As well as creating CG work I enjoy lots of hands on hobbies as well. I have created pieces in lots of items including woodwork, pottery, stained glass an miniature models. One of my first models was a replica of our local primary school. After 175 years it was decided to move the school to a new site and have a much bigger building so I decide to make a model as it had been such an important part of our daughters education and a key building in the village for so many.
During the process of making the model I recorded the production and put together the document below.
After showing the model to the village I was very please that the new school were interested in having it as a reminder of their history and it is now displayed in a custom made cabinet in the new school building.
I usually start by building any model in the computer first so I can work out scale and what shape each piece should be. Here is a very simple block build of the school building. This also allows me to model in more detail any parts which I want to 3D print such as window frames and door surrounds.
As Frenchay school is celebrating 175 years and due to close next year I thought I'd attempt to make a model of it. I've never made anything like this before so I had lots to learn in the process.
Lots of reference photos taken.
1st made a small extension to see if I'm able to build the whole school. This is 3mm plywood with windows fitted. Ready to roll air drying clay to sculpt details.
After putting a thin layer of clay on each stone has to be hand sculpted before it dries.
Stonework finished and base roof cut to size. The test seemed to work ok so I decided to go ahead with the full build.
1st making a cardboard version to test scale and working out shapes to make later in wood.
Pieces stuck to a 3mm ply ready for cutting. It is bigger than I originally, planned but chose this scale as window details were hard to make any smaller. The wood turned out to be much heavier than expected and I’d use foam board on future models.
Once all the pieces were cut it was glued together.
Lots of doors and windows created
All windows attached ready for lots of clay work...
Front stonework added. I can only apply clay to a third of a side at a time as it dried before there was time to sculpt the details.
All brickwork complete, 1st coat of acrylic paint
After painting I had to add the roof tiles. These were cut from old DVD boxes or bits of painted scrap plastic and each then stuck down with a dot of hot glue.
Adding details like drains, lamps and notices in windows.
I decided to upgrade the ground so I put a layer of glue and then sand I painted dark grey. There's more I'd like to do but Frenchay Flower Show is in 2 days and I'd like to share it with the village then so that will have to do for this project. See top photo for finished model.
