Planets on the horizon

Bonjour!

I have been giving thought to planets for use with FC, and looking at everyone's contributions here in the forum.  The painted spheres are nice, as are the painted partial sphere that sits low on the table.  Both require a certain degree of artistic skill, which I seldom feel like doing. I am getting lazy in my older years (I have said before, I was a professional model builder for over 20 years, I am burned out from building so many models).

While thinking of ways to do this cheaply, I continually walk from the upstairs of my house to the basement (do houses in France often have basements?), where my workshop is.  Styrofoam craft balls painted, balls for sports cut in half, etc.  Then it hit me as I walked past a display I have in my basement on top of a bookshelf (I have many kilograms of books, over 2000 kilograms).

The Library:


The Workshop:


I collect rocks in my travels, often they are just interesting looking rocks I pick up as I find them, others I buy for their color or shape or beauty.  I  have 24 that are perfectly round and polished, that each measure 48 to 52mm across.  Perfect! Already made, in colors, and a selection of various atmospheres.  Here shown on "Orbit" with a Cruiser, Destroyer, and Frigate.

What a good idea !

Very often you can find these on eBay, sold from China, for reasonable prices.  The most I have paid was €20 for a very unique stone, most are under €8.
Search for '50mm crystal sphere'.





Mine include such stones as Jasper , Quartz, Calcite, Kabamba Jasper, Sodalite, Onyx, Amethyst, Unakite, Lapis Lazuli, Aventurine, Obsidian, white Jade, Carnelian and Turquoise.

Very Nice !

This is the most beautiful effect on a table. Great setting for ambience !