Model Making

I started building the tunnel structure that will go inside the model.  I made the floor base, and put holes around the perimeter for the hoops to to be held in. I chose a springy wire as the material for the hoops.
I then pulled thin (15 den) lycra tights over the struture. As I could only find skin coloured stretchy mesh I decided to spray it grey.

When sprayed, it lost all shine and transparancy.

In order for the hoops to not collapse under  the fabric and for the fabric to stretch over the wire and take the shape I had to saw each hoop to the fabric.

I found that the grey was too dull and did not demostrate the structure as I would like it to look. I stipped it once again, fixed the wires in the floor to give them more stability. I will spray paint the hoops grey and then cover them with a new mesh that is already grey and shimmery.

Experimenting

In order to work out the details of the attachments of the fabric at the base of the tunnel and the openings, I carried out some test trials with very thin tights (15 den) stretched over a frame. A whole which can work as an entrance is made very easily by puncturing the fabric and encouraging it to stretch. It can be sprayed lightly with varnish to freeze it in place and stop the whole from enlarging further.

The fabric can be attached to the base by stretching parts of it down and securing.

For model purposes, this can all be sprayed with a grey primer to cover the skin coloured tights.

Ernesto Neto

http://artobserved.com/2009/05/go-see-new-york-ernesto-netos-anthropodino-inaugurates-the-park-avenue-armorys-drill-hall-commission/

This webpage shows a lot of examples of where netting is used to create a transparant, 'unreal' feel.  I can take ideas from how these nets are connected to their supporting materials in my tunnel.