Industrial Model of Profiler – Scale actual size

February was a particularly busy month with projects including an update of a planning model we originally made in 2008 plus a group of small display models for a huge international bank (this is an ongoing project which has to remain confidential for now). We also completed this Industrial model of a Profiler, a piece of equipment that “profiles” the contents of large storage tanks for oil and associated industries. The client already had a mock up of the real thing but it was made from steel and incredibly heavy and therefore difficult to transport. Our model was made predominantly from plastics and was therefore much lighter. We actually produced three identical units which included 500mm diameter acrylic display tubes and purpose-built flight boxes. They have been sent off to exhibition venues in various parts of the world.

University Campus Model – Scale 1:333

Produced for Queens University Belfast, this master-planning model was commissioned to illustrate the existing and proposed developments within the university’s Health Sciences campus. A major part of the model making process involved the co-ordination of many different drawings for the numerous buildings on site. As well as this, a lengthy site visit was required during which we took over 300 photographs and surveyed the general levels across the overall area of the model. The significant buildings were modelled in high detail with the context buildings shown as accurate massing blocks.

Private House Model – Scale 1:100

One of the main requirements of this model is to illustrate how the building design addresses this steeply sloping site, not just externally but also internally. The building actually separates out into three layers to expose the proposed internal room layout. There are two houses on the site, a main house and a guest house and both have lift-off layers to show the internal views. To facilitate transportation, the model is also made in two sections with the join being between the two houses. The first part of this model was made before Christmas – if you click on November 2009 (on the left side of this page) you’ll be able to see the earlier photographs.

Bridge Model – Scale non specific

We’ve chosen to feature this stylized bridge model for December (you’ll no doubt recognize it as Sidney Harbour Bridge) because the main projects we’ve been working on this month won’t be completed until late January, so no pics currently available (click on October 2009 to see another bridge example). This simplified version of Sydney’s famous landmark measured 1800mm in length and was used as a table centrepiece for a corporate function – the theme for the evening was, of course, Australia. We’re heading off for a function of our own now – with a Christmas theme! We’ll be back keen and eager in the New Year to finish off our current projects and get stuck into some exciting new ones.

Private House Model – Scale 1:100

We had an extremely busy month through November but unfortunately we can’t show most of these projects as they are currently confidential (the client is a huge international financial institution). We have, however had permission to show this model of a proposed private house in Cannes. The purpose of the model is to illustrate how the design addresses this steeply sloping site, not just externally but also internally, and to this end the building actually separates out into three layers to expose the proposed internal room layout. We haven’t been able to take any proper photographs of this model as yet because it is still a work in progress. There is a second part of the site still to make which should be completed early next year and that is when we plan to feature it properly in these pages.

Fantasy Ice Cream Machine

The client’s brief for this project came in the form of the very rough sketch you see in the inset photo along with a verbal description of what he wanted - a working fantasy ice cream machine to go into his brand new, ice-white themed, children’s party room. On a very tight budget we came up with this design featuring lots of buttons to press, revolving poles, moving lights, sound effects, voice-over instructions and incorporating a working freezer in the middle as well as hoppers for dispensing various toppings on the right hand side. We would have loved to have done something much more organic and Willy-Wonka-esque but there just wasn’t the budget so we had to keep the cabinet shapes simple and boxy to save money for the interactive element. The idea of the machine is that children can “make their own ice cream” and add whatever toppings they want. I just hope that the children have as much fun using it as we had making it.

Wrap-around Waste Bin prototype model – Scale 1:1

The purpose of this model was to demonstrate how this new design wrap-around waste bin (for cigarette butts) could be retro fitted to any street furniture or signs. The client needed a working mock-up he could take to meetings to demonstrate how the unit would look and how it could be easily locked together around different sized poles/posts. The design required the model to be made in four sections that fitted perfectly together. (Read the client’s positive comments on the “Testimonials” link, above left).

Replica of Vintage Aircraft – Scale 1:1 (actual size)

The message on my desk said “Model of a Walrus??” One of my colleagues had taken the telephone enquiry when I was out of the office and I rang the client back straightaway. It took a minute or so of confused conversation before I realised that what was needed was a life-size replica of a WW2 Walrus Seaplane rather than a model of a toothsome mammal. And then it got even more interesting. The “Walrus” was actually going to be a sunken plane-wreck in the huge seawater tank at the National Marine Aquarium in Plymouth. It was a daunting job to say the least but also an irresistible challenge and we were glad to take it on. With a 14 metre wing span and 12 metre long fuselage this is the largest fibreglass model we’ve ever undertaken and we’re only half way through it. This wing is actually just a first stage installation to generate some publicity for the whole project which is due for completion at the end of next month. By the way, it’s meant to look dirty and damaged because it is, after all, supposed to be a wreck. The wing was built in 4 main sections so we could get it in the building and to keep it manageable for the divers. One of the images shows the divers assembling it at the bottom of the tank (with an inquisitive shark for company). The other shows how the assembled wing looks from one of the main viewing windows. We should be posting images of the completed project in early June – watch this space.

Town Centre Redevelopment Model – Scale 1:500

The planning authorities requested a model be produced for this development because it was very difficult to appreciate how the proposed new buildings were going to fit into this mostly sloping site in a sensitive town centre location. This stylized, monochromatic model was made to demonstrate how this relationship worked, using very accurate topography and faithful representation of all existing and proposed building massing and roofscapes. The designers were even able to get some informative ground level views by photographing the model with a modelscope camera (see the circular image).

Laser Engraved Slate Awards

Specially created for an industry awards ceremony, this set of 8 custom-made trophies incorporated laser engraved Welsh Slate and a hard wood base. Each award was personalized with the name of the winner.