Paper mache sun

[create]

DS2 has to design and make a model of the solar system.

So far he's drawn the plan, which involves a large sun made from paper mache, with sticks of various lengths sticking out and the planets, made of plasticine stuck on the ends.

He's only 7 and I think he's done pretty well

Now we he just has to build it!

He proposes making the sun around a football, but it's a long long time since I made anything from paper mache. I know it's newspaper and paste, but is it wallpaper type paste or UVA glue? I seem to remember smearing the mold with Vaseline so it can be removed once dry, is that right? We'd have to cut in it half to remove the ball, then insert the sticks (small green garden canes) and apply more paper and paste to hold them in place and stick it back together. Would that work?

Thank you for any help...

You could make it round a balloon and pop it when it's set. Use wallpaper paste, PVA glue & water mix or flour, water and salt with newspaper.

Thanks tethersend.

Ds2 has since decided that he's going to use a grapefruit for the sun and use the cheese and pineapple on sticks approach to attach the planets, using bbq skewers (obviously he hasn't seen that done in this house )

Now I'm wondering how long the model has to last and how long it takes for a grapefruit to go mouldy....