inspiration thread

[Neale]

I have seen that vid of he guy in is hall it looked good, have you drawn the dxf.

Yes, I found I had to. There are quite a few variations on the same theme, all based on the original "Reptiles" by Escher, but when you look closely none of them quite work (or, at least, none of the designs I found). So I did my own drawing, based around a hexagonal tessellation. But that's probably as much mathematical theory as anyone wants on this forum, so let's just say it took a while to get it right. Then import into Vectric vCarve to do the CAM stuff.

I agree wholeheartedly with Geoffrey's comments - there is nothing quite so satisfying as taking an idea from first idle thoughts to finished item, and for those of us whose hand skills aren't as well-developed as they might be, CNC routers (and 3D printers, come to that) are a great way to achieve this. I built my current router because I had promised a presentation plaque to my local twinning association, and then had to build the router to be able to make it. So, my inspiring comment for the day - just b****y do it!

[GEOFFREY]

Well its time now to post the remaining pictures of the dreamliner models at Heathrow. After the patterns were finished moulds were taken and mouldings produced, a steel frame (by others) was fabricated and the steelwork was bonded into the fuselage, wings and tailplane. The fuselage and tailplane sections of the model were bonded together, the wings and engines were trial assembled, but removed for transport. I made shadow masks for the cabin window lights to shine through, fixed to internal light boxes containing LED lighting strips. Cockpit, wingtip and tail lights were also fitted. The aircraft were painted in ETIHAD colours and livery vynals were added. I supplied a dxf of the window shadow masks to allow the vynal chaps to supply a mask for the windows prior to painting. As I said earlier,
six months after the planes were errected they were dismantled and returned to the paintshop for the new livery. I have used the dusk photograph of the three planes as screen wallpaper on all three of my computers!!! G.

[kingcreaky]

Well, as Geoffrey (or as he shall now be affectionately known as "the dark horse")

has laid the benchmark, (the three f*cking planes outside of heathrow). My expectations from the rest of you frequenters (who still havent posted) has been set.

Bring on the photos boys.

Thanks for sharing Geoffrey.