Ben - Model Makers Bristol / Amalgam Model Making

Offshore power generation models

December 4, 2013

The government is to make big changes to the way it subsidises renewable energy, it has announced. BBC news 4/12/13. As market leaders in the field of producing offshore power generation models we are obviously interested in this subject and thought it might be a good moment to remind the world of some of the work we have done in the area. Amalgam are of course well known for scale models and exhibition pieces such as the e.on offshore wind generation model display shown in the header to this article, a closer view of the same model is on the left here. We also produced a range of scale models of the Seagen Offshore power generation design shown in the three images below. We also have a long history of producing functional prototypes and test rigs such as this Spectral Marine Energy Converter (SMEC) working scale model which we designed…

Western Power Distribution – sixth Energy Display Interactive Completed

November 20, 2013

Recently Amalgam modelmakers completed the sixth in a series of energy display interactive models for Western Power Distribution. The series of models formed part of Project F.A.L.C.O.N (Flexible Approaches for Low Carbon Optimised Networks), a project led by Western Power Distribution. The project will test six alternatives to reinforcement, to see how they work in practice. Ultimately FALCON will provide guidance so that network planners can select the best technique from a range of options. Four of the options are based around novel engineering approaches and two are based around changing energy users' behaviour. The energy display interactives were designed to demonstrate this range of techniques in an engaging manner whilst maintaining a very clean and sleek look. The image above is our designers sketch for one of the six designs built, by clicking the link you can find out more in our Energy Display Interactives case study on the main…

Henrietta Lacks Exhibit Open at Science Museum

November 18, 2013

Over the last year, Amalgam's Laurens Nockles and Ben Taylor have been involved in the creation of the Henrietta Lacks exhibit installed in the Wellcome Wing of the Science Museum. The project is a 3D extension of the work of Helen Wilson-Roe, a Bristol-based artist whose work is primarily 2D portraiture on a large scale. Laurens and Ben provided assistance in translating the ideas into the 3D realm, from initial visualisations for pitches and marketing to technical CAD drawings, graphic design elements and assembly of the final piece, which was a mixture of graphic elements, 3D forms and Helen's signature painting style. The exhibit was successfully installed in the Wellcome Wing and opened to the public on October 16th as part of the Who Am I? gallery. The story of Henrietta Lacks is a remarkable one; having a rare cellular mutation, she succumbed to cancer at the age of…

Come and talk Product Prototyping at Venturefest 2013

November 11, 2013

Venturefest Bristol 2013 Is, once again, organised by Science City Bristol in partnership with the Technology Strategy Board. This years event is taking place on Thursday 14th November 2013 at the UWE Conference Centre in Bristol. Bristol prototyping and model making specialists Amalgam will be there, offering free advice on Product Prototyping, general product development and a range of allied subjects, all relevant to inventors, innovators and designers looking to turn their good ideas into commercial realities. The Venturefest show is in it's third year and promises to be better than ever. Our stand at the 2012 show drew a steady stream of visitors throughout the day asking a wide range of questions about Product Prototyping, Product development, CAD, 3D printing and much more besides. This year we are back, with a range of samples showing some of the processes we can offer for product prototyping, case studies of previous…

The Adventurer: Curse of the Midas Box – Trailer Online, Props by Amalgam Propmaking Services

October 28, 2013

Propmaking Bristol A while back we made a range of props for The Adventurer: the Curse of the Midas Box, a production filmed on location in Bath and at the recently renovated Bottleyard. The facility adds to Bristol and the South West's strong heritage for creative talent, stunning locations and cutting edge facilities. While we cannot give away all the details just yet, some of our past projects can be seen by heading over to Our Work. Our propmaking facilties are comprehensive and cutting-edge, and we are able to offer CNC machining services, vacuum casting services for batch productions runs of props in a range of materials and hardnesses, as well having access to a wealth of creative talent in the form of set designers, sculptors, artworkers and artists to bring the props to life. Our large workshop and flexible setup means we can take on…

Ambulance Medical Training Aid at University of South Wales, Pontypridd

October 25, 2013

The Ambulance Simulator is designed to be an interactive medical training aid and environment for paramedic staff and students. As such the interior includes all the typical features found inside an ambulance, and is, as far as possible, a faithful replication of a real ambulance interior with such features as non-slip flooring, the modular storage system which lines the walls and positionable chairs. It was recently installed at the University of South Wales. Our exhibition and display team were able to quickly fabricate the medical training aid by cutting the bulk of the panel work on our CNC machine. This enabled us to block out the internal dimensions of the ambulance and populate it with the equipment, facilities and supplies that would be used in a real emergency situation. We have a strong tradition of projects used in medical and care contexts. These have included innovative product designs such…

Additive Manufacturing used in Bruce Munro Artworks

October 17, 2013

Additive Manufacturing is a media buzzword these days, newspapers and the media generally grab every opportunity to broadcast how 3D printing (The popular term for Additive Manufacturing) is revolutionising everything from fashion to domestic appliance servicing. Here at Amalgam we have been using a range of Additive Manufacturing processes for many years to help our clients realise their designs and have been both amused and frustrated by the sheer volume of (Largely inaccurate) coverage this "New" technology has been getting of late. One area where we can report that Additive Manufacturing has been used to great effect is in the artwork of Bruce Munro, best known for immersive large-scale light-based installations in Britain, the USA and beyond. Bruce and Amalgam have worked together on several projects in the past including Mettabhavana, conceptual piece conceived by Munro in the late 1990s which we built in model form using Stereolithography for the…

ALMA Radio Telescope display model in Houses of Parliament

October 14, 2013

The 1:12 scale radio telescope display model we built for the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) back in June has been in the Houses of Parliament to highlight the economic benefits of the UK's scientific expertise for MPs. The display model was initially built as a centrepiece showcasing the UK's contribution to various international astronomical endeavours, in this case support of the LOFAR Low Frequency Array, an international network of radio telescopes coordinated by Astron in the Netherlands. The array, which is over a thousand kilometres across, enables radio astronomers to view objects and events that occurred billions of years ago. Amalgam has a strong tradition of providing display model services for a range of contexts, and the term 'display model' covers a large range of ground. Consequently we have provided models for point-of-sale displays, exhibitions and branding, and most recently projects for feature films and television, creating…

Medical Product Design by Amalgam featured in Develop 3D magazine

October 8, 2013

This medical product design blog, originally published some time ago, was withdrawn at the request of the inventor while negotiations and licensing discussions between various parties were under way. However, we can now republish in full as we are delighted to report that Tube Anchor is in production and receiving great feedback from the medical professionals using it. Our thanks to Prof Andrew Levy, inventor of the device. All at Caretechnica who managed the process of taking the prototype forward and last but not least to P3 Medical who are producing and distributing the final product. Tube Anchor is now a registered design: European Community Design Registration Number 002571026-0001 A medical product design developed at Amalgam features in the October issue of Develop 3D magazine. The Tube Anchor is a deceptively simple device that addresses the issue of securing tubes used in various intravenous therapies in such a way as to…

New Naval model making Projects

October 7, 2013

Over the past few months we have been busy on a range of new naval model making projects. Three of these were for BMT Defence Services, being the BMT Defence Services Logistic and Support Vessel (LSV), the Venator® - 110, and an interior detail model of the Vidar® - 7. These models were displayed at DSEI 2013. Amalgam has a strong tradition for providing naval model making services for a broad range of marine industries. Models we have made have ranged from sleek, streamlined speed forms for designers and naval architects, to fine-detail scale model luxury superyachts, to military and industrial vessels for trade shows and conferences. Head to Our Work to see more. We have also been busy on projects for feature film and television, more details of which will be announced soon. This has seen us provide our set building and prop making services; being situated in the…