Building Luna Park's Tumblebug
Model Building
After the designers have finished drawing up the
the plans, all the larger jobs begin with a model. These are constructed by
experts to exacting standards, to ensure that both the client is happy with
their plans in three dimensions, and that nothing is left to guesswork for
the site staff.
Scale of 1:250
Base structure's construction
When everyone is happy with the model, actual
production begins. The whole thing is built around a steel armature, which
is welded together and then covered in foil. The process is exactly the same
for concrete sculptures, except the armature is reinforced and covered in wire
mesh.
Tumblebug's abdomen half coated.
Foam Urethane Spraying & Carving.
The foil structure is then spray coated with a
fire resistant hard foam. This is cut back to allow more detail in the
piece. In the case of concrete sculptures, the
armature is coated with reinforced fibrecement.
Its leg armatures are sprayed with urethane
The sculpted foam is finally covered with a rock
hard waterproof and shock resistant hardcoat. This can be sanded smooth,
detailed even more finely and then painted.
The head is sanded smooth ready for
painting, and its eyes and moth.
Final Stages
When the whole thing is finished is is
transported in sections to the sight. There it is reassembled and secured in
place.
The Tumblebug insitu After the process is complete,
the theme park is left with a unique and highly memorable land mark.
(Note: Design parameters
provided by Luna Park to recreate the original tumble bug)
Hardcoating and Detailing
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