Lucent Moth Sculpture
Based on Destiny 2's Lucent moth collectibles, I wanted to try my hand at making one IRL. It gave me new challenges to tackle and taught me a few new skills.
The wings were the first part I made as I wanted to scale the rest based on those, and let me tell you; iridescent sticker sheets love to form bubbles. Turns out soapy water really helps.
The body is a clay sculpt which I don't have much previous experience with, but it turned out pretty well. It was air drying clay so I could sand down some of the inperfections.
Finished moth
The moth in-game.
(WIP) Test version 1 and 2 of the wings. Left is a flat base with extra crystals on one side. Right is fully 3D on both sides.
(WIP) Cutting the larger wing pieces
(WIP) Assembled the base as 2 layers, ready to put the crystals on
(WIP) Finished wings
(WIP) Sketching the other pieces I'll need to get an idea of size.
(WIP) The base frame for the moth body
(WIP) First sculpting attempt. I wasn't quite happy with it and added more thickness around the head and repositioned the wings
(WIP) The antenna made from ostrich feathers
(WIP) Sculpt so far + test antenna. Legs are next
(WIP) Sculpt is mostly finished. I'm adding bits of clay and sanding those down to help fill any gaps and smooth out some parts.
(WIP) Sculpture is now painted, but it still needs it's crystal stand.
(WIP) Cardboard model to get an idea of the size and slope I need for the crystals.
(WIP) Turning the cardboard model into 3D pieces to make a laser cutter file
(WIP) Test of the crystals using clear acrylic and tape.
(WIP) Moth with the work in progress colored crystals. They're the same material as the wings
(WIP) Moth with almost finished stand. It just needs a few touchups then it's time for photos (there's a lamp behind the sculpture, it does not light up)
The finished moth
Showing the colors into the sunlight
Sunlight shining through the wings
Rotation of the moth to show how it sparkles in the sun