Mangled model restored to former glory.

If you’ve got a damaged model that looks beyond repair make sure you contact us before you throw it in the skip – we may be able to give it a whole new lease of life. This industrial model had been shipped to events all round Europe since 2015 (when we built it) before it got badly damaged in transit. The client asked if we could repair it and we were happy to oblige. Of course it helped that we’d made the model originally but even if your model was made elsewhere, as long as you’ve kept most of the broken pieces and can supply plenty of photos of how it looked before the damage, we should be able to restore it to its former glory at a significant saving compared with rebuilding it from scratch.

New lease of life for three 15 year old models.

We’re frequently asked to mend an existing model but this project was particularly challenging because it involved three very large, very heavy, 15 year old models, all in poor condition. Furthermore the client wanted a custom-built stand that would display the models one above the other so they wouldn’t take up too much space in their reception area. The main reception desk was made from birch-faced ply so we created this simple, sturdy display stand in the same material. The stand was designed as three separate structures that locked together when stacked on top of each other. We enjoyed repairing the models to give them a new lease of life but what made the project even more fun was designing and building a simple, elegant piece of furniture to display them on.

Topographical landscape model.

Featuring the site of a gas-fired power station on the Pembrokeshire coast, this large topographical model was built at 1:1000 scale which is an ideal scale option for a large spread-out site. At this scale 1 millimetre represents 1 metre so a 2Km long site fits onto a 2m long base which is big but still manageable, as long as you have space in your marketing suite. Even though the scale is small it still allows us to show a recognizable level of detail for any important buildings whilst any surrounding context buildings can be shown as massing blocks which helps to keep costs down.

David Cameron views two of our models

A few days after completing these two white styled models we were surprised (and pleased) to discover they had been the focal point for a presentation to David Cameron about the Swansea Lagoons tidal energy project (apparently they couldn’t tell us beforehand for security reasons). The models are both at 1:1000 scale and show two different areas of the lagoon structure. The largest model shows the leisure facilities where the lagoon wall joins the mainland whilst the small model shows where the turbines generate electricity from the twice daily rise and fall of the tide (the Bristol Channel has the second highest tidal range in the world). If you click on the images to enlarge them you’ll see that even at this small scale (1mm represents 1 metre) we can show a high level of detail.

Masterplan Model – Scale 1:1000

This model is essentially a 3D representation of the client’s colour coded masterplan for the redevelopment of a disused quarry site in the South of England. The local planning authorities requested the model so that they could get a clear understanding of how the new mixed use development would fit into the re-contoured landscape of the quarry. Even at 1:1000 scale (1mm equals 1 metre) we had to accurately model all the proposed new contours and levels across the site, including the old quarry cliff faces. The colour coded buildings indicate the proposed usage and maximum roof heights for each of the plots. The colours reflect those used on the original 2D masterplan but toned down to create an aesthetically pleasing appearance for the model.

Redevelopment Area Planning Model – Scale 1:1000

We’ve made several models for local government backed redevelopment areas, and this was the third such project in the last couple of years. Winning all of them through a strict tendering process we had to demonstrate that we could deliver outstanding quality at a competitive price. This small scale model was used to illustrate the masterplan for the proposed redevelopment of a huge decommissioned steelworks site.

Topographical landscape model.

Featuring the site of a gas-fired power station on the Pembrokeshire coast, this large topographical model was built at 1:1000 scale which is an ideal scale option for a large spread-out site. At this scale 1 millimetre represents 1 metre so a 2Km long site fits onto a 2m long base which is big but still manageable, as long as you have space in your marketing suite. Even though the scale is small it still allows us to show a recognizable level of detail for any important buildings whilst any surrounding context buildings can be shown as massing blocks which helps to keep costs down.

Topographical contour model in 4 sections.

Orkney Islands Council asked us to produce this stylized representation of the Scapa Flow area which was to be used for marketing events and as focal point for internal meetings. Due to the size of the model (1.8m x 1.4m) it was constructed in four sections that could be stacked in a flight case for storage and transportation but could also be quickly fitted together when required. Although the islands show a simplified representation of the contours at 25m steps, the main purpose of the model was to illustrate the water depths in Scapa Flow and the surrounding seas. Sea charts normally show the deep areas in lighter blues but because this model was going to be viewed by mixed audiences the client asked us to reverse this colour coding and show the deeper areas in the darker colour. If you click on the main pic to enlarge it you’ll notice we also supplied a Perspex overlay which shows the relative size of Edinburgh to Scapa Flow. This is the third project we’ve completed for Orkney Islands Council this year.

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.

Landscape model with accurate topography.

This large topographical model is 3m long by 2m wide and is made in four sections that butt together on adjustable height trestles. It’s the second large landscape model we’ve made for this client (see Recent Projects December 2016) and was commissioned as part of a public consultation process for a proposed development near Coventry. The aim of the model was to demonstrate how high embankments and landscaping around the site would screen it from surrounding villages so it was important that the on-site levels and surrounding topography were all accurately recreated. The buildings are shown as massing blocks due to the small scale (1:1250). Each metre is represented by just 0.8mm, so that the 16 metre high commercial buildings shown on the model are only approx. 13mm high.

Accurate topographical model for public consultation.

This 2.5m x 2.5m model was commissioned as part of a public consultation process for a proposed development just off the M1. Comprising 6 A0 sized sections, the purpose of the model was to demonstrate how high embankments and landscaping around the site would screen it from surrounding villages. For this reason it was important that the proposed on-site levels and surrounding topography were all accurately recreated. The buildings are only shown as massing blocks due to the small scale (1:1250). Each metre is represented by just 0.8mm, so that the 16 metre high commercial buildings shown on the model are only approx. 13mm high.