Workshop information on building a life size model!
The practical experience of building a life size model is a creative educational experience with a number of useful outcomes. The model can be used as an artist's mannequin to assist in the creation of other art works, as well as being constructed as a mobile, a marionette, a kite, a glider or even a flying model.The model itself could be a work of art
A life size megabat model might be a simple two dimensional silhouette, constructed of materials like cardboard, bamboo and wire, that could be hung as a mobile. A simple model such as this would be a challenge to younger students as well as those with less time, materials or crafting skills. A more complex three dimensional model would suit students and artists with greater crafting skills and more time.
Visual Resources.
As well as various online images including Megabat and Microbat skeletons that can by accessed by a google search, I have produced a Photo album of my Megabat photos as well as some silhouettes, including a sheet for making Microbat Models (which can be printed as A4 or A3 for the range of sizes that microbats come in.)). Also some 4 page cut out silhouettes that can be printed as A4 pages an cut and assembled into a life sized silhouette of a Little Red Flying-fox. If printed at A3 size the silhouette will be the size of a Black or Grey Headed Flying fox. The album can be accessed by the public [you do not have to be on facebook!] at the following link....
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=32315&id=100000723044160&l=37ca12637c
Producing a Model.
The Head
The head can be modeled from materials such as clay, wax, plasticine, papier mâche or permanent-setting modelling plastics, with the aid of photographs and head or skull dimensions from real flying-foxes and other Megabats or Microbats .These are available as online resources. The head can be crafted even more accurately by using the mould of a real skull as the base for the model, or as a guide during sculpting.
I have produced latex moulds of the skull and lower jaw of an adult male? black flying-fox and an adult little red flying-fox, and produced resin castings from these moulds. I have been making these available to artists,schools and artists organisations to use to create clay, plasticene or wax head models. The head models can be cast with a wire protruding from the neck that can be used to fasten to the body. The head models can be detailed by painting, "skinning" with other materials, and by further detailed modelling using "femo" or other self setting plastics.
The head model produced could also be used to create a master mould in latex for the production of cast model heads. These could be used by classes or groups to further carve or detail, to make a flight of bats.
The silhouette
The species of Megabat and Microbat are distinguished by their forearm length so the appropriate size silhouette can be chosen or modified to create a life size model of a particular species!
Silhouettes can be created using skeletal dimensions from appropriately sized specimens, photographs of bats in flight, as well as using live and/or museum specimens to create life size outlines or photographic image "skins". Some flying -fox silhouettes as well as silhouettes for making Microbats can be found in my online photo album
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=32315&id=100000723044160&l=37ca12637c
I am interested in adding illustrations,body dimensions photos etc that can be used in modelling. Contributions will be welcome!
Life size silhouettes scaled to the approximate size of the three local species of flying-foxes were produced by cutting a half bat silhouette of a Megabat in flight, from a photo. A graphics program was used to mirror image and produce a symetrical silhouette that was then enlarged to produce a life sized template for modeling purposes. Printing these on [multiple] A4 or A3 sheets of paper produces a life size silhouette complete with some body details. The silhouette can be reproduced in cardboard or fabric for further modelling, such as adding bamboo plastic and wire bones,and the attachment of a body by wrapping fabric on the bamboo skeleton (I used an old black woollen sock for my first black Flying fox body). The Body can be painted or "skinned" with suitable fabric, to look like one of the three species of Megabat found locally, as well as any Microbat being modelled.
The Body
This could be created as a stuffed fabric body, molded from papier mâche , carved from a foam plastic block or crafted with wire and fabric. The dimensions will need to be matched to the head and silhouette! A hot melt plastic glue gun is very usefull for assembly.Wire threaded through bamboo allows a strong easy assembly of the body that is flexable .
Why build a Megabat Model
Building a life size bat model or just a batty model! is a challenge that may have a practical purpose as well as being a fun educational and artistic experience. It was unlawful to use lethal deterrents such as shooting in order to protect fruit crops from damage done by flying-foxes. "Scarecrows" can be used as a deterrent against bird damage, so will a " Scarebat " work to deter flying-foxes? In the past orchardists with ripening fruit would sometimes shoot one of the initial raiders and hang the body up in the orchard. The sight and smell of the dead bat was said to deter other animals from entering the orchard! Various auditory, olfactory and visual deterrent have been trialed with varying success.
Netting, if properly erected, is very effective in protecting fruit, not only from flying-foxes, but also from birds and hail damage. The netting has to be a suitable type and erected correctly to avoid entanglement. It is sometimes difficult to erect but is very effective.
Will hanging a lifesize, lifelike model of a flying-fox over a fruiting tree that needs protection, perhaps with the playback of an alarm call or the addition of some rotting meat to give it "dead animal smell" authenticity , work as a "Scarebat" that can deter other flying-foxes from feeding in the tree!? We'll never know unless we try it!
