Illuminated model for horse therapy product.

The client for this project wanted an eye catching model they could use as a promotional tool at an event in Saudi Arabia. They wanted to showcase their product, a vibrating floor system, in a typical high end stables setting and asked us if we could come up with a design. As a starting point they gave us a hand drawn floor plan for the stables and we took it from there. We developed this fully realised 3d representation including battery powered lights to bring the model to life. We also provided a sturdy travel case with customised foam inserts to protect the model in transit.

Life-size Model of 3U Cube Satellite.

We recently completed this 1:1 scale mock-up of a 3U Cube Satellite for the Glasgow Life museum. The photos don’t show the model in its fully finished state because most of the black solar cells still have a thin protective film on them. We left the film on to protect the panels while the model was assembled on site. The model was too fragile to be shipped in its “deployed” position so the main body and four solar panels had to be kept as separate components. The protective film could then be removed once the model was securely mounted. We’re hoping to get a “finished” pic from the museum once the display is finalised. We have produced numerous satellite models over the years including several variations of this design (see Industrial Models page).

Roof-off view of Porter’s Lodge refurbishment, St John’s College, Oxford.

Whilst the majority of the models we produce are about external appearances, occasionally we get a project like this where the main purpose is to show internal views. Often the best way to do this is to create a model with a “roof-off” view like this recently completed model showing the planned internal refurbishment of the Porter’s Lodge at St. John’s College, Oxford. We’ve shown the new proposals in full colour to differentiate them from the existing buildings which are stylized and painted white. Part of the refurbishment proposals include a new front courtyard with an arched colonnade entrance feature which is why these areas are also shown in colour. The courtyard retains all the existing trees, some of which are close to 300mm tall at 1:50 scale. We actually custom-made all the trees to reflect the shape and characteristics of the real trees.

Aircraft model for exhibition display.

This eye catching model of a fire fighting “water bomber” plane was commissioned to hang above a stand at a trade show event. We particularly enjoyed this project, especially when we reached the stage of adding the Canadair red and yellow livery which really brought the aircraft to life. The model had a 1.5m wingspan so for easier transportation we designed it in 3 separate sections – fuselage, wings and tail plane – that could be easily assembled on site using just 3 bolts. The model was made almost completely from balsa wood so was extremely light. If we’d fitted model engines and radio control gear we could have flown it out of the workshop!

Interactive model to illustrate best water management.

This interactive model was commissioned by the NFU as a visual demonstration to farmers of good water management practices on their land. The model shows two different catchments, one illustrating a high risk landscape with poor farming practices and the other showing a low risk landscape where the delivery of good practice minimises risks. The buttons on the front of the model activate LEDs set in the landscape to highlight different aspects of land management practice. The brightly coloured area shows an example of a Scimap, a graphic plan that shows farmers the risk areas across their land.