Process of Creating Giant Copper Turtle

The attached gallery of images depicts the various steps in fabricating the giant turtle, TT.


Full scale working sketch of turtle
Stainless steel welded armature
Stainless steel welded armature
Armature with copper ribbing
Armature with attachment hardware
Scute layout in paper
Copper scutes laid out
Scutes attached
Scutes attached
Scutes layout
Scutes and carapace fully assembled
Head sketch
Head before fiberglass and copper applied
Copper foil on head
Copper foil on head w/ finish lacquer
Spring mechanism allowing animatronic head movement
Claw sketch
Claws made of copper
Claws
Claws (painted) and legs w/ etched copper foil wrapping
Copper foil (before etching) for head, legs and tail skin
Patina etching technique and chemical formula
Patina test for shell
Assembled shell before etching
Shell encased in etching chemicals
Shell after etching chemicals removed
Copper turtle installed