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Props & Sets

Large scale insect models for IVCC to mark World Malaria Day

For World Malaria Day, our team was commissioned to make large scale insect models to feature in an exhibition display, for vector-control specialists, IVCC. Mosquitos kill 433,000 people a year, mainly children under 5 and pregnant women. Bed nets treated with insecticides have contributed enormously to bringing down the number of deaths, yet vector-borne diseases are renowned for developing resistance. To resolve this challenge, international teams are working to develop new insecticides. World Malaria Day was an opportunity to raise awareness, so Jed Stone from IVCC marked the occasion by heading to London with two large scale mosquito models to share their message with MPs and visitors to Parliament. Insect models fascinate visitors IVCC set out their stall to engage visitors at Portcullis House, where the two insect models were placed on the table among leaflets and on-screen information. The emphasis was on making sure MPs understand how the international development funding…

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Behind the scenes at the Bottle Yard studios – Amalgam’s on-site exhibition and meeting space is open

Bottle Yard props exhibition

The Bottle Yard Studios opened in 2010, transforming a disused industrial space into a vibrant and busy creative hub for production. More international companies are bringing filming to the south west to use the space, which is great news for Bristol and the creative businesses here. However, for the art department, there is a significant challenge to find a company they can trust to produce high quality props, if they require last minute items, artefacts or signage to complete their production shoots. The site is on the outskirts of Bristol, with superb access to some of England’s most exciting film locations on its doorstep, from Regency Georgian to gritty industrial and picturesque coastline. However the majority of traditional creative service providers are based in the centre of the cities, like Amalgam’s central workshop in Bristol, which makes it pot luck for production teams seeking help with their props and physical…

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Sign of the times – 3D signage

There are often areas of a project that fall outside the remit of any definite department; 3D signage is one of these areas. Often dreamed up by the graphics department, who may not have the construction facilities to bring the design to life, and turned away by propmakers as 'not really a prop', signage can end up being overlooked. Amalgam offers a fast turn-around service to create bespoke 3D signs from your designs that can add the finishing touch to a well designed and constructed set for film, advertising, television or theatre.   Our model makers can create signage using a wide range of materials and techniques to achieve the desired look, whether this be using vinyl printing, special effects painting, laser cutting and etching or a combination of the aforementioned. We will work from your designs and provide suggestions and advice, to ensure you get exactly what you are looking for.     These…

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An Overview of our Sculpting Services

We are in the run-up to our third annual Halloween Pumpkin carving competition, the #AmalgamCarveOff, and being professional makers we are in with a good chance - however, the competition is stiff. With sculpting vegetables at the forefront of most people's imaginations this week, it's worth talking about the sculpting services we can offer, the projects we've worked on, and the role this traditional skill plays in the age of 3D printing.   Animals and Props Our sculpts tend to be one-off, bespoke pieces, but in some cases serve as casting masters to create multiple copies in different materials. The Big Midge for BBSRC has been artworked to high levels of realism, and beyond hand-making and paint finishing required no further processes.   The Rats of Medusa, for the BBC fantasy series Atlantis, took some thinking about how to create a texture that was both fur and stone. We settled on…

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Stainless Steel Sculpture for Blue Peter

Sculpture blog logo image

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 –…

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Twinings Tea Advert Stopframe Animation Armatures

stopframe animation rig

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…

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BBC One Show replica set bird table

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…

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Not the Commonwealth Games Baton – but still….

Apple baton

We cannot claim to have designed or made the Queen’s Baton for the recent Commonwealth Games (Even though a part of it was 3D printed).  Nor the iconic 2012 Olympic torch. But at Amalgam we are proud to have made our own version – after a fashion… Every year supermarket chain Morrison's staff vote for a worthwhile cause to be the company’s charity partner to benefit from their ‘Raise a Smile’ programme. This year’s charity is Sue Ryder, an organisation that provides incredible care for people who are diagnosed with life a changing illness. As a part of the companies fund-raising efforts M Local stores arranged a 24 hour relay race, each leg being completed on a different and unusual form of transport and at each hand-over our specially created “Apple Baton” was handed over. OK so we didn’t carry a message from The Queen, or visit 71 nations along…

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BBC Sport Tabletop Footballers, Wall Insulation Models and Otters

Wall Insulation Model

We are currently making set 15 of our popular Wall Insulation models! These engaging display units were designed in-house by project manager Phillip Harris and we have been trickling them out at a steady rate for the last three years. The models show three methods for improving energy efficiency and cutting down on home fuel costs, by adding insulative materials to the cavity walling and exterior faces of a modern home. Initially made for the Centre for Sustainable Energy, these educational display models have caught the eye of a number of other clients and we have been making them as sets-to-order ever since. Typically in our industry, each model we make is a bespoke piece, designed and built to the client's individual specifications.   Exhibition and display projects this month include the Mini MRF, a Compost Corner video interactive and cutaway compost bin - all more made-to-order items from our Recycling Displays trading arm. These…

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Julio Bashmore stopframe animation props

stopframe animation prop

A while back we made a set of stopframe animation props for Blinkink and the Julio Bashmore music video they were creating. The video for the Bristol producer's single 'Peppermint' is available to view online. Among the other animation props made by various techniques, the video includes the hands of our own Andy Wright, which were deemed holy enough to be cast in both Jesmonite and the role of God, where they can be seen clapping out a TR-808 style drumline and giving divine life-energy to a developing golden foetus.   Our propmakers have lent their setbuilding and sculpting skills to range of stopframe animation projects over the years, including hundreds of cast Creme Egg props for Aardman and the Goo Games, and a set of hand-painted Russian dolls for an Eircom television advert.   As well as the sculptural and artworking side of stopframe animation props, we are able…

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