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Amalgam gains Cyber Essentials Certificate

Cyber Essentials Badge (High Res)

Bristol-based Amalgam Modelmaking has once again gained their Cyber Essential Certification. After verification of their self-assessment against the Cyber Essentials Standard, assessors BIP Solutions Ltd confirmed that Amalgam met the standards for the scheme. The certification was hence renewed in August this year.

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Royal International Air Tattoo – 19-21 July 2019

Royal International Tattoo 2019 Car Sticker.jpg
The Royal International Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford is the largest of its kind in World and in its 48th year. Amalgam Modelmaking are pleased to be attending this year and invite people to join them for informal networking, and to learn more about out how they have worked with many of the organisations present at the show.

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Scale model of super yacht Ngoni

While this high-performance sloop, Ngoni, was being built at Royal Huisman’s main site in Vollenhove, the owner commissioned Amalgam to make a high detail scale model of the design at the scale 1:50. Background When this innovative project was first announced, nicknamed ‘The Beast’, the yachting world pricked up its ears. The owner had requested a progressive new yacht, with an ‘edgy’ design to marry comfort, style and high performance, and appointed the teams at Dubois Naval Architects and Royal Huisman to bring it to life. To launch the design during 2014 Monaco Yacht Show, Dubois hired Bristol model makers, Amalgam, to make the limited detail, stub mast model at 1:60 scale seen in all the press photography. That model was designed to accurately mirror the dramatic sheer line of the hull design, with the wide teak planking of the main deck. Once extensive tank tests were completed to finalise the…

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Stand-out marine models help BMT launch latest concept designs

marine models

BMT are launching two concept designs at DSEI 2017 in London. To form an eye-catching centrepiece for their stand, they commissioned us to create a pair of marine models of their concept designs for mine mine warfare and hydrographic vessel, VENARI®-85 and Type 31e frigate contender, VENATOR®-110. BMT Defence Services aims to demonstrate flexibility in these designs to serve the needs of the Royal Navy and requirements in the export market. Their marketing team planned this year's display for the BMT brand to stand out at the busy exhibition. Although they have tested 3D renders and virtual reality for demonstrating their concept designs, BMT confirms people still love a physical model - to gather round and explore the detail. Both scale models are designed to demonstrate BMT's multi-purpose capability and sheer amount of on-board and off-board kit they can carry, with VENARI-85 built at 1:125 and VENATOR-110 produced at 1:150.…

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Autonomous Robotics

Robotics prototype

In February’s issue of Develop3D magazine, we were delighted to share the story of our exhibition model work, for Autonomous Robotics Ltd, which is based in Wiltshire.   They are developing next generation seismic technology to gather data from the ocean bottom using a system of Flying Nodes – a new type of automated underwater vehicle. The oil and gas industry requires very high quality data, gathered from ocean bottom seismic (OBS) surveys, often at extreme depths and dealing with complicated geology. ARL’s planned system for a swarm of Flying Nodes system will significantly reduce the cost of collecting seismic data, with the ability to record on the seabed for up to 60 days and cover a wide range of surveys.   Having prepared a paper to share on Flying Nodes at the Society for Exploration Geophysics (SEG) conference in New Orleans, Autonomous Robotics wanted to demonstrate a full size…

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Maritime Scale Models: via Planes, Trains and Automobiles

Our director, Chris Conlon, took a short sojourn to Mallorca in August – to personally hand deliver one of our hand finished, high detail maritime scale models. It’s always tricky to ensure safe passage of a valuable model, which is why we work with our clients to agree the safest transportation route – and if needed, we build a suitable transit case. This beautiful replica of the sailing yacht Antares was built at 1/50 scale of the original design. Our team constructed the model using a mixture of latest technologies and hand fabricated parts. It is finished in high detail mirroring the original design, with glossy colour matched paintwork. With the model wrapped extensively for transit, Chris reached our local airport and hopped on the flight to Palma. Although the inclement weather prevented Chris from visiting it, another of our favourite yachts, the restored William Fife yacht TERN was harboured…

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Superyacht DESIGN Week – to 3D-print or not to print superyacht models?

3D printed superyacht design model

How has 3D printing transformed model making for superyacht design? Our view from the Amalgam deck. The last case study published from our maritime models team was to show off this 1/12th scale hand finished model of the classic TERN yacht. The scale was relatively large for this, because it's a replica of a much smaller yacht. Typically we make superyacht models at 1:50 or 1:75, however it does depend on what the client wants - and how they are going to present, use and transport the model. Next week the team's director, Chris Conlon, will be heading to see what's on at Superyacht DESIGN Week in London. This year’s event is exploring how the yacht industry can adopt techniques to create more sustainable products, and invest in more creative design. So, it’s a good time to explore how 3D printing has changed our approach making to naval and marine…

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Super models in Superyacht Design Magazine

OK, so when we say "Super models" we don't actually mean what some people might think - but whereas you might generally find the other sort of Super model on-board a Superyacht, currently you can find some examples of our sort of Super model inside the current edition of Superyacht Design magazine.  The winter issue of Superyacht Design features an article all about Amalgam and our involvement in producing models for the maritime industry - with an obvious focus on the high-end luxury super yacht and mega yacht end of the market.  This link; Superyacht article Q21 Amalgam will deliver a PDF version of the article to your desktop to save you subscribing to the full magazine. Apart from some interest shots of our workshop the article features a close-up of our model of Amnesia IV (Now renamed Nataly) for Redman Whiteley Dixon and several in-progress shots of a 58m…

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New Marine Models at Hamburg SMM Show

The last few months have yielded some fantastic and challenging projects, including innovative furniture, several new Marine models, strange creatures and new possibilities opening up with our packaging design service.   The SMM in Hamburg, Germany wrapped up last week, where two of our models were on display. The first was the HF4 model for Mojo Maritime, featuring a huge loading crane system and smaller knuckle cranes.   The Swath model for Qinetiq features a unique baseboard design incorporating the 'sea' as a structural support for the model, indicating the position of the vessel in the water. The reflective baseboard shows the detail below the waterlines, including locomotive elements and the complex forms of the hull.   Both models were fabricated with a combination of advanced computer controlled processes and hand-finishing skills, particularly to preserve the sharp lines and broad, unbroken planes of colour of the designs. These models add to…

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Offshore power generation models

The government is to make big changes to the way it subsidises renewable energy, it has announced. BBC news 4/12/13.  As market leaders in the field of producing offshore power generation models we are obviously interested in this subject and thought it might be a good moment to remind the world of some of the work we have done in the area. Amalgam are of course well known for scale models and exhibition pieces such as the e.on offshore wind generation model display shown in the header to this article, a closer view of the same model is on the left here. We also produced a range of scale models of the Seagen Offshore power generation design shown in the three images below. We also have a long history of producing functional prototypes and test rigs such as this Spectral Marine Energy Converter (SMEC) working scale model which we designed…

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