Giraffe

[strada]

Another masterpiece
cant wait for the finished article.

 

[pondman]

Still going well.
Damn fine legs, I had to get Naomi Campbell in to model for the front legs, getting on a bit these days and needed the cash.
A happy chappie.
The body is made of 15x3mm strip. Ni.ce stuff to work with.
The legs are 8mm black bar, not sure how to integrate the two sections but I a sure it will do it itself.
Blackboard? 8mm ply, joined in the middle with those weird star backed washers used in furniture making. 1 coat of primer, two coats of blackboard paint. A third coat needed after this job.

That's looking amazing Chunko'!! The patter looks ace and you've to the movement in the legs and neck down to the T. Being African I've seen a few giraffes in my life and you've definitely got it spot on!! Can't wait to see it finished!
And the blackboard idea is ace too, very clever

 

[pondman]

Aaargh.
Customer wanted the legs changing, front legs side by side.
I confess to getting stressed by this as I was well pleased with them.
Took my time, sent him another photo and he has changed his mind.
Delighted. Modding them would have taken maybe an hour or less; so no problem but they look so damn right.
Wont be able to get onto them for the next few days as I a teaching but they will be there to distract me. I also like to leave things for a few days to mature when they are going well.
Anybody remember ballsing up their Airfix models as a kid by rushing the next stage?

Good job, I find the stroppy artist works well!

 

[Metalsculptor]

You've done a good job there Chunko. Looks good, legs got nice curves - I bet it was a challenge getting them on so he/she stood up straight.

 

[chunkolini]

Getting her stood up straight was a big worry.
I welded two bits of angle iron on the bench, sat the body on the top, held it with one hand, rested the neck on another arm and tacked her on with my third arm.
there is a cool clinic in Kazakstan where you can get a third arm grafted on.
Wear it in a sling when out in public and nobody knows.
Took three attempts till I was happy.
I made the outlines of the legs flat, tacked them on then fitted the third section of each leg when she was stood on the table then chopped out the angle irons.
Making a temporary jig is the key, it can be brutal and bashed about; it also allows you to walk around the thing, go for a cuppa and see if it looks ok later on. I usually leave it overnight in this state. And check before finishign it off.

 

[Metalsculptor]

Yeah, I got my third 'leg' from that place

 

[chunkolini]

Finally had a bit more time on her today and yesterday.
Filled in most of the body and got the welds cleaned up.
A happy chappie.

I am finding it hard to stick with my plan of not controlling the pattern, but the idea works. The rings are stacked up and just take the top one and fit that, and no arguing. I think if I started playing around with them to get it 'right ' it would spoil it.
Am I finally breaking my symetrical habit?
Next stage fill in the rest of the torso, then get some narrower strip for the legs. This comes on Monday, then the head.

 

[bullet]

Finally had a bit more time on her today and yesterday.
Filled in most of the body and got the welds cleaned up.
A happy chappie.
View attachment 37138
I am finding it hard to stick with my plan of not controlling the pattern, but the idea works. The rings are stacked up and just take the top one and fit that, and no arguing. I think if I started playing around with them to get it 'right ' it would spoil it.
Am I finally breaking my symetrical habit?
Next stage fill in the rest of the torso, then get some narrower strip for the legs. This comes on Monday, then the head.

looking good, shadow looks just as good too,lol

 

[secretsmoker]

Wow! I like this a lot. My sister is obsessed with all things giraffe since going on safari a few years ago. If your buyer falls through she could probably be persuaded!

 

[chunkolini]

Buyer has dropped a deposit, and is committed.
If you sister likes this stuff send me a Pm, lets see what she might like.

 

[chunkolini]

Got a bit more done on the body yesterday.

Next up get the legs filled in.

 

[bert]

thats looking amazing!

 

[strada]

Looking great
can't wait to see the head.

 

[outofthefire]

 

[chunkolini]

Had another go at it today.
Got the first leg part filled in and my plan of using finer material works.
I am also pleased that the leg does not look 'stuck on.
Next stage fill in the remaining legs down to the knees and decide about how to do the bottom of the legs.

 

[pondman]

That's looking amazing chunko', it's great how well the pattern has brought out the shape of the body! It's great!! I can't wait to see the finished sculpture :-D

 

[blacksmithstris]

Yep, I reckon you got that giraffe bang on. Nice to see it develop.

 

[chunkolini]

More action over the last few days.
Upper legs finished and hooves tacked on.





Hooves are just short lengths of tube mitred at one end.
Look the part, next up is to get them looking part of the whole amd a bit more work on the lower legs.
Maybe even make a head.

 

[strada]

Chunkolini,if i was making that sculpture i would be terrified of welding something on and spoiling the look, or thinking that it looked good but didn't
Keep it up,and as i said before,cant wait for the head

 

[chunkolini]

Thanks for that, that is the great thing about steel, balls it up and chop it off.
One of the front legs did go skew wiff, but I was able to chop and bend it back in line.
The thought of working in stone would terrify me.