Dive sign done!

We have been rushing through another build that I am unable to discuss or show anything on. But I was able to find some time to wrap up the Dive sign I started awhile back. It feels good to strike that off the list. The Pelican's Landing sign is almost finished as well. Whenever I got a moment, I would mix some paint and apply it, set it off to dry, and then get back to the 'real' job we have going on. This job gets delivered on Friday, and then we start the flying machine build. The 'model' is built in the computer and has undergone some minor changes due to script enhancements. I have been finding time here and there to get the concept model laid out in real world dimensions, and usable files for Aspire. I am thinking that I may make a styrofoam engine block, or maybe not, I am a little indecisive on this part! Hopefully Monday will see our Techno cnc chewing out frames and wing components. Until then, at least the dive sign is done!

8)
JO

Starting the bracket

Over the weekend I was able to find some time to start drawing up the bracket that will mount the sign to the wall. I thought a rough piece of wood would be perfect. I created the arched vectors in Aspire, as well as the keystone and sand dollar. I then imported a woodgrain image I had and converted it to a relief. Those that haven't used Aspire would be VERY surprised at how easy this process is. The next step is to 'zero component outside selected vector'. This function deletes the 3D woodgrain outside of any selected vector, in this case it was the outline of the curved bracket.

I then added an arbitrary height of .75" to give it some thickness. I don't have my material that I will be making it out of handy, so I just made up any thickness for now. I will see what material is at the shop later and adjust things then.

Lookin' good I think. Now for the 'keystone' at the top. I selected the very outside vector of the keystone shape, and gave it a height of 1" This will make it stand proud of the woodgrain arch. I then added a bumpy texture from an image I created in Photoshop.

I selected the inner wall vector of the keystone and recessed it down around a 1/4". I then created a dome shape from the sand dollar outline I drew in the center of the keystone. The final step was to recess the oval shapes inside the sand dollar. I do use a bunch of different software for creating 3D objects, but for this sort of modelling, NOTHING is faster than creating it in Aspire. And fast is always good!

After this, I just had to make the arch visible again by selecting it in the component list.

The sign will look good hanging from this by old rusty chains. It is kind of making me want to start an old dive shop in Mexico. Maybe Cozumel. That's a career that would be fun!

JO

Finally Back to the Blog

We will deliver the last job to set first thing in the AM tomorrow! Electronic delivery that is. The past little bit was definitely an exercise in patience! On to the physical stuff again. We have tendered on a toy commercial that is going to have some neat little miniature pieces to it. In fact it's all miniatures. We are waiting on camera tests from the production company, so hopefully that will be tomorrow, and then we should be able to get started. I am looking forward to getting back to the "hands on" building. I have also begun work on another side project for a sign shop we work closely with. I am going to make a generic dimensional business sign. Something that looks like it should be in a theme park. I love this kind of thing. Probably because I love cartoon stuff. The plan is to fabricate and finish it, then display it at there shop. They get a whole lot of traffic through their doors, so the exposure would be good. I would really like to start doing more of these types of signs, so I think I will! The colored render is done, then the next step will be to draw all the vectors, and model the divers mask. This is going to be fun I think.