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Old 12-22-2016, 12:17 PM
Stretch Stretch is offline
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Default 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]
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Last edited by Stretch; 11-10-2017 at 02:19 PM.
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Old 12-22-2016, 12:21 PM
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So, I took Nellie and removed the head. I then wrapped pattering paper around her and took a fairly accurate pattern...



I then laid out the patterns and drew the shape onto 0.080" aluminium:

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Old 12-22-2016, 12:25 PM
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From there it was a case of cutting out the blank on the bandsaw...



The blank filed smooth and deburred:


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Old 12-22-2016, 12:28 PM
Stretch Stretch is offline
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Starting with the shape, I used a urethane upper die over a mild radius lower die and created the shape for the ears:



I then shrunk over the crown of the head:



And planished out the undulations:

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Old 12-22-2016, 12:30 PM
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To create the shape in the face and trunk I beat in a few walnuts over a sandbag with a bossing mallet:



And then smoothed out the walnuts on the wheel:

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Old 12-22-2016, 12:34 PM
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Similarly, for the main body I again took a pattern and drew out two blanks for the sides and wheeled in some shape:



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Old 12-22-2016, 12:36 PM
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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:

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Old 12-22-2016, 12:37 PM
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The upper torso was created by shaping (blocking) with a bossing mallet and then wheeling smooth:

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Old 12-22-2016, 12:39 PM
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With the upper torso and the two sides shaped, it was time to fine tune them and tack them together:



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Old 12-22-2016, 12:40 PM
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I love it Matt. Thanks for taking the time to post the build process.
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