Ben - Model Makers Bristol / Amalgam Model Making

Laser Engraving Service: Drummond + Hammett Cigar Box Guitar Components

July 10, 2015

As well as a complete design and fabrication service, we offer each process within our workshop - from CNC machining, to vacuum casting, to sculpting - as individual services. We recently provided our laser engraving service to local cigar box guitar makers Drummond + Hammett, etching their distinctive buffalo logo onto various surfaces and components of their instruments. Their exquisite, hand-finished craftsmanship is contrasted with subtle, precision-machined touches, as seen here featured on their 'ResoPhonic' guitar model. These guitars are stunning works of craftsmanship and passion - head to the Drummond + Hammett website to find out more.

Micro Mechanical Recycling Interactive – New Portable Sorting Game

July 6, 2015

We are excited to announce a new addition to the range of products available through our sister company, Recycling Displays. The Micro Mechanical Recycling Facility, or Micro-MRF, is a highly portable, compact tabletop interactive display, designed to educate and engage members of the public with important recycling processes. It is the first in a new range of products we are developing to build on the success of our existing line, and that include a self-set remit that a portion of our construction materials be renewable or recyclable. "The entertaining features of the MRF reinforces the message that household waste does not just disappear once it's in the bin - rubbish still has a lifespan, and needs to be managed responsibly for the sake of the environment." The unit is based on our highly successful Mini-MRF recycling interactive, a unit which has consistently proven itself as a valuable educational…

Superyacht DESIGN Week – to 3D-print or not to print superyacht models?

June 18, 2015

How has 3D printing transformed model making for superyacht design? Our view from the Amalgam deck. The last case study published from our maritime models team was to show off this 1/12th scale hand finished model of the classic TERN yacht. The scale was relatively large for this, because it's a replica of a much smaller yacht. Typically we make superyacht models at 1:50 or 1:75, however it does depend on what the client wants - and how they are going to present, use and transport the model. Next week the team's director, Chris Conlon, will be heading to see what's on at Superyacht DESIGN Week in London. This year’s event is exploring how the yacht industry can adopt techniques to create more sustainable products, and invest in more creative design. So, it’s a good time to explore how 3D printing has changed our approach making to naval and marine…

Stainless Steel Sculpture for Blue Peter

June 11, 2015

Our sculpture of the BBC brand icon, the Blue Peter Galleon, is afloat in Bristol! When the BBC rang to ask us about making a sculpture of their iconic galleon which features on the Blue Peter badges, we were delighted to explore their options. As with most television props, the timing was tight to design and build it – so that filming could go ahead on schedule. We had a total of five days, from taking on the brief, to have the model ready for collection on the Monday by the Blue Peter presenter Radzi. The Blue Peter Galleon is easily recognised, so it was a challenging job to preserve the image and accurately re-produce it in 3D stainless steel. The background In conjunction with Avon Wildlife Trust, BBC Bristol has been developing a wildlife garden at the side of the Broadcasting House building on Whiteladies Road in Bristol –…

Twinings Tea Advert Stopframe Animation Armatures

June 10, 2015

Twinings Tea Advert Stopframe Animation Armatures In the latter part of last year, we created a range of jigs and mechanisms for design agency Stripeland and their 'Twinings - Drink It All In' TV spot. We made five devices in total; a rippling puddle, a huge tree with rotating branches, a swinging sign and a telescopic 'Sun Portal.' All of these devices were designed to allow precise incremental movements for stopframe animation, and each rig was dressed into the set with teabags and bright colours to create the final effect. "We engineered devices that produced the desired motion, yet were also easy to operate by an animator." The Rippling Puddle above was designed as a set of rings, with each ring capable of independent vertical motion, allowing the animator to create a 'Mexican Wave' effect. The 'Sun Portal' comprised a concentric set of clear panels mounted on adjustable rails; when lit from behind…

BBC One Show replica set bird table

May 18, 2015

A "Bird's eye view" of our replica set for BBC's One Show

BBC One Show. Replica set bird table An extraordinary replica set for BBC’s The One Show Amalgam are always on the look-out for new talented makers to join our team, both experienced and eager new makers being welcomed. Recent addition, Julia Nichols, who worked for us on The One Show’s replica set Bird Table, gives her perspective as a graduate in the industry, working to such a unique brief, and on model making in general. Inspired by the work of Norwegian film-makers ‘Piip Show’, the BBC Natural History Unit team asked Amalgam to make a replica set scale model of The One Show programme studio in the style of a bird house. The idea is that common garden birds will be enticed into the birdhouse with the help of cunningly placed trays of bird food, and would look like they were sitting on the sofas – as the stars of…

Bridging the Gap – Clifton Suspension Bridge Educational Models, and ‘Shape My City’ events

May 7, 2015

Bridge Exhibition Educational Models at CSBVC The Clifton Suspension Bridge Visitor's Centre, CSBVC, is hosting our Bridge Exhibition, each bridge being an engaging educational model to teach the engineering principles of bridges to youngsters. The exhibition was previously installed at the Architecture Centre on Bristol's lively waterfront as part of the Bridge's 150th anniversary. Details on the Architecture Centre exhibition can be found here. The Bridge Exhibition features a range of different bridges presented as kits; for example, the 'Arch' bridge is made with a system of blocks, which must be put together in the correct sequence for the bridge not to fall apart. In every case, these educational models were designed so that children could understand the forces and principles at work. The educational models were designed and fabricated completely in-house, with factors such as durability, ease of use and safety firmly in mind. Shape My City at…

Make Your Mark with Branded Character Design

April 10, 2015

Designed and fabricated for Marketing Gloucester to coincide with the city’s summer festival season and a certain major sporting tournament, the 'Scrumpty' character is a combination of branding, character design and short-run manufacture, the bulk of which was handled in house; the character will be part of a competition for members of the public to design their own take on the character, to be stationed around the city in a 'Scrumpty Trail'. The client brief was to create a friendly character that combined Gloucester's 'Humpty Dumpty' folklore with the city's long-standing rugby heritage. After settling on a design, we used a specific set of processes for creating multiple copies. The final design was created as a digital model, which was CNC'd from a low-density rigid foam to fine tolerances. This was then hard-coated with a durable polyester resin and brought to a high finish by hand before being used to…

New donation boxes to refresh Natural History Museum’s gallery fund raising campaign

February 10, 2015

New donation boxes to refresh Natural History Museum’s gallery fund raising campaign We are very proud to have collaborated with creative consultants, Uniform, to realise their design and build new donation boxes that are going into the Natural History Museum galleries this month. The brief for the donation boxes was to build an attractive display unit using high quality durable materials that will withstand high footfall and encourage visitors to the Natural History Museum to donate voluntarily. The Natural History Museum attracts over 5 million visitors each year, and cares for and conserves a collection of 80 million specimens spanning billions of years. Through its unique collection and unrivalled expertise, the Natural History Museum is tackling the biggest challenges facing the world today. They are focused on ways to combat the issues where natural resources are diminishing, the ecosystems we rely on are under stress, food sources are declining and…

Exploring Scale and Vision – Update

January 21, 2015

The Architectural Model: Exploring Scale and Vision opens today! We are delighted that our architectural model show, Exploring Scale and Vision, opens to the public today and hope that you find time to visit The Architecture Centre in Bristol between 21 January and 15 March to see it. Many of our clients have loaned their architectural models and project photos to the display, for which we are grateful – thank you. Highlights on show include several planning models from Conran and Partners and Stride Treglown; competition models for Weston Williamson – the Living Bridge, Miami Metromover and Luton Airport and Caspian, the architectural model boat built for Claydon Reeves, Redcliffe ProCathedral, and the model of Cheddar Gorge commissioned by NVB Architects for Longleat Enterprises Ltd and case studies to help explain the process of making architectural models. The Architecture Centre is hosting several events during February which we are supporting…