As well as producing rapid prototypes we have also manufactured many architectural models. These can sometimes be for councils to envisage a new estate, or single building, or for companies to work out how changes within existing buildings or to the exterior of buildings can be planned.

We have been asked to produce a model of several grain dryers within an architectural model of a barn. In this instance, the customer has supplied us with a 2D drawing, we have used this data to produce a 3D model from which we can CNC machine. It will be approximately 1.5m x 1m x 1m high, and made using materials including MDF and plastic.

The MDF will be used to build up the bulk shape of the grain dryers, using vacuum formed sheets to give the effect of corrugated sides. In order to produce these pieces we have CNC milled medium density Ureol (model board) with a corrugated surface to supply ourselves with masters, we can then vacuum form these with plastic. The resulting sheets are then CNC machine trimmed to suit the sizes of the individual silos.

Our architectural model makers can then use these masters to produce as many sheets as we require. The sides of the overall model will mostly be made up of the grain dryers, but the remaining sides will be clear Perspex in order to view the interior.

As with all our models we pride ourselves in the finishing touches our highly skilled model makers add, for this current job we will paint the grain dryers and corrugated sheets to give a metallic effect, and smaller details such as a layer of sand on the top of the grain dryer to make it appear full, will all enhance the final product.