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The proprietor of the business is Ian Barrett. Ian has been model making since 1986.
He combines a strong engineering/technical background with an artistic flair, dexterity and an eye for detail. At the academic level, A levels in woodwork and technical drawing and an art foundation course involving live sculpting and drawing were followed by an honours degree in silversmithing and jewellery. This combination helped Ian to develop expertise with a wide range of tools. He is also very comfortable in interpreting engineering drawings and has evolved a good feel for the maths of sizes, volumes, mass and the relationship between them. A good sense of proportion is also a real benefit in scoping out some of the more precise assignments.
One such assignment was a replica periscope for a submarine. The brief was for it to conform to specific dimensions and to displace exactly 14 stone of water in the testing tank in the University of Glasgow. Its construction involved the use of steel, fibreglass and lead, to conform to the very rigid specification.
Says Ian
“Many of our briefs are won because our experience enables us to help the client to further develop the project. Rather than scratch the surface, we like to dig beneath the concept to see if we can help to further realise the ideas involved, producing an enhanced result all round.”
A further feature of Ian’s work is his experience in co-ordination of projects on various scales. This may involve numerous materials, processes such as bonding, casting and printing and the co-ordination of a team of specialists with different skills. Throw into the equation a tight time scale and you can see why some people will back off.
“I find that I am often called upon to tackle jobs that other people have passed up because of the complexity involved. Far from resenting this, I take it as a compliment and it often leads to further enquiries when we have produced the required result.”