Early study model

Since I first began in the theme park business almost thirty years ago I've loved building study models. These small scale pieces are a chance to work out details and construction methods. It would prove much costlier to and time consuming to figure things out when we build the real thing. Models also allow our clients to clearly visualize the project when we are done. I have one of my earliest models on display in the studio. It's fashioned from some scrap redwood I had laying around the workshop. I made the model in a few hours with a brand new lathe, table saw and band saw I was itching to give a spin.

Anytime I talk about the model (or my favourite lathe) Peter gets all fired up, suddenly extremely eager to tell a story he remembers about the lathe... but I don't go there for I have proof the lathe worked just fine... even after I slightly modified it to suit my specific needs. If you want to hear Peter's story you'll have to ask him... but beware for he tells a version that I know is somewhat biased and greatly exaggerated.

Roll out the BARRELS!

We want to design and build the pub area of NEB's in a memorable fashion. I've already shown the distinctive still and interior mezzanine in a previous post. We have yet to design the bar area, pending the final layout of the pub but you can count on it being quite unlike any other seen before. There was one wall left which needed attention. We decided we needed to reinforce the scale of the place in the same fashion and style of the rest of the attraction. The challenge was that we couldn't use an abundance of available space away from the wall. After tossing around a few ideas we settled on some very large barrels lined up in a row - with the new NEBs logo carved into the tops of course. 

Counting the days until the reveal

This past week we looked through many of the containers and measured up the pieces we will install during the next visit to Trinidad. We had pulled these pieces from our shop well over a year ago and tucked them into shipping containers. Other than glimpses into the dark confines of the boxes we haven't seen them since. I can hardly wait to pull them out into the daylight once more in a month or so. I know from experience that all of the workers onsite will suddenly start to understand what it is we are building - a far different vision from the grey concrete and gravel now in existence. It is going to be a great deal of fun!