' with that could create this glow and allow it to be submerged? Any help you gents could offer would be greatly appreciated as always!

[juxtimon]

I've been toying with the idea of creating a kind of blue "Energy crystal", crafed out of polymer clay and placed in a specimen jar. However, I also want it to glow in the dark while submerged in the water, a faint blue glow. Would any of you gentlemen happen to know a medium to coat the 'crystal' with that could create this glow and allow it to be submerged? Any help you gents could offer would be greatly appreciated as always!

you can get a glow-in-the-dark additive for resin- i'm not sure what country you're in, but tiranti's in england, or smooth-on in america should definately stock it (i'm afraid i can't offer any help with other countries).  that could be mixed up and painted onto your crystal (or you could make the entire crystal out of the resin.
have you thought about making it uv reactive instead of clow in the dark?  there might be more products that can do that in blue.

[sidecar_jon]

I painted "Glow in the dark" paint on my "thing" (humbrol) on the backs of the glass eyes and in spots all over it... and it simply don't glow at all! I think submersion interfears with the process.

[Doctor When]

However, I also want it to glow in the dark while submerged in the water, a faint blue glow.

How about using those tritium-based glow keyrings?

http://www.theglowcompany.co.uk/acatalog/GLOW_RINGS.html

I've not seen one close-up, but I'm sure encasing one in a transluscent "crystal" (perhaps epoxy?) would yield a feint glow for you.

[Prof. Brockworth]

I use one as a keyring tracer.  They come in an acrylic housing but the actual glowing part is a fine glass capillary tube inside (visible as the coloured core).  It would be simple to get one, cut it open and re-house the core in your own artwork.  They last for something like fourteen years and glow continuously. 

Luminous paint needs UV light to "charge" and then discharges over a couple of hours.  I think (correct me if my science is weak) water is a strong UV filter, so submersion is preventing the paint from charging up.

[sidecar_jon]

Luminous paint needs UV light to "charge" and then discharges over a couple of hours.  I think (correct me if my science is weak) water is a strong UV filter, so submersion is preventing the paint from charging up.

ah ha!.. live and learn, thanks.

[Daemon]

Does anyone have information on historically accurate jars/lids/sealing combinations? When were metal screw-on lids invented? Were they sealed in wax additionally? Googling images, "antique specimen jars" doesn't yield much.

[Great Bizarro]

I've been toying with the idea of creating a kind of blue "Energy crystal", crafed out of polymer clay and placed in a specimen jar. However, I also want it to glow in the dark while submerged in the water, a faint blue glow. Would any of you gentlemen happen to know a medium to coat the 'crystal' with that could create this glow and allow it to be submerged? Any help you gents could offer would be greatly appreciated as always!

Best bet would be cast it in clear acrylic tinted to the color you want and embed a prewired led in it. Might need to lower the voltage to get it the right brightness.