Masterpiece Models certainly kicked off the new year with a BANG with the completion of a number of very large, and impressive displays. The centerpiece(s) of the project were a interactive F16 fighter jet operated from the controls of a full sized cockpit along with a 36 foot Atlas V rocket.
A big "well done" to our project manager Bob for wading though stacks of circuit boards and endless wires in making a truly remarkable F16 interactive experience. From the full sized cockpit the customer will be able to control the plane....turning, climbing, banking.....wheels down....it's all there to enjoy. Other features of the display include back-lit cockpit gauges, laser cross-hairs on the HUD, engine sound, simulated thrust through the use of LED's - and perhaps the most comfortable ejector seat one could hope for. (Thanks to Ed.)
Across our parking lot in building "A" work simultaneously was proceeding on our Largest Model to date - a 36ft replica of the Atlas V Rocket. For nearly 5 months our "Rawket Men" (Ben, Alex, and Matt) worked their larger than life magic turning ordinary materials into this centerpiece display.
As with the F16 this rocket is loaded with extra features. The boosters are all fitted with LED clusters that are synchronized with an internal sound system that really can shake the foundation around you. 10 - 9 - 8 - 7 ..... Lift Off!
Load 'em up, move 'em out!
When our projects are ready to ship it is always an important day for us...the long hours of research and building have finally come to fruition with a final product to be proud of.
Sometimes, however, getting our projects to the customer can be as big a project as the models themselves. A project of this size required a "all hands on deck" effort as the entire staff of Masterpiece Models chipped in to help load the project into the rear of a semi truck headed for it's destination some 3000 miles away.
Today everything goes according to plan - even the weather had decided to cooperate. With the help of a hi-lift and some strong backs the projects are loaded onto the truck.
