As most model ships sold at hobby stores were obtusely disproportionate to the size of the battlefield, custom phicons were constructed.
The foundation of the ship is a 3D fridge magnet found at a local children's toy store.
Fridge magnets which formed the blueprint for the hull of the ship phicons.
The fridge magnets were traversed with a 3D scanner to produce a computer-assisted drawing (CAD) wireframe. The outcome was manipulated to define a blueprint for the phicons.
3D wireframe mesh of a scanned fridge magnet.
Once the shape of the phicon was complete, it was built using a rapid prototyping machine. Through a Fused Deposition Modelling process, Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) powder was structured and moulded into a solid plastic object. The construction process for a single phicon took approximately 26 hours.
The phicons were then stained and glossed to produce a wood effect found commonly in the British Regency period. Electronics were then inserted into the phicons to actuate situational feedback.
Outcome of the Rapid Prototype styled with Wood Stain and Gloss.