Coraline Mantis Tractor
Display model of the mantis tractor from the film ‘coraline’ (2009) with working lights
aprox. 200mm x 300mm x 500mm
This was the final projects for my HND at City of Glasgow College. making it involved using a range of techniques including vacuum forming, 3D printing, laser cutting, styrene cladding and airbrushing.
The eyes have small LEDs inside them that can be turned on with a switch hidden in the base.
I am proud of how striking and lively the model looks and I think it is a great way to finish the course in Glasgow.
The arms are made from layers of laser cut acrylic.
The wheel and gear stick details are made by bending acrylic rods with a little heat.
The head and arms can be tilted and posed slightly and the antennae are removable for ease of transport.
a card mockup was made to work out an appropriate scale, but as I only had screenshots to work from, it took a couple of iterations to get the arms to a good size
Card Mockup
![20210224_141826[1].jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eab29d2b59b0f747892beb9/0b4cfea9-24f9-4e9a-a6eb-d8e381aaea5a/20210224_141826%5B1%5D.jpg)
![20210224_183852[1].jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eab29d2b59b0f747892beb9/81fe5762-6c2a-49d1-9a50-6b1ace457306/20210224_183852%5B1%5D.jpg)
Initial sketches
Initial sketches
Initial sketches
Eye construction plan
Arm construction plan
Head plan
Body plan
Eye lens before tinting
Tamiya transparent yellow was carefully airbrushed onto the inside of the lenses.
The stems were made from styrene rods to allow wiring to be fed through from the base of the head to the eyes.
The model was painted in parts and assembled at the end.
Layers of sanding and priming to get a quality base to paint on.