best and cheapest way for a kid to make 3D model of ocean layers?
March 31, 2019 8:26 AM Subscribe
My kid wants to make a 3D model of the layers of the ocean. She wants the layers to be appropriately colored, maybe have little fish suspended in them, etc. What material should she use?
It has to last a few days on a display, so I think gelatin is out, right? Clear glycerin soap would work, but on Amazon the clearest stuff is a bit pricey. What else could she use? Or are there sources I could find the clear stuff cheaper? I think she'll need about 4 lbs.
I already have the glass vase and sand for the bottom layer.
It has to last a few days on a display, so I think gelatin is out, right? Clear glycerin soap would work, but on Amazon the clearest stuff is a bit pricey. What else could she use? Or are there sources I could find the clear stuff cheaper? I think she'll need about 4 lbs.
I already have the glass vase and sand for the bottom layer.
You could do it with clear epoxy resin. This is permanent, though. It comes as two parts, you mix them together and then have a few minutes to pour. It can be tinted (a little goes a long way). Pour the first layer, let it cure. Then the second, and so on. Normally you'd want to tap or vibrate the mold to help release any air bubbles, but not doing that might create an interesting effect for an ocean model. What you'll get in the end is essentially a solid block of layered hard clear plastic, with each layer tinted differently. It's thick enough that you could easily suspend little fish or whatever in a layer.
You'll want to check with whatever brand of resin you go with, to find compatible dyes. Some you can use acrylic paint, or alcohol inks. If you use the wrong kind of dye it can make the epoxy go cloudy instead of staying clear (but colored). You'll definitely want to do this outside or in the garage, it can get messy and spills are permanent.
posted by xedrik at 8:39 AM on March 31, 2019 [4 favorites]
You'll want to check with whatever brand of resin you go with, to find compatible dyes. Some you can use acrylic paint, or alcohol inks. If you use the wrong kind of dye it can make the epoxy go cloudy instead of staying clear (but colored). You'll definitely want to do this outside or in the garage, it can get messy and spills are permanent.
posted by xedrik at 8:39 AM on March 31, 2019 [4 favorites]
Best answer: Epoxy resin is *super* expensive and probably overkill for this application (though it would be ideal for a permanent setup).
This Instructable recommends clear hair gel for a 90's faux-quarium effect, but I would probably just go to the craft store and load up on gel candle "wax". It's designed to be tinted and poured and have things suspended in it, and I think it goes for around $5/pound.
I also think that gelatin or agar powder in sufficient concentration would be fine to keep for a few days.
posted by wreckingball at 8:51 AM on March 31, 2019 [4 favorites]
This Instructable recommends clear hair gel for a 90's faux-quarium effect, but I would probably just go to the craft store and load up on gel candle "wax". It's designed to be tinted and poured and have things suspended in it, and I think it goes for around $5/pound.
I also think that gelatin or agar powder in sufficient concentration would be fine to keep for a few days.
posted by wreckingball at 8:51 AM on March 31, 2019 [4 favorites]
Just popping in to ask for a photo of the final result, if it’s ok with your daughter. This sounds really cool!
posted by bookmammal at 8:54 AM on March 31, 2019 [6 favorites]
posted by bookmammal at 8:54 AM on March 31, 2019 [6 favorites]
For model railroads and dioramas, there are pours of epoxies that are pretty straightforward, but not the cheapest.
Enviro-Tex and dyes
There are also lighter low temperature melt plastics, but they do not take colors well, and you have to wash the surface to get a "color" to them.
E-Z Water
This stuff you should only pour about a 1/2" at a time.
posted by nickggully at 9:08 AM on March 31, 2019
Enviro-Tex and dyes
There are also lighter low temperature melt plastics, but they do not take colors well, and you have to wash the surface to get a "color" to them.
E-Z Water
This stuff you should only pour about a 1/2" at a time.
posted by nickggully at 9:08 AM on March 31, 2019
Response by poster: I like the look of the wax, but it appears to be more expensive than the glycerin soap, unless anyone knows of a type/brand that isn't? It's not prohibitive, I'd just prefer not to pay more than is necessary...
Do you think if I do it w agar agar that it will grow bacteria colonies on it over course of a few days? Ew if so.
Pics if it winds up awesome :)
posted by fingersandtoes at 9:11 AM on March 31, 2019
Do you think if I do it w agar agar that it will grow bacteria colonies on it over course of a few days? Ew if so.
Pics if it winds up awesome :)
posted by fingersandtoes at 9:11 AM on March 31, 2019
How big does it need to be, and does the model have to be a solid volume? You could cut clear plastic to be the volumes of the layers of the ocean, and stack them. Most cities have a plastics distributor with a "surplus" bin of odds and ends.
posted by nickggully at 9:13 AM on March 31, 2019
posted by nickggully at 9:13 AM on March 31, 2019
Best answer: What if she took an aquarium/terrarium and put colored gels just on the walls, then hung all the fish and stuff from a metal grid on top? Or even sank some little shelves or something for each level? Then it could have regular water in it for realistic wave effects, or empty if you don't want to deal with the weight.
posted by teremala at 9:20 AM on March 31, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by teremala at 9:20 AM on March 31, 2019 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: followup question for anyone who's worked with these products: I'm thinking that I could use regular kitchen stuff to melt the soap and it would clean up easily; but that I would have a hell of a time cleaning wax off good pots. Am I right?
posted by fingersandtoes at 9:22 AM on March 31, 2019
posted by fingersandtoes at 9:22 AM on March 31, 2019
Go to a thrift store and get a used 1.7 or so cubic mini fridge. Take the door off and put on some plexi out front. Use jello! I picked up one of said fridges for $11 where I live. It won't have a light, but you can use a push on light or even a small string of christmas lights over head to mimic the firmament.
posted by Oyéah at 10:02 AM on March 31, 2019
posted by Oyéah at 10:02 AM on March 31, 2019
Best answer: For wax, I would use a double boiler type of setup -- I use Mason jars set in a few inches of water for melting paraffin to treat my butcher block counters. This should keep your pots pretty wax-free. just make sure there is enough wax in the jars so they they are heavy enough to not tip over if the water comes to a boil.
posted by misterbrandt at 10:58 AM on March 31, 2019
posted by misterbrandt at 10:58 AM on March 31, 2019
I have made candles at home and it's not that hard to clean up. You just clean it while it's still warm (or rewarm to clean) and it wipes out very easily.
posted by gideonfrog at 11:00 AM on March 31, 2019
posted by gideonfrog at 11:00 AM on March 31, 2019
Agar in water (no nutrients) will be fine for a few days - as long as you keep it covered. Otherwise, it'll form a skin on top and start drying out and deforming.
But it's going to be finicky to pour (you'll have to boil the water to dissolve the agar) and it really isn't super duper clear (you'll want gellan gum instead).
For agar, something like 0.7% to 1% w/w should be appropriate. 0.3% to 0.5% w/w gellan gum should be in the right range.
I've seen ocean layer models using layers starting with corn syrup, dish soap, water, oil, and rubbing alcohol - but it's super fragile and won't transport well at all.
posted by porpoise at 11:56 AM on March 31, 2019
But it's going to be finicky to pour (you'll have to boil the water to dissolve the agar) and it really isn't super duper clear (you'll want gellan gum instead).
For agar, something like 0.7% to 1% w/w should be appropriate. 0.3% to 0.5% w/w gellan gum should be in the right range.
I've seen ocean layer models using layers starting with corn syrup, dish soap, water, oil, and rubbing alcohol - but it's super fragile and won't transport well at all.
posted by porpoise at 11:56 AM on March 31, 2019
Best answer: I'd be concerned that the wax wouldn't be clear... that being said, I've made a couple homemade gelatin plates for printing that would certainly hold up for a few days. It's a mixture of gelatin, water and glycerin. It does have a slight yellow tinge, that I think could be masked with blue food coloring. Mine lasted for a month uncovered, then it started to dry out and shrink- but it was poured into a sheet pan, so it had a lot more surface area to evaporate.
posted by sarajane at 12:16 PM on March 31, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by sarajane at 12:16 PM on March 31, 2019 [1 favorite]
If you want an excuse to try using agar, the totally misnamed "almond tofu" is a good place to start, as any.
1 cup warm water
1 cup almond milk
1 cup soy milk (or regular milk)
1 cup water
1-2 tbsp sugar
4g agar
If you have the "stick" type agar, soak the 4g in 1 cup warm water for about 10 min until soft. Discard most of the water, careful to retain the soft agar sticks. Pour soft sticks into pot, add 1 cup water and sugar, bring to soft boil, simmer until dissolved.
If you are using stick agar, there will be insoluble bits.
Add almond and soy milks, bring to simmer. Taste, adjust sugar if required. You can also add some almond extract. Once you're happy with the taste, cool slightly and pour through a fine-meshed strainer or cheesecloth/ funnel setup.
Pour into a baking pan and let cool. Chill, serve as cubes with tinned fruits or as-is. Instead of a pan, you can pour it into small glasses for individual servings (eat with a small spoon).
There are also other versions that use diluted condensed milk and almond extract instead of almond+soy milk+sugar.
I've also replaced the (final) liquids with good, strong, black coffee - careful to keep temperatures to a minimum otherwise you can burn the coffee and produce bitter or acidic flavours. I pour one layer (white), let it set while keeping the remainder warm, pour a layer of the agar coffee, let set, a layer of almond, and another layer of coffee. I find that going to 4.5 or 5 g of agar gave better (if slightly different) results. Cut into squares, serve on small dish with a small spoon.
posted by porpoise at 1:26 PM on March 31, 2019
1 cup warm water
1 cup almond milk
1 cup soy milk (or regular milk)
1 cup water
1-2 tbsp sugar
4g agar
If you have the "stick" type agar, soak the 4g in 1 cup warm water for about 10 min until soft. Discard most of the water, careful to retain the soft agar sticks. Pour soft sticks into pot, add 1 cup water and sugar, bring to soft boil, simmer until dissolved.
If you are using stick agar, there will be insoluble bits.
Add almond and soy milks, bring to simmer. Taste, adjust sugar if required. You can also add some almond extract. Once you're happy with the taste, cool slightly and pour through a fine-meshed strainer or cheesecloth/ funnel setup.
Pour into a baking pan and let cool. Chill, serve as cubes with tinned fruits or as-is. Instead of a pan, you can pour it into small glasses for individual servings (eat with a small spoon).
There are also other versions that use diluted condensed milk and almond extract instead of almond+soy milk+sugar.
I've also replaced the (final) liquids with good, strong, black coffee - careful to keep temperatures to a minimum otherwise you can burn the coffee and produce bitter or acidic flavours. I pour one layer (white), let it set while keeping the remainder warm, pour a layer of the agar coffee, let set, a layer of almond, and another layer of coffee. I find that going to 4.5 or 5 g of agar gave better (if slightly different) results. Cut into squares, serve on small dish with a small spoon.
posted by porpoise at 1:26 PM on March 31, 2019
Response by poster: gelatin-glycerin solution turned out to be the perfect answer. Big ups and thanks to sarajane. The model is gorgeous and just what she wanted.
The only downside was that we didn't realize that with the fairly large jar used, and the corresponding large volume of the layers, the colors of the solution would need to be extremely pale in order to be transparent all the way through, and that we should use strongly contrasting colors to make the layers more distinct. The way we did it, with different shades of blue, kind of needs a flashlight shining through it to illuminate the layers. That's the only thing we'd (sigh, ok, *I*; you assign a project that require parental help, you're going to get a parent designing the project) do differently.
posted by fingersandtoes at 8:09 AM on May 4, 2019 [1 favorite]
The only downside was that we didn't realize that with the fairly large jar used, and the corresponding large volume of the layers, the colors of the solution would need to be extremely pale in order to be transparent all the way through, and that we should use strongly contrasting colors to make the layers more distinct. The way we did it, with different shades of blue, kind of needs a flashlight shining through it to illuminate the layers. That's the only thing we'd (sigh, ok, *I*; you assign a project that require parental help, you're going to get a parent designing the project) do differently.
posted by fingersandtoes at 8:09 AM on May 4, 2019 [1 favorite]
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posted by fingersandtoes at 8:36 AM on March 31, 2019