As you can see so far from Part 1, this wasn't really a properly planned project.  It was just an idea that snowballed along, with new features being added on when the time or thought arrived.

Kitchen freezer with a collection of beetle vials that where collected at night in early Summer

Sample vial of beetles from one nights worth of collecting

As the project About page says, I had volunteered to photograph some local beetles for a Native Orchid wasp propagator study we where doing.  Some native wasps lay their larvae in beetles that live underground.  Our mission is to try and identify the species of wasp that is parasitising local beetles and to identify what kind of beetle it is. 

In November, I was given the first vial of beetles that had been collected after dusk.

The first 14 beetles to be photographed in the Macro Rig Prototype

The shinny shell of the beetle is reflecting each of the LED's.  Time to investigate the construction of a defuser.

Chrysolist on 2mm graph paper on raised stage with the LED Array switched on.

A close up photo of the camera button servo motor housing.  It's designed to be easily replaced or modified as needed.

House spider my wife found in the kitchen

The fully assembled Macro Photo Rig.