CNC Routered - Gates

This project started after an existing customer sent me some photos of 4 gates, and asked if it was possible for me to cut them out of MDF for a film shoot.

As usual our customers client was in a hurry. They emailed me some pictures so I could see the type of thing they are after.

After a few discussions on the telephone, they came up with some drawings.

Although on the surface they looked fine, a considerable amount of tweaking was needed to be done before it was possible to make them machinable.

After adjustments, back to client for approval, a few more tweaks and the go ahead was given. At this point I must point out that originally they asked me to cut 4 gates, this ended up as 8 gates, 8 pillars, 2 arches and thickening to the edges.

This job had gone into emergency mode as the gates were needed to be flown out to Iceland (I think he said that's where they were going) next week! So this meant early morning starts and working late into the night including Saturday and Sunday.

A courier picked them up early on the Monday and off to London. The task had finished for me but they still had to be built up, painted and flown out to site and erected. No small job, but on time they were.

A great relief when I got this email with some pictures:

Hi Darrel,
As promised I've attached a picture of each of the gates in their relevant locations for you to hopefully feel quite proud of. This isn't the finished shot, but does give you a rough idea of how they will be finally shown. Everyone was amazed and delighted with the work, it was a hell of an achievement to turn this amount of work around in a week and a half, from first scribles to sending the completed gates and posts off to the airport.

Many thanks again,
Martin Kantner
Mimesis-models, London

Finally the finished project is out.

You can see this cleverly done video at www.landrover.com

It's also been in the January 2008 copy of QT magazine (2 page spread) and I suppose in many more to come.