EDF Energy’s Hinkley Point C Facility Site Scale Model.
After completion of the HPC Visitor Centre, EDF Reached out to Beaufort Bespoke again to commission a detailed scale model, 1800x1800mm, of their entire Hinkley Point C Nuclear Facility.
My role in this project was to design the entire model, 3D print all the models and create the base graphic and the cabinet that holds the model. Once again working closely with EDF staff to create accurate models to ensure a correct depiction of the site, however an interesting challenge that made this project more difficult is that the site itself had not been built yet so the model was always changing during the design stages.
Designing the Models.
At the beginning of this project, I was given access to architect models and drawings of the facilities buildings in which I was able to 3D models that could be 3D printed. The clients also requested that the model should include multiple cutaways on one side of the reactor to show internal components.
The reactor, turbine building and cooling pump station were all selected as areas where there would be cut aways to show extra detail of how the plant functioned.
Once again working with technicians I were able to model up accurate representations of each component. There were over 150 pieces that were 3D printed and assembled to create this model. All items were printed using SLA resin printers.
This project from memory took about a year to finalise all details, print and paint. Delays were foreseeable as the site itself was still in construction so there was always discrepancies that had to be amended.
Creating the Display Case.
The display cabinet for this project was a 1800x1800x800mm box with a tapered base. All the models had slot that were CNC cut into a 5mm board that then had the printed graphic laid overtop. These images are slightly outdated and don’t show the rebate that held the glass case that sat on the top of the model for protection.
The cabinet itself did have two cutaway sections to show the underwater cooling pipe area and lower basement area of the water cooling pump station.
