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February was a particularly busy month with projects including an update of a planning model we originally made in 2008 plus a group of small display models for a huge international bank (this is an ongoing project which has to remain confidential for now).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.
Industrial Model of Scrubbing Column – Scale 1:25
This is a model of an industrial component for the LNG gas processing industry. It’s actually called a “Scrubbing Column” and the real thing is over 25 metres tall and 3 metres wide at the base. At this scale (1:25) it’s about a metre tall. When the client commissioned the model we came up with the idea of putting it on a circular turntable base so that the model could be rotated to be viewed from all sides. We also gave it a tubular Perspex cover to tie in with the turntable and to reflect the cylindrical proportions of the model.
Fully Functional R/C Crane Model – Scale 1:12
The client for this model, a provider of specialist training for signalmen and crane operators, needed a fully functioning crane model to use during his training sessions but the right type of crane just wasn’t available on the market. His solution was to ask us to convert an off-the-shelf toy into a purpose-built machine. This involved scrapping about 70% of the original model, adapting the radio controlled motors to perform new functions, adding a completely new winch, new main boom, new pulleys, new ‘A’ frame, new hook, new base (it previously had caterpillar tracks), and a new power supply plus a few other cosmetic alterations. In fact, about the only thing we haven’t changed is the driver’s cabin. The model is now fixed to a desk in their training rooms and used on a weekly basis for tests and as a teaching aid. It’s definitely not a toy (although we did have a lot of fun “testing” it before it left our workshops).
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).
