CNC pocket

I decided to replicate the engraved detail on the back of the zip, using the CNC machine. This evolved technical drawings on the program Rhino. To get an exsact replica of the numbering and lettering, I scanned in the zip, and used the zip image as a template to form the letters. I did spend time researching whether their was an existing font within the program that would match the text. The closest font I could find to match the number five was:

BankGothic Lt BT
Eras Light ITC
Isocpeur
Nerdna

However, these were close, but not exact so I drew the number in Rhino myself

For the letter A the closes match was
Agency FB- which I used, as this was exsact.
BankGothic BT, came close.

Development and process

Here I started out by doing technical drawings and templates. By scaling up all measurements taken from a normal zip, and converting to the Borrowers scale of 14:1.

The next stage was to get the basic shapes machined out of chemiwood, ensuring their was at least 2 mm excess to sand out the machine blade, to ensure in a crisp and accurate finish

Next I experimented with heat bending chemiwood, to achieve the curve as shown in the image. This process worked, but was chemiwood was harder to bend as the material thickness increased. This process was a good solution. But not the quickest.

Material Decisions

Brass Vs Kemi wood

Methods to approach this project: The first would be to make the zip out of Brass metal its self, this would evolve learning a whole new range of methods and processes, and this would still enable me to mould and cast and send the original off to be chrome plated, where I could use paints to finish a cast. This option is however more time consuming as I have on previous metal work skills, I would however only have enough, if any at all time to research fully in to finishing skills. This method would be quite expensive, and if I made any mistake it would not be so simple to correct which could jeopardise my entire project being finished on time. If I was in industry, this could cost me my career!! And would be a foolish chance to take, when there is a far safer and practical alternative .The main attraction to using the brass it to gain the new metal skills.

Using kemi wood would still demonstrate machining skills and would broaden finishing research horizons as well. After discussing with a tutor it was decided that it is more valuable in industry to have the knowledge to turn any material in to a convincing metallic finish effect. Also this method would be cheaper as materials are in-house, and would possibly allow me to mould and cast a few with different finishes, possibly.

Research points.

The hit list.

I have categorized the research areas or topics under appropriate headings. These headings are:

*Media research
*Historical research
*Technical research
*Exhibition research
*Issues to consider
*Research Sources

MEDIA

The Borrowers film:
-Other props used in the film
-The cast of the film
-Back ground history
-Production of the film
-Costume design- by Marie France
-Books and illustrations by Sharn Baily
-Author of book Mary Norton
-Lighting used, and how effects the props
-Proportions
-Other films/TV series with scaled props
-Arthur and the invisibles
-Gulliver’s travels
-Toy story
-The incredible shrinking man
-Ants
-Honey I shrunk the kids
-The friendly giant
-Jack and the bean stalk
-Alice in wonderland.
Borrower’s lifestyle:
-Dangers and threats
- Living restrictions
- Material restrictions- what was available and compromised
-Weight restrictions
-Size restrictions
-Storage
-Construction of their clothes

HISTORICAL

Types of zipper
-Historical background
-Evolution over decades
-Visual images high res
-Different versions

TECHNICAL

Materials- wood, metal, plastic, fabric ..
Products- house hold materials/items
-Item properties-strengths/weaknesses
-Construction techniques available to ‘borrowers’
-Machining and construction skills limited
-Weight restrictions
-Size restrictions
-Storage
-Construction of their clothes

Construction/ fabrication
Moulding and casting processes
-Chemical prices and supplier
-Hard or soft mould
-Seam lines
- Model preparation
-Mould releases/undercuts
-Safety considerations
-Material finish/quality

Finishing Techniques
-Visual aesthetics
-Restrictions and considerations on weight and aesthetic issues
-Weathering
-Antiquing/ageing
-Rusting/galderising
-Colour
-Durability/strength
-Chrome plating

Technical drawings and professional terminology
-Industrial methods/process
-Industrial layout, line points.

Machining methods
-Health and safety
-Jigs
-Technical drawings needed
-Metal engineering
Material experimentations/maqueetes


EXHIBITION

-Exhibition models
-Exhibition requirements
-Julia Stoess- insect models scientifically correct
-Research in to model displays
-Durability
-Working models
-Health and safety issues
-Interactive
-Educational

ISSUES to consider

-Working or stationary-
-Weight restrictions, limits material usage
-Safety issues- shape edges, possible solution it to make detachable, or use safer material.
-Lighting effects will change the appearance on screen

RESEARCH SOURCES

Books-Gulliver’s travels
-The borrowers
-Yellow pages
E-books
Databases- material connection
Internet
IMDB (internet movie data base)
Video
DVD
Email
Images

Research- The hit list

Research points.
The hit list.

I have categorized the research areas or topics under appropriate headings. These headings are:
Media research
Historical research
Technical research
Exhibition research
Issues to consider
Research Sources

MEDIA

The Borrowers film:
-Other props used in the film
-The cast of the film
-Back ground history
-Production of the film
-Costume design- by Marie France
-Books and illustrations by Sharn Baily
-Author of book Mary Norton
-Lighting used, and how effects the props
-Proportions
-Other films/TV series with scaled props
-Arthur and the invisibles
-Gulliver’s travels
-Toy story
-The incredible shrinking man
-Ants
-Honey I shrunk the kids
-The friendly giant
-Jack and the bean stalk
-Alice in wonderland.
Borrower’s lifestyle:
-Dangers and threats
-Living restrictions
-Material restrictions- what was available and compromised
-Weight restrictions
-Size restrictions
-Storage
-Construction of their clothes

HISTORICAL

Types of zipper
-Historical background
-Evolution over decades
-Visual images high res
-Different versions

TECHNICAL

Materials- wood, metal, plastic, fabric ..
Products- house hold materials/items
-Item properties-strengths/weaknesses
-Construction techniques available to ‘borrowers’
-Machining and construction skills limited
-Weight restrictions
-Size restrictions
-Storage
-Construction of their clothes

Construction/ fabrication
Moulding and casting processes
-Chemical prices and supplier
-Hard or soft mould
-Seam lines
-Model preparation
-Mould releases/undercuts
-Safety considerations
-Material finish/quality

Finishing Techniques
-Visual aesthetics
-Restrictions and considerations on weight and aesthetic issues
-Weathering
-Antiquing/ageing
-Rusting/galderising
-Colour
-Durability/strength
-Chrome plating

Technical drawings and professional terminology
-Industrial methods/process
-Industrial layout, line points.

Machining methods
-Health and safety
-Jigs
-Technical drawings needed
-Metal engineering
Material experimentations/maqueetes


EXHIBITION

-Exhibition models
-Exhibition requirements
-Julia Stoess- insect models scientifically correct
-Research in to model displays
-Durability
-Working models
-Health and safety issues
-Interactive
-Educational

ISSUES to consider

-Working or stationary-
-Weight restrictions, limits material usage
-Safety issues- shape edges, possible solution it to make detachable, or use safer material.
-Lighting effects will change the appearance on screen

RESEARCH SOURCES

Books-Gulliver’s travels
-The borrowers
-Yellow pages
E-books
Databases- material connection
Internet
IMDB (internet movie data base)
Video
DVD
Email
Images

Decisions....

After Discussion with Greg Lawrence I have chosen the object of a zip, and its puller which are used as a characters weapon and general tool. I have decided upon this particular prop I as it will allow me to demonstrate a wide variety of skills such as:

-CNC
-Scale
-Machining
-Laser cutting
-Moulding and casting possibly
-Finish and texturing effects
-Product and prop terminology

Dependant on time constraints I would like to express a desire to mould and cast of the master prop to extend more on finishing effects, and further develop moulding and casting techniques. I would like to make the master out of brass, as I have not used this material before, and I feel this would be a good skill to have. This is not a requirement of the brief but would be beneficial on my behalf. The zip dose not need to be accompanied by tape or teeth as this is excluded in the film and is not required, again this is not necessary but would allow the prop to appear more completed on a stand at the New Blades show.

The Brief set by Hot house.

The dummy brief that has been allocated is from a previous project Hot house under took for the film The Borrowers, starring John Goodman 1997. Where Hot house had made a wide selection of props, to the scale of 1:14. Which were either handled as real objects or used as background props.

I am to keep the existing scale of 1:14, and chose an object that has hard edge model making, and possibly an aspect of sculptural. The aim is to replicate an object and all of it imperfections, avoiding crazy and costly materials. The object I am to present for assessment is a to be scaled prop.

The films plot.

The borrowers plot summary:
The Borrowers are four-inch high "little people" who live under the floorboards. When the owner of the house they live in dies and evil realtor Ocious Potter wants to destroy the house to build luxury apartments on its place, they start to fight him with the help of the son of house owner, Pete. Written by Anonymous
The four-inch-tall Clock family secretly share a house with the normal-sized Lender family, "borrowing" such items as thread, safety pins, batteries and scraps of food. However, their peaceful co-existence is disturbed when evil lawyer Ocious P. Potter steals the will granting title to the house, which he plans to demolish in order to build apartments. The Lenders are forced to move, and the Clocks face the risk of being exposed to the normal-sized world. Written by David Mullich {dmullich@aol.com}