Not quite what you're expecting!

[Guest]

Hi!

I'm really not sure where to start with this........

I have been advised to come onto a modellers forum after chatting to a very helpful guy at my local Game Workshop....

I am looking for someone who carries out custom miniature scale set designs.

I keep tarantulas and would love to create an enclosure for one that looks like an old B-movie set complete with 'giant' tarantula........ you know the sort....'50 foot killer spider terrorises city'!

I would really appreciate any help, pointers, contact ideas etc!!

Thank you so much, Anita!

[Guest]

Hi Anita and welcome to the site,

I would certainly do a google image search on old b movie posters or spider movie posters to see what comes up there are bound to be plenty out there and it will at least give you a starting point for what you want to build. (I have found one just as you describe - see below)

It might be worth checking out the Sci-Fi and Other models sections on here as they will give some good ideas on building dioramas. I would certainly make sure any paints / glues are allowed to dry thoroughly and air out properly before putting the spiders in though as you don't want to kill them.

I used to keep similar exotic pets like yours when I lived in Cyprus - only we didn't get ours from Pet shops - we used to go and find them and catch them !! My mum is petrified of spiders and I used to come home with them as big as your hand and scorpions too. She didn't mind my Chameleons or Praying Mantises though.

Good Luck !!

Regards......Mark.

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[Guest]

Hi Anita and a warm welcome to the forum. Great to see a lady amongst us again and one with a slightly different interest.

I would have a good look around the railway model sites and forums and se what is available in the way of HO/OO buildings. As Mark says use a movie poster as a backdrop but then place some model buildings in front of it and include street scenes and even railway yards and sidings. Have a look at some of the amazing railway layouts there are on the internet to get some ideas of what you can do. The only thing I would be carefull with was the use of paint and it's effect on your pets. I would look carefully at what you apply to the model to ensure it is not poisonous to the spider.

Defenately send us some shots and keep us up to date with developements.

[Guest]

Thanks for your replies!

Yes, the paint was an issue I was going to address further down the line! I figured there was no point in asking about paint if I don't really get any replies!

Yes Mark, the poster is exactly the kind of look I was going for!

Before going any further, I don't want anyone on here to think that I'm doing this just to look cool, regardless of the tarantula's welfare, the T's care is paramount and if I can't find safe paint etc then the project ends there.

I have heard that there is an (old) Godzilla model, complete with diorama but I'm not sure what it's called. The idea being just take Godzilla out and replace with live T!

To be honest, I don't mean this to sound lazy, I just have no idea about modelling and as such was after someone to make it for me so it didn't look completely pants!

Needless to say, anyone who does it gets complete credit, I'm not out to steal someone's thunder!

[Guest]

Hello Anita and also a big welcome

Just a point about adhesives its worth thinking about humidity levels as we keep a couple of spiders and even they are from Desert conditions they still get a spray every couple of days or so the humidity and temp is quite high

[Guest]

Thanks Tony,

That's also a good point, our Ts are also mostly desert spec too so prefer it dry, we tend to pour water onto substrate rather than spray if we want to increase humidity, do you think that would be safer? Do you know of any kits that wouldn't need gluing?

Hehe, there are arachnophiles everywhere! What do you keep?

[Guest]

you could consider plaster based castings of buildings, these absorb moisture and could then slowly release it into the ' tarrantulas environment...

you can also colour these with food colourings and other more natural pigments

[Guest]

Anita Hi,

What a really cool idea, another of my hobbys is woodturning and woodworking and know that there are food safe oils, stains and paints there are also baby safe paints.

For oils and stains goto Home have used these loads

and for paints you could try Ecos Organic Paints this was just a quick search.

Rgards Graeme