Amazing build, Crispin. What an incredible job. Looks like a museum piece!

As far as the ram's head goes - it's not looking bad. A bit more work, and you'll be there. BTW - is that "Das" that you're using?

Das is pretty nasty to model with, in my experience. You'd be better off with something like Super Sculpey, or even a fine plasticine. Something that won't dry out as you're sculpting, and that isn't so crumbly. Super Sculpey is pretty widely available and can be baked, then cast.

As others have said, you might also want to look into your reference material. Maybe google "ram head" and use the relevant images as extra information. The ref photos you have don't really have the detail you need to build a full sculpt.

C.

Quote from: meantimebob on Oct 21, 2009, 11:07 pmOne easier route though might be to mould the detail off one of the brass door knockers that are available, which are a pretty good match, and casting them up from that.

I haven't found a door knocker that's even close, and I've been looking hard on google, though perhaps I haven't found the right search terms. If your search terms include the word 'knockers' then by about page 14 google's beginning to get a bit off-topic.  

I'll probably try to copy the panels you can see, and make something up for the others that's in keeping, but possibly not just repeating the other panels.

Hmm it looks different from different angles, I think you may be seeing the eyebrow thing above the eye socket... but I'm not sure.

But I don't know *anything* about Milwaukee!

Eberhard Faber. It seems OK, but was starting to dry after an hour or so.

Quote from: celation on Oct 22, 2009, 02:51 pmAs others have said, you might also want to look into your reference material. Maybe google "ram head" and use the relevant images as extra information. The ref photos you have don't really have the detail you need to build a full sculpt.

More reference images from the prop would be good - I've googled a lot and not really found what I'm looking for.

Thanks for the kind words and good advice guys - that's really what it's all about.

Crispin

Hi Crispin,

This is truly an amazing build! I'm so bowled over - I've always like the secondary control room and this console.

Anyway, I found this one ebay and wondered if it might be of some use?

http://cgi.ebay.ph/GOLD-RAMS-HEAD-ANTIQUE-ORMOLU-FURNITURE-DECOR_W0QQitemZ290360812824QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item439ada6518

Anyway, keep up the good work. Really is quite inspirational

Gaz

Is this really that far off the original? Looks pretty good to me. Seems the right kind of size too. I'd mould it in silicone, cast up some plain, wood coloured resin versions, stick them to the console and then stain/varnish them with the rest of it.

http://www.ukarchitecturalantiques.com/antique_solid_brass_rams_head_door_knocker_363

At least it shows what that strange area beneath the nose should be and might help with making your own.

It's looking brilliant Crispin. I spent a while looking on google on the offchance that I might find something with the right kind of rams head (my thinking was that. unless the original console was made by a cabinet maker rather than a prop builder, the rams heads might have been cast from some common piece of furniture or perhaps they bought some kind of ready-made pack for furniture makers) - but no such luck. I think your sculpt is almost there anyway - maybe a bit broader at the top and with the eye bulges more prominent, and it would be just right I think.

cheers
Chris

The door knocker or that gold ram would probably work, but I'm going to have another go at sculpting something a bit closer to the screen grabs.
It looks like brass: there are apparently ways of making resin look like brass by mixing brass powder into it, so I'll probably give that a go when the time comes.
I'm still hoping a good match for the prop will come up in an internet search: it must exist somewhere...  I'm defimitely appreciating the help looking for it.  

Crispin

oh, do you really think it looks like brass? I thought it was supposed to look like carved wood. Wouldn't they have painted it the same brass colour as the railings around the console? I'll have to have another look at the dvds.

I've used the brass powder in resin. Its pretty effective (and also very heavy!) so if thats the finish you want, that is certainly a good way to go.

Stupid question, but have you been looking for Goat heads too?  Rams and goats are very similar.    I'll have a search around too. 

Quote from: meantimebob on Oct 24, 2009, 12:00 amoh, do you really think it looks like brass? I thought it was supposed to look like carved wood. Wouldn't they have painted it the same brass colour as the railings around the console? I'll have to have another look at the dvds.

Errrmmm, I'm not sure actually. I'd thought they were brass from some of the grabs we have in the reference section, but I could be wrong.

Quote from: rox on Oct 24, 2009, 08:45 amStupid question, but have you been looking for Goat heads too?  Rams and goats are very similar.    I'll have a search around too.  

Thanks! I hadn't looked for goats - it does come up with some different items - I'll look some more.

Crispin

I've been making a little progress, though not anything really exciting.

I cut a hole in the top which will be covered eventually by the disc. The hole was cut on the router table by drilling through the table and the hexagonal top plate and using the drill bit as a spindle. A ¼" straight bit in the router acts like a saw.



I've also been making the rest of the top panel doors.
The sixth door in the picture below (bottom right) is too small and will be replaced by the one that's gluing on the floor. So far only two of the doors have hinges, but they have to be recessed and the brass screws need to be pre-drilled, as the birch wood is too hard for them to self-tap without stripping the screw head! This all takes time.

The doors also have to be champhered with a 22.5° angle down the vertical edges so that they meet properly, so I can't actually try them in place until they're completed, as without the champher they're too big. I do the champher by setting the mitre saw to the same angle as the side of the door and tipping it to 22.5°, so these are compound mitres.

Here's what the console looks like from above:



Life has been busy the last week or two and I haven't had as much time in the workshop; I'm hoping I'll get a little more time in the next few days. We'll see.

Crispin

AMAZING! I have been taking notes on stuff, and will have a billion questions for you next year...

Was there ever discussion about what the disc was for?

The console looks fantastic Crispin! you're doing such a great job with the build.
And it's such a lovely piece of furniture, I think everyone will want one when it's complete (I certainly will

Quote from: primrodo board=consoles thread=405 post=3340 time=1256865339Was there ever discussion about what the disc was for?

Apparently there WAS meant to be a time column, but they couldn't afford it or something. It was going to be a pretty complicated affair, coming out of an iris, so I read...




Crispin, How much do you want for that when its finished?

Wow, that is a amazing work crispin.  I need to get going on my console again.  truly an inspiration

Quote from: karsthotep on Oct 30, 2009, 06:44 pmI need to get going on my console again.  

Yeah, what's up with that? You were storming along for a while there...

Crispin