A fossil hunter from New Zealand finds a giant crab fossil, removes the rock, and shows how to make a replica for free in this DIY video.

The filmer said: "A year ago I found this giant fossil crab on a remote beach in New Zealand. It's an estimated 12 million years old. After spending more than 200 hours removing the rock flake by flake using an air scribe (like a miniature jackhammer powered by an air compressor). The tip of the air scribe doesn't actually touch the fossil, the rock flakes away from the fossil when it becomes thin enough.

"Once the crab I created a 3D model of it using a Revopoint POP 2 3D scanner and uploaded it to Sketchfab.com where it can be downloaded for free.

"The 3D model was then printed using a 3D printer, a Creality Ender3 v2 Neo. It took 20 hours to print the model.

"I then used a white acrylic primer to cover up the pink PLA plastic before using acrylic paints to give the crab a realistic texture and color. A dry brushing technique was used which is often used to paint miniatures."

A year ago I found this giant fossil crab on a remote beach in New Zealand. It's an estimated 12 million years old. After spending more than 200 hours removing the rock flake by flake using an air scribe (like a miniature jack hammer powered by an air compressor). The tip of the air scribe doesn't actually touch the fossil, the rock flakes away from the fossil when it becomes thin enough.

Once the crab I created a 3D model of it using a Revopoint POP 2 3D scanner and uploaded it to Sketchfab.com where it can be downloaded for free.

The 3D model was then printed using a 3D printer, a Creality Ender3 v2 Neo, it took 20 hours to print the model.

I then used a white acrylic primer to cover up the pink PLA plastic before using acrylic paints to give the crab a realistic texture and color. A dry brushing technique was used which is often used to paint miniatures.

YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/Mamlambo
Sketchfab link: https://sketchfab.com/mamlambofossils
The crab is an extinct species: Tumidocarcinus giganteus
Music is royalty free by Bensound.com and requires attribution.