Jurassic Park John Hammond Cane

[Prop-Builder]

I'm currently revising my Hammond Cane and making a more realistic version which includes the screen-accurate 'Elephant Mosquito' insect inclusion in the amber.

[Fraggleman]

Where did you buy this? I've been wanting these canes from Jurassic Park for ages! Man...there's one on ebay right now but far beyond my price range. It looks really screen accurate but not sure about the egg shaped bit on top (wrong colour I think).

[Prop-Builder]

I know the one on ebay you're talking about. It does look a nice piece, but I agree with you on the egg colouring.

I actually made my own cane myself. I wasn't too happy with the way it turned out the first time, so I'm kinda re-working it to make it more realistic. If when I'm done and you like the pics I post, maybe I can do one for you? You mentioned in your email you have a few props from Jurassic Park too, so maybe we can just do a simple trade if you can let me know what you have?

Thanks! ;D

Update!

Ok, I did another little experiment using my new pigment. First of all, I did a test using a small amount and got two half spheres made. I was quite surprised how different this yellow pigment came out compared to the other yellow pigment I've had for some time! They're from different companies and it's interesting how they vary.

In the first pic, you can see the mold I'm currently using, 3 earlier tests at the bottom, and my very latest test piece at the top left. The surface of the 'egg' did again get that weird vein pattern, but that's the least of my worries and can be removed easily. I'm more concerned with getting the colouring right, and the resin to cure fully with no air bubbles. Actually, a few bubbles are ok, as natural amber usually have these and I do want my pieces to look real, not artificial which is how it would look if it's too perfect.



One problem that continues to bug me is the reflective 'discs' inside the cast eggs. I don't know what causes them, but as I hold it up to the light and rotate it, many of these discs become visible as the light reflects off them. They're more oval shaped than round. Can anyone advise on this? I thought maybe I was just using too much hardener in my resin and thay're fractures of some kind?

Also, Can anyone identify the bottle of yellow pigment in the pic below? I had this sent to me by someone in the States. He can't remember the company he got it from and I'm trying to get more of this before I run out. It took me ages to find a good pigment colour, and now I have it, I'm worried my little 'pot of gold' will not last very long and I'll be stuck again. :cry

The pot is approx 1.7 inchs tall including the cap.



For my next test, I'll probably add a little more pigment to darken the egg more and include a bug also. I think what I have here is a tiny crane fly. :ohbaby

Update!


Here's a piece with a spider in it I captured from the garden hedge. I'm having some trouble with polishing it up fully though. It only looks as clear as it does in the pics because I drenched it with water. It goes dull again seconds after removing it from the tap. I had to rub it down to get the vein patterns off. I would really appreciate some advice on polishing tools. I have a dremel and some polishing wheels and 'red' compound but no idea how to really use it? I tried going over it with the wheel, but it didn't make much difference, so I'm obviously doing it wrong.

[moviecreature]

This is looking much more realistic now than when you first started doing this. How transparent would these look when polished? Maybe you could put lots of ants in them? There're always plenty of those around the house or garden in the summer. ;D

You should put real mosquitos in this if you can get hold of them. Maybe you can buy dead ones if it's illegal to import live from the States?

[Prop-Builder]

Thanks! ;D

These should look completely transparent like glass once polished up. I may put some variety of insects in them, but most pieces will just be mosquitos or craneflies. If I got the mosquitos from overseas, I may have to import them as dead specimens.

[moviecreature]

I'm not sure, but it might just be the blood-sucking mosquitos and midges that would be illegal to import live. As you said in your other thread, the mosquitos you're talking about don't feed on blood, only nectar, so maybe this wouldn't be a problem.

[Prop-Builder]

I've a feeling mosquitos would not be allowed live into the UK full stop (due to mylaria & deseases), but without really looking into it, I'll never know. I may just buy them dead already from a supplier, at least they should be ready dried up (any body moisture could cause bubbles in the resin).

[Fraggleman]

Yeah, and if they're dead, you won't have to try and catch them either when you need to pick one up for the resin! hehehe.

[Prop-Builder]

Good news on small mosquitoes! As well as having a supplier online, I have just fished out a load of moquito larvae from the garden pond which I now have in a container. Once these hatch out, they'll be right in the resin amber eggs... hahahaha! ;D

These are not the large JP Elephant mosquitoes I'm really after though, but rather a smaller and more common type known as the Brown House Mosquito. These are especially native to the UK.

I'd probably have to freeze them or something first to knock them out. Just one of these critters is capable of producing thousands of eggs so I'll never ever run out!

Here's the stage they're at now:



Another few days and I'll see how they look in a resin egg! ;D I'm not sure what species this is, but I'll assume it's the common house mosquito measuring approx 5 - 6mm body length:



I could do some amber chunks literally packed with these! ;D

[Fraggleman]

Those small mosquitoes would look pretty cool in a Hammond Cane!

Try making a resin lens or something you can put in the resin around the bug so it'll magnify everything and make it look bigger.

[moviecreature]

Those larvae look real ugly, worse than the adult mosquito. Yuck!

[Prop-Builder]

Some great news! I think I may have sorted myself out with a supplier of the mosquito species Toxorhynchites rutilus - Elephant mosquito as used in the Jurassic Park props and Mr dna animation sequence!

I'll update this thread when I know the full details, but it seems like I'm really getting somewhere now. ;D

Here's a pic of the bug:



Ok, here's a quick mock-up I did of the Hammond Cane using clay, wood dowel and milliput. I did a quick mold in alginate and cast it in plaster finished with teak woodstain.

This is not to be the actual piece, it's just a practice attempt (learning experience) so I can figure out the best way for me to do the final cane.

[clarence]

Hi PB having discussed that veining your having with my supplier he informs me that clear resin reacts with RTV and causes it, casting resin is ok and doesnt vein so thats why its happening. I will spend some time tomorrow on a cane so we will see what it entails I believe it should be around 33" in total .

[Prop-Builder]

Thanks for the info and good to see you on the forum!

;D

I do believe the cane to be about 33" total. Looking forward to seeing your progress!

[clarence]

Hi! PB thanks for the welcome I made a mould for the egg and had the same problems those disc thingies but I used PVA release agent and no veining sooooooo I will try other things to seperate the RTV from the resin failing which I will have to mould in another material.Made a cane and started to sand it down but had to go out. I will spend an hour or two on it sometime tomorrow and see how it goes.Hi to all who are following this thread.