Seafood Automata.

I have always loved Automata, from little paper kits from books to wooden kits of flapping pterodactyls, I have always enjoyed making them. 

So I thought I would have a try at making some small fun little automata.  

Fresh Portuguese Sardines. 

Polvo em Conserva. 

Calmars en Conserve. 

Grebbestad Ansjovis

Crab Claws.

The idea for the seafood came from trying to think of a small form factor that would look fun on a shelf and make people intrigued by it.

 

The planning was the first step, I wanted to keep the form factor the same size as the tins we had in the cupboard, so that was the first design constraint that I had given myself. 

The 'Fresh Sardines' was the first seafood automata that I made. I gave it a Portuguese theme with the tiles and ... well the sardines as they are very well known for their tinned seafood, it is in fact the best tinned seafood that I have ever had. 

Once the first one was made, I decided I wanted to do some more, and these were to be more realistic than the tiled sardines of the first one. 

The Octopus was the next animal that I wanted to recreate. 

Getting the tentacles too look correct and function was a challenge. 

Also I decided that there would only be 4 of them, not the full set as that would have looked too busy.  

Painting these tins and the seafood is very fun.  

Next I made two at the same time. Anchovies and Squid were the next targets. 

I could fit more fish than the sardines as the anchovies were smaller. 

All the automata have been painted and clear coated to give them a little protection. 

I wanted them to have traditional feeling designs on the tins. Albeit not very realistic as it is unlikely that all of the relevant information to be on the unopened section.  

Crab claws were the next challenge as the movement is in a different direction, as the first ones flip up the claws need to open and close sideways. 

 

Videos of all the automata should show below.