While we love to work with our hands as much as is practical on our projects, we also embrace the most marvellous of modern tools as well. We started the sign for the third feature for the PNE project today. I created the file on the computer using every creative trick I could muster. The goal was to make it look like a cloth banner draped between the two top corners. I then started the MultiCam CNC router to do it's work and it is turning out pretty cool. The marvellous machine will finish it's work later tonight. Tomorrow we will begin to add even more magic the old fashioned way - by hand.
Magically changing size
The features we build in the shop seem to grow exponentially as we build them. They start out as bare structures and gain form as we weld up the sub structures and pencil rod armatures. As we manually tie on the galvanized mesh they become more solid, With the application and sculpting of the concrete the features suddenly dominate the shop. The PNE's Playland control booth/sign is indeed massively heavy, requiring the combined efforts of the entire crew to move it in the shop. With the Flutterbye perched on top it towers sixteen feet tall and is about the same distance in length.
Today, the crew finished the concrete sculpting, bringing it to full size. It looks monstrous in the shop. Even so we know the feature will seem to dramatically shrink as we move it out of the shop. In it's final home, parked next to a large amusement ride it will suddenly appear to be even smaller. Experience has taught us to take all of that into account as we design and build each piece. We are confident it will be the perfect size.
Don't fence me in
Our scope of work for the PNE project includes a bunch of fence panels and gates for one of the rides. We created custom steel inserts which will feature dimensional emblems of colourful flutterbyes to match the wings on the ride vehicles. One more day of welding and grinding will ready them to be sent to the powder coaters for their bright protective coating.
