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Model Development

When we complete a model, it truly becomes a piece of art and, as with most great art, the process is as interesting and exciting as the finished piece.  Over the years we’ve found that our models are appreciated and respected even more when someone has the opportunity to see how we build them. 

In this section you’ll find the models we currently have in development.  In some cases, the models are in their infancy stage (we may only have images of the real item), while in others, the prototypes are built and they are awaiting production.   Regardless of the stage they are in, we hope you are able to appreciate the potential of each.

The Development Process
Our typical development process, from project launch to pilot model, takes an average of eighteen and twenty-four months (sometimes longer).  And, not surprisingly, the most significant amount of this time is spent on research and design - identifying potential resources and gaining access to engineering drawings and photographs, often an exhausting process with no advance assurance of success.

While we do our best to collect and assemble all known reference before we begin the design phase, inevitably we miss various pieces of the puzzle.  Yet, we refuse to move forward with “fantasy” reference (we have been known to put a model on hold up to five years, in the middle of the design phase, until we were able to find the appropriate reference), because no matter how small the part may be, one “fantasy” reference is equivalent to a “fantasy” model – not something we specialize in.

Upon completion of the design phase, we move into the tooling stage (whether it be master parts for lost wax casting or laser tooling for cutting precise parts beyond the capability of the human hand).  As these parts are created, the pilot model is assembled.  Once the pilot model is completed, we test and make all necessary corrections. When all testing and corrections have been made, we insert the model into our production schedule  (usually decided upon two years in advance).