Model Hogwarts

cgraham

Are those Universal Studios' models? Will you share what you know about them?

Bradleyfett

Yes, those are the Universal models for WWoHP. I didn't built them, but I did rehab all of Hogsmead a couple times and built a few of the shop buildings as the design of the park changed. The part I can take the least credit for is Hogwarts itself- really just did some repairs and touchups on that here and there. And I had to take it apart once and hack big-old holes in it from behind and underneath so the windows could be lit from inside (nerve-racking!).

These beautiful models were built by the HP movie model shop folks in the UK. The hardest part I had to do was match their wonderful work when I had to build a few buildings from scratch. Their work was really top-notch and it was nice to be able to learn from how they did things.

cgraham- what do you want to know?

M

cgraham

They're beautiful - frankly, it would be worth a 900-mile trip to Orlando just to see these models. Are they on display to the public?

Bradleyfett

Sad to say I don't know what the current fate of the models is. They were a highly-guarded asset while WWoHP was being built, but not so much once everything was done. If they do still exist, I'm pretty sure they aren't on public display.

I almost forgot- I built the loco too:




M

cgraham

That is amazing work and I am in awe. I bow to your Kung Fu.
I must ask, what mediums did you use for sculpting the loco and buildings' stonework? Also, if you recall the scale you were working in, I would live to know.

Bradleyfett

The scale of everything was a strict 1/4"=1' (O scale in model RR scales) and everything was taken directly from the engineering drawings. However, you have to realize that the castle was scaled down from 'reality', and the scale got smaller as it went up. If you are ever at WWoHP, you'll see what an effective visual trick it is.

The buildings were a combination of resin-cast brick, stone and shingles (so they could be done in sheets), and press board, basswood, and photo-etched brass for the windows. A little styrene here and there was used also. The snow was a modeling compound (can't recall the brand name now) like you'd find in craft stores; very similar to Crayola Magic Modeling compound.

The loco was a combination of styrene, expanded PVC sheet plastic, brass wire, laser-cut acrylic parts.

Mark

tobydog

This is very cool

AZJedi

Wonderful works of art...

KoreanObsession

I can't upload the foto but type in hogwarts deathly hallows 2 n go images google of course LOLZ.....there's one pic of hogwarts and its the one in the last movie it's a really good pic to...it's actually from the game but Its good.....P.E.A.C.E...!

Bradleyfett

Added some more pics of Hogwarts for your viewing pleasure...

HP Strongarm Oct 2009 - a set on Flickr

M

Progrocker

Incredible work!

cgraham

Took a new shot from my layout after watching my own copy of Deathly Hallows 2 that came out Friday...


and here is a shot of the original prototype, Goathland Station

MagicRobot

everything on here is absolutely amazing!

Tim Nolan

Wow! Incredible dedication to detail and fine craftsmanship! Congratulations on such a fine job!

cgraham

OMG

Incredibly detailed model of Hogwarts Castle used for every Harry Potter film is revealed for the first time | Mail Online

Alric

Dam thats big. If its the same one that i saw a picture of in the paper today, it's due to be on display at the Harry potter studio tour here in th uk.

cgraham

The link above the photos is to a story in DailyMail.co.uk

Incredibly detailed model of Hogwarts Castle used for every Harry Potter film is revealed for the first time | Mail Online

Qrest Fourstar

Simply amazing. leaves one breathless.

cgraham

Mark,
(if you still monitor here) regarding Universal's models of Hogsmeade, you wtote:
I assume you mean that the resin-cast brick was scratch-made? I'm imagining modeling building fronts and sides in modeling clay (each stone shaped and textured with X-Acto knife) RTV molds made of each clay piece, then cast in resin with alterations (like opeings for doorways and windows) for individuality. I would expect to use a very similar method for producing several dozen dormer window units -- am I way off base?

Thanks,
-Clay

Bradleyfett

Essentially correct- although I cant say for sure how the original pieces were sculpted before molds were made; I suspect it was indeed clay.

They were just sheets of brick, stone, coblestone or shingle about 6 by 8 inches or so (going from memory here) with no other details. Holes for windows and doors where cut into the sheets. All the doors and windows were made from photo-etched brass. The dormers were again made from the sheets of cast stone/shingle, etc. The dormers were each individually built. There were also several different chimney sculpts that were molded/cast and repeated on the buildings.

Mark

EZBSVS

Soooo yeah.

With the giant model out and resource pictures abundant, who's ready to tackle this big boy??? I know I'm looking into it myself!

cgraham

A guest of a model railroad show in Timonium, Maryland recorded the brief video below of my version of Hogwarts and Hogsmeade Station last month and posted to YouTube:

Hogwarts HO - YouTube

Its not HD and is a bit wobbly, but overall gratifying to receive the attention.
-Clay

icanbuildthat

Hello to everyone - new on this site - first time posting. But specifically was interested in this castle build - having found out well after the fact (since HP is now just a DVD memory) that the castle was NOT location shots and CGI alone....but rather a huge model. Now I'm on the similar quest to spend more time and money than I should to attempt to build a version of it - naturally at a much much smaller scale than the original model - I mean who has a 50' X 50' X 20' more or less room or larger to do this in? But I've gotten this wild buzz on to build a version of it utilizing a LOT of stuff I've found now that the movies are in the can so to speak.

I'm planning on a scale that will allow for a space about perhaps 4'-5' by about 7'-8' where my pool table - which we're getting rid of - sits now. Trouble is this plan in my post below is the layout more or less of that UK model. And it's more SQUARE than long. My planning includes a detailed architectural style layout plan (I'm NOT a draughtsman - I can just draw well and use a ruler) and have a working drawing to go from....see the next post of this layout - has to be redrawn. I'm gearing up to get this build started sometime in the near future. So I guess I AM ready to "tackle" this process. Love to build stuff anyway and this just looked like a huge challenge. What I'd LOVE to do is to take a good amount of time, detail this thing to the hilt as much as humanly possible (and magnifying glasses will allow for and a steady hand) and get mine as detailed as I possibly can - moreso than many of the models I've seen built so far. I've amassed about 114 photos of the detailed model, about nearly 400 screen shots of the architecture, several videos, a paper model version layout (which I will use only for reference) and a few other model ideas from digital gaming builds of the castle, and I plan to "adapt" my version based upon the UK version which has some elements of the middle movies more than the real early or the last films - where the viaduct is much longer which increased the geography landscape footprint and knocks out the front of the grand hall courtyard to add those gates where the battles take place in the front of the space.

Lots of compromises for such a radically reduced scale I'm sure but I'm going to give it my best shot to see what I can come up with. Going to keep a blog someplace, a running video perhaps and obviously many photos and running expense accounting to see where this goes. Then I'll likely take many shots of it when it's done, keep it for a while and then sell it to the highest bidder at that time. We'll see what happens. Wish me luck. It's going to be a HUGE project. Oh, yeah, gonna try to LIGHT it too. Am I insane or what?? Don't answer that.

Anyway about time I signed up here and learned from other people's work.

---------------------
icanbuildthat

icanbuildthat

Here is the layout I quickly sketched up using the book that shows an actual architect/designers plan for the layout. It's kind of sketchy because the photo was one that someone had taken of the two pages in the book and it's a little off sqaure in perspective. But it's sort of the plan I intend to try to use. This is a bit different in some ways but the basic design is kind of what I had in mind. Thoughts anyone?? Ideas always welcome.

______________________
icanbuildthat




And HERE is the same with the book that has the plan in it. I'm only showing this because I DO own the $75 dollar book that this photo came from. And it's just for review - all rights to Warner Brothers on the book which is great I might add. Everything you ever wanted to know about the making of those films. The actual footprint is a bit different in the actual UK model. They've apparently cut away some of the extraneous landscape behind the Great Hall and this side of the bridge rather than let it be that rounded shape shown. They may have shifted a lot of things so it is a little different.

minifig

Hi all,
would it be of interest to you guys if I put the photos I took from the studio tour up in the gallery? They aren't great, and I didn't take as many as I would have liked ( my little boy was desperate for a wee), and I'm sure the gallery will be flooded with better pictures soon.
Good luck to anyone who tries to tackle this!!
minifig