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Honey Bee Exoskeleton Template

3D model of a honey bee (Apis mellifera) UV unwrapped and converted to a template for craft projects.

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Numerous reference images were used to model a honey bee (Apis mellifera) in Blender. The 3D model was UV unwrapped, exported and processed in Photoshop and Illustrator, transferred to craft foam, and glued together.  The eyes and wing veins were 3D printed, and the tongue and stinger were created by hand with thread, drinking straw, and other craft materials. The wing veins sandwich tissue paper, with a clear varnish or resin applied.  This object is a very light weight, articulated, hollow object that could be stuffed with anything you can think of!  I used craft foam, but the template could be used to produce patterns for fabric, paper, or thin metal. Depending on the scale used, the joints of the legs could be hinged with thin wire, or glued to a posable armature.

  • Two versions of the bee finished

    John08/28/2020 at 03:19 0 comments

    I went to great lengths to study each sclerite of the honey bee exoskeleton and this model features the majority of the honey bee's actual exoskeleton. As a result, there are several happy accidents in the behavior of the thorax, abdomen, and mandibles. This project has illuminated some of the functional properties of the bee exoskeleton, such as rotation clearance in the legs, as well as the distortion of the thoracic box.

    I have now built two versions of the bee from this template. The first was about 16" long and the legs are hinged with small beads and fishing line for axles. The second was much smaller at only 9" long and the legs were glued to flexible twine so they are articulated, and slightly stiffer than the larger bee.

    The plan is to continue refining this design and trying new methods of construction and posing the final form. In time, I may embed electronics and motors to flap the wings, create noise, light, or sense the environment.

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