Source Material…
Category: Structure, Diorama

Genre: Real World

Source: Early-mid 20th century America

The Project…
Scale: 1:16 Scale

Size: 63 feet long

Material: Laser cut acrylic, CNC cut Sintra PVC sheet

Approach: Completely Custom!

Software:

AutoCAD

Specialized Tools: CNC Router, Laser Cutter

The Ringling Museum selected SMARTT to build a 63 foot long backdrop for their display of handmade circus train miniatures. The client provided a miniature version of their concept built by a Kansas model-maker from HO scale kits. Since the trains are 1:16 scale, the model had to be pantagraphed up and recreated from available materials. Other than a few Plastruct fittings, almost nothing is available in that size so it all had to be fabricated from scratch by SMARTT's talented model shop staff.

Customizations:

I personally measured and drew out in CAD all but 2 of the buildings. Mel I. did the others. Then I designed a way to break these drawings into parts to be fabricated in a manner similar to the way we usually design miniatures, except these were 4 - 5 foot tall each.

Parts were fabricated in various thicknesses of acrylic, PVC sheet, acrylic with wood covering, etc. A huge chimney was turned on a lathe by another facility then one of the modelers wood burned brick patterns into it and painted it up. Huge silos were made from cardboard tubes usually used as concrete pouring forms.

People who helped with this project: The SMARTT model making staff