COLOR!

So these pictures are in reverse order to show you the thought process I was trying (with varying degrees of success) to use here.This is the color "sketch" I did in photoshop.

Here's a very plastic looking crab claw, painted a very brilliant blue!

So, I finally decided that the crab should be about the structure, not so much the paint job - I mean it's a sculpture, not a painting. Therefore, I decided to just make it a flat color. I really loved the crab when it was just gray, so I figured I could capture some of that same feeling, if it was a solid color...however, I'm still not completely convinced this is the right color ( I think I want something a little less brilliant).

This is what you call trying to create a 'gradient' of light to dark. Unfortunately, it looks more like the sky than a crab :)

Here, I was trying to force my idea of a blue crab onto a the reddish-black under-painting.

I ran out of my first red, so I ended up using three different hues to complete the paint job...not with a large degree of success, however.

I actually kind of like this look - it's like a fiery rust style.

After completing the primer coat, I painted the entire crab black. I did this because I like having a deep rich color to build my lighter hues upon - it gives the paint a stronger sense of depth.

Here's me trying to fight the crab...

...I think I can take him!

6 more feet to go...

So, with the help of Andrew over at Wentworth Scrap Metal, I put together these beefy footings for the back legs of the crab. They're made of 1/4" diamond plate, cut into 9"x9" squares, with angled steel brackets welded on top. The idea here, is to create pads that the crab can rest on and not sink into the grass or dirt of wherever it ends up.

I painted the bottoms of them with about 5 coats of black rust-oleum paint - which I'm guessing should last awhile.

TWO CLAWS - for twice the action!!!

Mr. Crab is just about ready for a night out on the town...

...first I just had to finish his manicure...

...add some studs for that trendy goth look...

...and finally get him all shined up!

He's still lookin' a bit pasty, but once we move him outside his color should really improve.

A little more claw work...and me!

Well, things are starting to come together now - just a few more pieces and we'll be ready for color!!!

So, it dawned on me today that there are not a lot of "people" pictures in this blog series. And so I decided to remedy this situation post haste - with a few lovely shots of yours truly!

(me again...being consumed by the giant crab!)

Filling in the gaps.

This is where you insert tab A into slot B, except here tab A doesn't quite exist yet. But a few cuts, some bends, and couple choice curses when it comes out too small, and I'm ready to put it all together!

I wasn't quite sure where I wanted this second claw to go; at first I thought it would look good just resting on top of the bigger one...

I liked the "relaxed" feel it gave the crab (nothing like a chillin' crustacean), but the claws got a little too busy and convoluted. They needed some room to breath! So, I sat and I stared, and did some drawings, and a whole lot of thinking, and I finally decided to move them apart.

It was starting to look a lot better - much more 'active'! But being three-dimensional, you have to look at it from every angle - and from some view points the claw looked great, while others left a lot to be desired. So I kept moving it all about; tying it down, lifting it up, and twisting it all around, until...

...it was just right!

(There's nothing super important going on in this picture - it just makes me laugh because it looks like the crab is flying a really big kite.)

Once I had the claw in just the right position, with the perfect angle, and exact spacing, I realized that it was going to be tough to work on it with all those ropes attached...so I built a little stand, and welding right on!

It isn't a pretty stand but it does the job :)

And then once the claw is connected to the body, I can just cut the stand right off, and no one will know it was ever there! (I mean so long as no one checking out this blog ever tells anybody, that is).

Front appendage #2.

I was beginning to wonder what I was going to use for the second claw, as I used up my motorcycle fenders on the first one. So I took a trip down Rt 1, stopping at all the motorcycle shops along the way, looking for one more fender. Unfortunately, I couldn't find anyone body who had any...that is, until my last stop at the Harley Davidson shop - thanks Shawn!!!

So, I matched one of the Harley's up with the last old fender I had from the Ant project, and magically I had my second claw!

Then I took a length of pipe, and welded it to two disk breaks, creating a little spindle.

And if you turn that spindle on it's side, it becomes a claw hinge - just like that!

And here it is all welded together - just need to add the face plates now...

one down...

So here we have one of the front claws ready for action. (I ran out of primer today, so I used some left over black and blue paint instead)

Wow, that little claw was heavy - but here it is put in it's place.

My grandfather came by for a quick visit after I got this part attached - he called it a "really big nut cracker". I think he's right!