Fibreglass Models

Bespoke Fibreglass Models

We produce fibreglass models in all forms, shapes and sizes - from the practical to the unusual.

If it needs to be strong, lightweight and weatherproof, fibreglass is often the right solution. We can work from fully developed designs or help shape the whole concept from scratch.

Replica of Vintage Aircraft

When the National Marine Aquarium at Plymouth decided they wanted an unusual display for their huge sea water tank, they avoided the obvious route of a sunken ship and went instead for this wrecked seaplane. It's actually a fibreglass replica of a crashed World War 2 "Vickers Supermarine Walrus". At 12 metres long and with a 14 metre wing span it was one of the biggest projects we had ever undertaken and one of the most technically demanding. To start with it had to be hoisted into the building (in sections) through a small door three stories up. Then it would need to be assembled by divers at depths of up to 9 metres. And on top of all this it had to be structurally stable and durable enough to last many years under water.

Purple Dragon

From initial concept sketches to final completion, this charismatic creature was developed from a brief that simply asked for "a purple dragon". To make him even more interesting we gave him eyes that light up and the ability to breathe smoke.

Snowball Xmas Grotto

A magical ice path (that lit up as you walked) led to a hollow, 3 metre diameter snowball to meet Santa. The whole thing was covered in fake snow and surrounded by a forest of Christmas trees so we couldn't really get a photograph of the final effect.

Terra Nova

Made as a centrepiece for a national garden show display, this version of Captain Scott's famous ship was actually a copy of a brass weathervane that sits on top of a commemorative clock tower in an award winning Cardiff park.

Giant Yellow Phone

This was one of a pair of identical six feet long phones made for a national Launch. Big, bright (and very yellow), they helped create striking photo opportunities at several press events around the country.

River Bed Model in Fibreglass

Commissioned by Cardiff University's Engineering Department, this 6 metre x 4 metre fibreglass model of the River Severn Estuary and Bristol Channel river beds was a very technically demanding job, not just because of the huge volume of complex data involved but also because of the sheer size of the project.

Comprising several large sections that bolted together, it had to be an accurate representation of the riverbed contours (at an exaggerated vertical scale) because it was being used for physical experimentation in a major research program on tidal power generation.

The first stage was to create a "mirrored" negative (upside down and back to front) version of the river bed contours all the way from Gloucester, down the Bristol Channel as far as the open sea. This comprised six major sections and several smaller, infill sections. These contours were made from laser cut acrylic layers supported on an MDF substructure, all fixed onto a structural base board with upstanding sidewalls. To construct the accurate depths and contours we had to create our own CAD masterplan using a combination of traditional Admiralty Charts, CAD contour maps, reams of numbers giving spot depths, and numerous sections through the river bed at key areas.

Once the basic structures of the moulds were built, the contours then had to be blended into a smooth continuous "land-form" using various filling techniques.

At the same time great care had to be taken to ensure the contours matched perfectly across the joins between the sections.

The contours then had to be sealed and "polished" to a fine finish so that the fiberglass forms would come away cleanly from the moulds once they had cured.

The final stage was to layer up resin and fiberglass matting into the moulds, starting with the "gelcoat" layer (which is in effect the top layer and is the visible finished colour) and then several more layers of resin and matting to build up the structural integrity.

The fibreglass sections were then eased out of the moulds and flipped the right way up, ready to be joined together on to a structural sub-frame which supported them all at the right height. The image shows the sections just after they have come out of the moulds. They had been loosely assembled on the floor to check for fit.

As a quick guide to our fibreglass model making service, we've put together a Frequently Asked Questions page. Here are a few of the questions we are asked most often.

Can you create fibreglass models from a rough concept?

Yes. We can develop rough ideas, sketches or references into a complete buildable design and then produce the finished fibreglass model.

Why use fibreglass for display models?

Fibreglass is strong, lightweight and weather resistant, which makes it ideal for large forms, outdoor display pieces and travelling exhibition items.

Can fibreglass models include lighting or effects?

Yes. We can incorporate lighting, smoke effects and integrated structural supports where needed.

Do you only produce one-off fibreglass pieces?

No. We can produce one-off commissions, matched pairs or short production runs depending on the project requirements.

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