Started straight away at 8am putting texture onto the large log for the Shrek campfire, by using a large knife and slicing wavy segments out of the foam, and then sanding the areas with sand paper. Also paying attention to the end of the log where it would look like it has been cut off part of a tree. This took all morning to carve.
Pat came down and told us that the designers for shrek were coming in 5mins to check the props, so I gathered all the pebbles and arranged them at the log according to the miniature model we were sent, as soon as I'd finished they arrived! They said they liked the log I was working on! And to not go to wavy with the textured lines.
Russell then asked me and Debs to sand the chez long they were making for Ghost, and then put sanding sealer onto it so I picked one of the less nice brushes to use as sanding sealer will ruin them. We used wet and dry paper to sand off.
The next stage of the log was to cover it with foil so that it can be fibre glassed soI started to rip up pieces of foil and using spray adhesive to fix them on. As the log is so large it took the rest of the day and is still not finished.
Wednesday
Monday
Monday Work Experience-
Began by covering the pebbles (that were now fibre-glassed) for 'Shrek the musucal' with a dark paint that is sometimes called 'stage coat' as it is used a lot for its completely non-flammable quality. It's a dark gloopy consistency and we painted it on thick. I painted 6 pebbles and so did Debs and we left them to dry on little blocks of wood so they wouldnt dry on the table.
Then we had to give texture to the logs (now fibre-glassed) also for the campfire. By ripping strips of paper and folding them then glueing down we created a bark like texture, and left them to dry. The pva was mixed with a bit of water to make it easier for coveridge.
After lunch we had the large log at the campfire scene to make. So first we had to work out the dimensions, and realised it was a 1:13 scale. Russell wanted to use the scraps we had rather than cutting it out of 1 big piece, as it was roughly 1100mm long, with a diameter at the face of around 440mm, so quiter large. He first told us to do it by drawing out the circle face of the log and thickness and then cutting sections of the circle, then he came and changed it to drawing out the inner circle and making angles for the foam so we would build onto the inner wood bit to support. We had to remember, we wanted it roughly 20mm thickness, minus 3 mm off each all way round as layers of texture would be put on so changing the measurements. So most of the day was using the bandsaw (at angles) which we had to make 20 strips of thin foam which will make up the large log, which was very time consuming. I have set myself tasks for tomorrow as I think todays tasks took too long!
Then we had to give texture to the logs (now fibre-glassed) also for the campfire. By ripping strips of paper and folding them then glueing down we created a bark like texture, and left them to dry. The pva was mixed with a bit of water to make it easier for coveridge.
After lunch we had the large log at the campfire scene to make. So first we had to work out the dimensions, and realised it was a 1:13 scale. Russell wanted to use the scraps we had rather than cutting it out of 1 big piece, as it was roughly 1100mm long, with a diameter at the face of around 440mm, so quiter large. He first told us to do it by drawing out the circle face of the log and thickness and then cutting sections of the circle, then he came and changed it to drawing out the inner circle and making angles for the foam so we would build onto the inner wood bit to support. We had to remember, we wanted it roughly 20mm thickness, minus 3 mm off each all way round as layers of texture would be put on so changing the measurements. So most of the day was using the bandsaw (at angles) which we had to make 20 strips of thin foam which will make up the large log, which was very time consuming. I have set myself tasks for tomorrow as I think todays tasks took too long!
Sunday
Wednesday Work Experience - Bed for 'Ghost'
I just noticed my Wednesday blog isn't posted!
We started by making a cutting list for the bed (for the theatre version of Ghost), which included the bed head, bed leg, and bed base frame. It was a long list and involved different widths of timbre, some 2x1 and 2x2's, which the 2x1 we had to cut down to 45mm x 21 mm. It took a while to get all the lengths down off the wall plank by plank, Bec climbed up to get it and passed to me where I'd take it over to the bench.
It took along time to get the timbre cut, me and Becs worked together using the table saw (or rip saw) feeding the wood through and I would receive it making sure to hold it flat and walk backwards quickly supporting it, and to pull out the cut piece as soon as it was cut. We had to move the workshop round a bit as the lengths were very long, and then the widths of mdf were very wide. I made sure to label each piece the lengths and if it was the leg/frame/base.
So now we had everything cut out and labelled we referred back to our drawing to then label each piece with corresponding letters so we could put it together easier. We put together the leg together, glue first, then using a brad gun (longer nails) to hold it in place. Bec pre-drilled with 4mm for me to then screw in, making sure the screws were slightly embeded into the wood. (35mm screws). We put the bed leg to one side and proceeded with the bed head doing the same methods. Always referring back to the tech drawing and checking measurements. Using an engineer square to check angles.
We started by making a cutting list for the bed (for the theatre version of Ghost), which included the bed head, bed leg, and bed base frame. It was a long list and involved different widths of timbre, some 2x1 and 2x2's, which the 2x1 we had to cut down to 45mm x 21 mm. It took a while to get all the lengths down off the wall plank by plank, Bec climbed up to get it and passed to me where I'd take it over to the bench.
It took along time to get the timbre cut, me and Becs worked together using the table saw (or rip saw) feeding the wood through and I would receive it making sure to hold it flat and walk backwards quickly supporting it, and to pull out the cut piece as soon as it was cut. We had to move the workshop round a bit as the lengths were very long, and then the widths of mdf were very wide. I made sure to label each piece the lengths and if it was the leg/frame/base.
So now we had everything cut out and labelled we referred back to our drawing to then label each piece with corresponding letters so we could put it together easier. We put together the leg together, glue first, then using a brad gun (longer nails) to hold it in place. Bec pre-drilled with 4mm for me to then screw in, making sure the screws were slightly embeded into the wood. (35mm screws). We put the bed leg to one side and proceeded with the bed head doing the same methods. Always referring back to the tech drawing and checking measurements. Using an engineer square to check angles.
Friday Work Experience- London Fashion Week
With the bed for 'Ghost' finished it now needed to be painted. Pat experimented with different wood grains before deciding on one to do, it was to be a dark oaky colour. I could only watch while the wood was being grained as 2 people were already doing it and I could tell they just wanted to do that themselves so I got on with other stuff even though I was dying to be involved with that! Doing this prop making I think has made me realise that I want to be more scenic art based, throughout the week I was dying to pick up a paintbrush to finish everything! Only in some circumstances do they get to put colour to the props, as in most cases the scenic artist who is doing the whole theatre show will want to do everything themselves as they can stick to their theme throughout.
London Fashion Week- Henry Holland
The whole of friday was creating these huge tall background flats for Henry Holland at LFW for the catwalk. We had the flats in the workshop, which were bright colours used for House of Holland before. For the London catwalk we had to make them big white ones with windows in. With 3 helpers we got the first flat onto the bench and I began sanding of the main bumps generally making it look better and smoother, I asked if I should use the belt sander but Russell said it was a rubberised surface so it would not get it off to be smooth. Whilst I was sanding all the flats with sandpaper Bec cut pieces of mdf for cladding on the side to make them stand up easier, so I helped her put them on with glue first holding it flush while she bradded it on. The skirting boards were also cut to length and I sanded those.
I began painting the flats white (white emulsion) with a roller, whilst Adam followed me round using a firmer roller to flatten the paint down as the rollers were quite fluffy creating texture we dont want. So I painted both flats, and the sides and left them to dry and put the heating on to dry quicker. I set up some tressles out the way so I could then paint the skirting boards white also. Adam sanded down the seperate windows and poly filled any gaps as they has some wear and tear. Then I proceeded to help paint these white with a paintbrush.
Two coats were done before lunch, then we had lunch at 12.30. During lunch we had to help move the 'Ghost' bed down to the floor for further painting.
I did a third coat on the flats as I think it needed it, I was worried some of the previous colours would show through on the catwalk. The same for the skirting boards, the windows were ok with one coat of white on.
Once everything was dry it took 3 of us to stand up the flat so that we could attach the windows in. We screwed nails in from behind and put 2 extra ones in as we were worried it might fall on the catwalk! We then had to bubble wrap the whole thing with no gaps and 3 layers as it was to be transported on the top of a car to LFW. We did the same to the other one and the were ready for transportation. With a quick tidy up and wash up of trays and rollers this took us tp 5 o clock and home time, a good first week feeling more confident about things and learning alot everyday.
London Fashion Week- Henry Holland
The whole of friday was creating these huge tall background flats for Henry Holland at LFW for the catwalk. We had the flats in the workshop, which were bright colours used for House of Holland before. For the London catwalk we had to make them big white ones with windows in. With 3 helpers we got the first flat onto the bench and I began sanding of the main bumps generally making it look better and smoother, I asked if I should use the belt sander but Russell said it was a rubberised surface so it would not get it off to be smooth. Whilst I was sanding all the flats with sandpaper Bec cut pieces of mdf for cladding on the side to make them stand up easier, so I helped her put them on with glue first holding it flush while she bradded it on. The skirting boards were also cut to length and I sanded those.
I began painting the flats white (white emulsion) with a roller, whilst Adam followed me round using a firmer roller to flatten the paint down as the rollers were quite fluffy creating texture we dont want. So I painted both flats, and the sides and left them to dry and put the heating on to dry quicker. I set up some tressles out the way so I could then paint the skirting boards white also. Adam sanded down the seperate windows and poly filled any gaps as they has some wear and tear. Then I proceeded to help paint these white with a paintbrush.
Two coats were done before lunch, then we had lunch at 12.30. During lunch we had to help move the 'Ghost' bed down to the floor for further painting.
I did a third coat on the flats as I think it needed it, I was worried some of the previous colours would show through on the catwalk. The same for the skirting boards, the windows were ok with one coat of white on.
Once everything was dry it took 3 of us to stand up the flat so that we could attach the windows in. We screwed nails in from behind and put 2 extra ones in as we were worried it might fall on the catwalk! We then had to bubble wrap the whole thing with no gaps and 3 layers as it was to be transported on the top of a car to LFW. We did the same to the other one and the were ready for transportation. With a quick tidy up and wash up of trays and rollers this took us tp 5 o clock and home time, a good first week feeling more confident about things and learning alot everyday.
Thursday
Bed Frames for 'Ghost'
Work Experience Day 4 Thursday - bed frames for 'Ghost'
When I arrived it was back to working on the timber bed frame. Bec pre-drilled holes with 4mm and I followed her round putting screws in with the drill, making sure they were slightly embeded. We attached 6mm mdf cladding over parts of it using glue first, then securing with brads using the brad gun, making sure each edge was exactly flush. It was my job to glue and secure whilst Bec held the mdf in place tight.To make it more flush on one side I used a router, which uses a disc to run along the surface and saws along the excess.
We completed the bed leg, bed head, and most of the bed frame. I used quick dry polyfiller to fill in the gaps where the nails made little holes, and then scraped off with a flat metal edge. When it was dry I used a belt sander (scary) to get most of it off and sand paper for the rest. I also had to saw in the corner to get the rounded bit out where the router ran.
Going back to the Shrek campfire, it could not be fibreglassed in the workshop as there is so much of it to do and it does not have enough extraction, as Andy was already fibreglassing something else on the end bench closed to outside. I bagged up all the pieces for the camp fire and took them round to another workshop round the corner where they have the correct facilities.
When I arrived it was back to working on the timber bed frame. Bec pre-drilled holes with 4mm and I followed her round putting screws in with the drill, making sure they were slightly embeded. We attached 6mm mdf cladding over parts of it using glue first, then securing with brads using the brad gun, making sure each edge was exactly flush. It was my job to glue and secure whilst Bec held the mdf in place tight.To make it more flush on one side I used a router, which uses a disc to run along the surface and saws along the excess.
We completed the bed leg, bed head, and most of the bed frame. I used quick dry polyfiller to fill in the gaps where the nails made little holes, and then scraped off with a flat metal edge. When it was dry I used a belt sander (scary) to get most of it off and sand paper for the rest. I also had to saw in the corner to get the rounded bit out where the router ran.
Going back to the Shrek campfire, it could not be fibreglassed in the workshop as there is so much of it to do and it does not have enough extraction, as Andy was already fibreglassing something else on the end bench closed to outside. I bagged up all the pieces for the camp fire and took them round to another workshop round the corner where they have the correct facilities.
Tuesday
Russell Beck studios
Day 2 Work Experience
In the morning we sorted out the workshop moving things round and preparing some room. The 2x2 and 3x1 timber needed to be put up on the wall in storage so we worked together to get it up there. Lots of heavy lifting and team work! Put away tarpaulins and stacked tyres in the workshop.
We arranged the camp fire for Shrek to sort out if anything needed to be adjusted i.e length and width of the logs to match the model we were given. We then finished covering all the logs with tin foil using spray adhesive, ready to be fibreglassed.
Metalwork
Lengths of steel were needed to be scribed and holes made, these were being used as bases in the theatre version of Ghost. I found the correct lengths of steel and was given a drawing and had to measure a point at 50mm and 23mm and mark it ready to be scribed, so that the drill bit would find it. Becs then drilled through these holes on both ends of the steel using a 4mm drill bit, so I could then go through with a 10mm, the thickness of the metal was also 10mm. I hadn't drilled metal before and it was a bit scary at first when it started to smoke, but I added oil to the hole whilst drilling to make it easier to go through and less screechy noises. On the first 2 holes I was slow but then I speeded up which Becs was pleased to see. Once all holes were drilled for the 8 pieces, a 15mm retreat needed to be done on the hole, just a small indent around 2mm deep over the hole.
After all the retreats were drilled I was asked if I should sandpaper the rough bits on the otherside, but I was shown how to use an angle grinder with a soft disc on to buff the rough bits away. The sparks that came off it were scary at first, but just wear goggles and be safe!
In the morning we sorted out the workshop moving things round and preparing some room. The 2x2 and 3x1 timber needed to be put up on the wall in storage so we worked together to get it up there. Lots of heavy lifting and team work! Put away tarpaulins and stacked tyres in the workshop.
We arranged the camp fire for Shrek to sort out if anything needed to be adjusted i.e length and width of the logs to match the model we were given. We then finished covering all the logs with tin foil using spray adhesive, ready to be fibreglassed.
Metalwork
Lengths of steel were needed to be scribed and holes made, these were being used as bases in the theatre version of Ghost. I found the correct lengths of steel and was given a drawing and had to measure a point at 50mm and 23mm and mark it ready to be scribed, so that the drill bit would find it. Becs then drilled through these holes on both ends of the steel using a 4mm drill bit, so I could then go through with a 10mm, the thickness of the metal was also 10mm. I hadn't drilled metal before and it was a bit scary at first when it started to smoke, but I added oil to the hole whilst drilling to make it easier to go through and less screechy noises. On the first 2 holes I was slow but then I speeded up which Becs was pleased to see. Once all holes were drilled for the 8 pieces, a 15mm retreat needed to be done on the hole, just a small indent around 2mm deep over the hole.
After all the retreats were drilled I was asked if I should sandpaper the rough bits on the otherside, but I was shown how to use an angle grinder with a soft disc on to buff the rough bits away. The sparks that came off it were scary at first, but just wear goggles and be safe!
Monday
Russell Beck studios
Day 1 Work Experience
Arrived at 8am to the studios. At first it was a lot of sorting out and cleaning up first. We had to dispose of hundreds of digital cameras that were used for an installation which seemed a waste as many were not even used. General sorting out and throwing out to clean up the studio. First task was to calculate (the dreaded) technical drawings that were sent over, plan views and elevations of a camp fire for a scene in Shrek the Musical. It took quite a while as we had to then work out each pebble size and log size (the length, width, and height) for the campfire after finding the scale. We measured out each of the dimensions onto foam and using the plan view of the pebbles, roughly marked the shapes onto the foam so I could cut it out on the bandsaw. I was introduced to using the hot wire today to cut foam which I hadn't used before, but got used to it using it multiple times. After all the pebbles and logs were cut out we carved and shaped them using a knife and stiff brush, then finishing off with sandpaper. The pebbles were then covered with tin foil by spraying glue adhesive onto the foil to protect them as tomorrow we are fibreglassing them. Each one was marked with a letter on the bottom so we can arrange them according to the technical drawings. Must remember my mask for fibreglassing tomorrow! <3
Arrived at 8am to the studios. At first it was a lot of sorting out and cleaning up first. We had to dispose of hundreds of digital cameras that were used for an installation which seemed a waste as many were not even used. General sorting out and throwing out to clean up the studio. First task was to calculate (the dreaded) technical drawings that were sent over, plan views and elevations of a camp fire for a scene in Shrek the Musical. It took quite a while as we had to then work out each pebble size and log size (the length, width, and height) for the campfire after finding the scale. We measured out each of the dimensions onto foam and using the plan view of the pebbles, roughly marked the shapes onto the foam so I could cut it out on the bandsaw. I was introduced to using the hot wire today to cut foam which I hadn't used before, but got used to it using it multiple times. After all the pebbles and logs were cut out we carved and shaped them using a knife and stiff brush, then finishing off with sandpaper. The pebbles were then covered with tin foil by spraying glue adhesive onto the foil to protect them as tomorrow we are fibreglassing them. Each one was marked with a letter on the bottom so we can arrange them according to the technical drawings. Must remember my mask for fibreglassing tomorrow! <3