Casting

A wax positive is taken from the mould.  The wax is painted in to the same thickness as we want the bronze to be.  I make my final adjustments.

The wax is cut up onto sections small enough to fit the pouring containers.

Once the sprues (for the bronze to run and the air to escape) have been added to the wax, it is invested in a ceramic shell.

After the wax has been melted out of the investment, it is inverted, packed into sand and filled with molten bronze.

The cast bronze sections are welded together and the seams 'chased' back to blend them in with my original modelling.

The base section has been sandcast as one and the hugely skilled Andy Carroll takes out a few twists and turns with RSJs and clamps.

The various parts begin to come together....

....and the final sections are finished off.

The stainless steel plinth arrives, unpolished, and is fitted up to hold the base.

The base and plinth are offered up to each other...

...and adjustments are made by Andy and Marcus Marmaris.

Marcus sends the welded plinth off for polishing.

The polished plinth comes back a few days later and the final stages are in sight.

John Neilson tidies up his lettering with tungsten-carbide chisels directly into the bronze.

The bronze base is [polished and the lettering patinated.

The compass is finished off and the front point is registered onto Cape Leeuwin where Matthew Flinders began his circumnavigation.

I like the logo..it has the feel of a stamped image.

We check all the fittings and contact points.

The patination begins.

Wax is applied to the patianted bronze surface.