Ben - Model Makers Bristol / Amalgam Model Making

New CAD and Graphic suite at Amalgam

November 22, 2012

Our newly refurbished upstairs space has proved the perfect location for our Computer aided design(CAD) and graphics suite. The light and peaceful area is isolated from the noise and action of the downstairs work shop and has been welcomed by our many skilled Solidworks practitioners and designers. The space has also provided a new home for our 20" Printer Versa STUDIO BN-20. This dynamic machine prints full colour, plus metallic and contour cuts on a full spectrum of media to an excellent quality, allowing us to keep up with the growing demand.

Bruce Munro Beacon to light Saturday 24th

November 19, 2012

Bruce Munro's 'Beacon on the Hill,' a light installation constructed to raise awareness for Breast Cancer with the support of charity Cancerkin, will be lit this coming Saturday. The Beacon is situated atop Long Knoll, a historic site, and will be visible for many miles in the dusk.

175 Years of the Royal College of Art

November 15, 2012

To celebrate their 175th anniversary, the Royal College of Art is presenting an exhibition of historic and contemporary works of art and design by leading RCA alumni and staff. This prestigious list includes Sir James Dyson, and Amalgam Modelmakers provided a 1/18th scale model the 'Seatruck,' one of his earliest projects. The exhibition opens on the 16 November and runs until 3 January 2013. More details can be found on the RCA Website or on their Facebook Page.

Laser cutting for ‘Fixed n Chips’

November 7, 2012

Amalgam's model makers were very happy to be involved in a small but significant way with a recent event in Bristol which was conceived by creative mastermind Gavin Strange. 'Fixed and Chips' took place in Bristol last month, a race which was open to anyone with a 'fixed gear' bike. The race featured five checkpoints, all of which were chip shops in Bristol . Amalgam used their in-house laser cutting facilities to brand the giant chip forks which were the trophies for the two winners, with very pleasing results.

Develop 3D magazine features Amalgam – twice

November 5, 2012

Amalgam director Mike Harvey features in this month's edition of Develop 3D, a publication dedicated to 3D printing, additive manufacture and prototypes. The article touches on Amalgam's involvement with the Schwinn Folding Bike and the importance of physical prototypes. Also, our client and friend Tom Lawton graced the front page with his Bubblescope, a product our makers had a hand in designing mechanisms for during the first stages of prototyping. It goes without saying that physical prototypes are enormously important to the design process. In many cases digital models simply aren't proof enough of concept - Kickstarter, which has recently launched in the UK, holds as a key policy that before seeking finance, one must present photos of a physical prototype, 3D printed or otherwise. Amalgam has a strong history of helping fledgling projects through these early stages, and right through to manufacture. Take a look through Our Work…

Conran & Partners win planning permission for Walthamstow Greyhound Stadium development

November 2, 2012

Amalgam Modelmaking’s Architectural team worked closely with Conran & Partners to deliver this 1:1000 scale timber model to aid with the planning application for their proposed development of the Walthamstow Greyhound Stadium. This sensitive scheme was always going to be under close scrutiny, so the model had to be extremely faithful to the design. The model was amended several times during the detailed application process. Knowing that the design was going to have revisions over the course of the application, the model was built with a removable insert of the main site. This allowed the amended designs to be completed without the expense of moving the entire model every time. The model was deemed to be an extremely useful tool in the whole planning application procedure and, with a bit of foresight, the clever use of an insert meant the client got good value for money. Victoria Whenray, Associate at Conran &…

Seagen Tidal Turbine model at the ICOE 2012

October 29, 2012

The Seagen Tidal Turbine model was built at Amalgam to be transported easily around the country for public demonstrations, and its latest home is the Siemens stand at the International Conference on Ocean Energy in Dublin. The ICOE is the global marine energy event focused on the industrial development of renewable marine energy. Held every two years, the aim of the event is to share recent experiences from research and demonstration efforts.

Superyacht model returns to Monaco Yacht Show

October 29, 2012

The 850mm long model of the Caspian 70 Superyacht made at Amalgam for Claydon Reeves has returned to be displayed at the Monaco Yacht Show this year. The Monaco Yacht Show is considered the most prestigious pleasure boat show in the world, with participation from over 500 major companies in the luxury yachting world and 100 super- and megayachts afloat. With a record attendance of 33,000 professional and private visitors at the 2012 event, the MYS is the long-awaited superyachting meeting of the year for the prestigious brands, allowing them to meet the most important international clientele.

Light Artist Bruce Munro unveils installation plans for Breast Cancer Awareness Month

October 17, 2012

Our client and friend Bruce Munro has announced plans for a Beacon to be constructed atop Long Knoll in Wiltshire, to raise awareness for and support the charity Cancerkin and Breast Cancer Awareness Month. A team of five will spend a week assembling the huge structure, and when lit will be visible for many miles in the dusk. More details can be found in this BBC Article.

Safeway Hygiene Services

October 11, 2012

We are currently involved in the early stages of the design process for new products from Safeway Hygiene Services. Our designers are well equipped with a comprehensive CAD suite, years of experience and a track record of success to handle challenging projects. Head to Our Services to see some examples of our design and development work. The HHU from Safeway Hygiene Services is a hygienic hand wash device with the built-in ability to monitor and record user's washing routines, and whether the pre-programmed hand wash cycle has been completed or not. The units can be networked and linked to secure room entry systems. So far the devices have been proven to be four times more efficient than standard hand washing practices on a microbial level.