FABRICATION OF THE ARMATURE
The maquette serves as the scale model to enlarge the sculpture to 1.25 life-size.
I measure the actual clay model and mark it with reference points for each armature support piece.
Plumbing pipe is used as the uprights to support the entire structure.
Marking the rebar for cutting each piece.
The black foam core patterns have the exact angles for the placement of the welds.
Foam core strips are used to make a pattern for the rebar in the legs. 40 ft. of steel will be used
just for the legs supports.
The base pattern (1.3 scale) for the placement for the supports on the steel plate.
The piping is put together so that the two T's are facing down for the support. And the
middle one up for the location of the pipe where the jockey will be located.
Welding the steel pieces.
The neck and head support is welded together and ready to be assembled.
Close-ups of the framing posts.
The top piece is Barbaro's right front leg. The bottom one is his left hind leg (flipped in the photo).
The fabrication and welding of the armature was done by Jeff Sime, of JeffWorks, Verona, WI. He restores Formula One racing cars. And frankly is the best in the business. Naturally I went to him when I was ready to have the metal pieces made for the sculpture. When I asked Jeff if he would help me out with fabricating the armature, he said "of course, but we had to fit it into our racing schedule". You always go to a busy person to get things done. We did the fabrication on Mother's Day! And three days before they leave for Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin for racing.
Now that we have most of the pieces made for the armature, I am now working on the platform where the armature will be mounted. Once it is ready, Jeff will come in to the studio and finish weld the legs to the armature, add the tail and add some additional re-enforcements to the armature that is made of rebar. After that the application of the Styrofoam will come next.
Notebook entry: May 15, 2008
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For more information contact:
Alexa King
1-608-836-9726
Copyright 2008 Alexa King