We've been busy for the last year working on hundreds of signs and features for the Scallywag Bay Adventure Park in Trinidad. Over the last six months we carefully packed those features into shipping containers and sent them on their way. Now, at last the onsite construction is set to begin. I travelled down to the Caribbean this week to oversee the final checks. The first order of business was to do a site survey, confirming all boundaries and forty-two critical points in the park in order to locate the buildings, rides, pools and other key features. Then I used a spray bomb to mark the buildings and other features on the ground in order to confirm the placement of every piece of this giant jigsaw puzzle. It will be extremely expensive or impossible to make changes from this point forward. Save for one small change, the layout worked as I imagined back in my studio. With the surveyed steel pins in place and a schedule to constantly check and replace them as necessary I have every confidence that the buildings, foundations and retaining walls will be built where they are supposed to be. The next time I return the park will be very much in the vertical construction stage.
While I was onsite I opened each container and checked inside. I was delighted to see that everything has arrived in perfect condition after their 6,000 mile journey. It was a bit of a surreal experience to climb inside and inspect the containers. The last time I was inside everything appeared the same but when I exited I looked out the doors and saw our shop. This time, despite the inside being familiar, I saw a lush tropical jungle and seaside view as I looked out.
WELCOME!
It is hard to believe that it was almost ten years ago I witnessed a CNC router in action for the very first time. I was fascinated and simply had to have one! Although I had been in the creative end of the three dimensional sign business for most of my life I didn't really know what I would do with one of these machines - but I just knew it could do fantastic stuff.
Along with the CNC router I discovered the wonderful material called Precision Board and the glues, primers and other companion products they offer. Since then we have gone through many tons of the material using it in most signs and projects we tackle. This journal will chronicle our many adventures both past, present and future. I'll talk from the perspective of someone who pushes these products to the creative limit on a daily basis. I'll be adding to the stories two or three times each week. -dan