Making the Scaled-Up Component

Emine Oktay
Jan 26, 2018
2 min read

With all of the relevant research, designing and technical planning complete, I am now ready to begin creating the scaled-up component: a pull-down blueprint. Below is a brief gallery of the process so far. As mentioned before, this particular sub-project requires the learning of 2 new skills; metalwork and the faux creation of a digital blueprint. I've decided to create a rigid backing to the prop in order to keep everything in place and to avoid the blueprint deteriorating over time.

Above: An overview of creating the 1:25 component.

Above: Ink and watercolour illustration of the two perspectives.

Above: Technical Drawing for the scaled-up component.

The process of creating this scaled-up component is made up of simply 3 stages; making the digital blueprint, some metalwork to create the rods, hook and handle, and finally, connecting all of these together through welding and glueing - with the addition of a thin backing of metal.

Below I have documented this process step-by-step.

Step 1: Creating the Digital Blueprint

Above: The sketch to be transformed into a digital blueprint.

All credit for the following technique goes to Chris Spooner who posts really helpful tutorials on his website - the specific address for this tutorial can be accessed here.

Above: Process of creating the fake blueprint.

Above: The photoshop outcome.

Above: Optimising to print.

Step 2: The 3D Making & Painting

Before starting on the metalwork, I decided to make a cleaner technical drawing of just the metal components. The blueprint above will simply be printed off and attached to this structure.

Above: 'Pull-down chart' technical drawing [excluding blueprint].

Today I went into the metal workshop to discuss the technical drawing with the technicians. It soon became clear that creating it all in metal was overcomplicating things a bit and that balsa/mdf would do the job just fine. I had considered using wood before, but I was just keen to get to grips with manipulating metal. This choice will be much better in the long-term; I'll gain some independent practice in the wood workshop and practice faux painting on a larger scale. It also makes the attachment of the blueprint to the board much easier. I have create a new technical drawing below accomdating these changes, along with a correct scale and presentation.

Above: An updated technical drawing for the pull-down chart.

Below you can see the process from creating the parts, assembling them and painting them.

The Final Outcome

[In order to attach the A3 printed image onto the wooden board, I simply applied an even coat of PVA to the wood and slowly lay the paper down - making sure to get rid of any excess glue.]