My Eames Inspired Elephant Project
Hi folks! I've always admired the 1940's Eames designed elephant and have one for my daughter. However, I can't help but look at poor little Nellie and think she looks a little emaciated and needs fattening up! So, I thought I'd make one out of 0.080" aluminium and give it some shape... Well, here's my project in pictures with a little bit of text for info. Hope you like the finished item!
[IMG]http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y219/15window/Mobile%20Uploads/5D52966F-5413-428E-BE09-11025DC38269.jpg~original .jpg~original[/IMG] |
So, I took Nellie and removed the head. I then wrapped pattering paper around her and took a fairly accurate pattern...
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y21...278F906AC7.jpg I then laid out the patterns and drew the shape onto 0.080" aluminium: http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y21...771C7C7DF1.jpg |
From there it was a case of cutting out the blank on the bandsaw...
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y21...21A0AAC09F.jpg The blank filed smooth and deburred: http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y21...497BE90AF2.jpg |
Starting with the shape, I used a urethane upper die over a mild radius lower die and created the shape for the ears:
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y21...8B67EF0428.jpg I then shrunk over the crown of the head: http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y21...B90AC5F508.jpg And planished out the undulations: http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y21...31DBCFFCB6.jpg |
To create the shape in the face and trunk I beat in a few walnuts over a sandbag with a bossing mallet:
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y21...DB2951C1EA.jpg And then smoothed out the walnuts on the wheel: http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y21...9772705930.jpg |
Similarly, for the main body I again took a pattern and drew out two blanks for the sides and wheeled in some shape:
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y21...D4D78D16EF.jpg http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y21...CBE1EAC8F9.jpg |
The upper parts of the body needed shrinking over to where they would meet the upper torso. This was done in the Pullmax with a urethane upper die and radiused steel lower:
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y21...EA8AD71BD8.jpg |
The upper torso was created by shaping (blocking) with a bossing mallet and then wheeling smooth:
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y21...7D221F7B71.jpg |
With the upper torso and the two sides shaped, it was time to fine tune them and tack them together:
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y21...8DD56A7DAC.jpg http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y21...7DBE34EE96.jpg |
I love it Matt. Thanks for taking the time to post the build process.
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