Cute Cow

My Image

This donation box was a commission for Milestones Living History Museum in Basingstoke UK. The brief was for a box featuring the animated logo of the museum with lighting, movement and sound.
Here I give some insights into the design process and show a video of the finished box.

  • My Image

    View showing the small daisy, carved from boxwood, in the cow's mouth. The daisy moves when the cow chews.
    The hedge behind conceals the heart.

  • My Image

    Showing the arm that scratches and also the tail that swings. Th paints are acrylics with 2 coats of acrylic gloss followed by 2 coats of dead flat varnish giving a lustrous finish.

  • My Image

    The calf lies in the field until it attracts the attention of the cow. Calved out of lime wood I am particularly pleased with the posture of the calf.

  • My Image

    A pair of wellington boots for the lady. The varnish treatment gives them the appearance of beefing made from rubber. They are of course lime wood. The boots have stainless steel threaded rod running through them and they are bolted to the platform enabling removal during construction.

  • My Image
  • My Image
  • My Image
  • My Image

    The cow's eyelashes are made from paint bristles inserted into tiny drill holes.

  • My Image

    The "kiss" and the heart. The cow's neck stretches out in a natural way.

  • My Image

    The udder sways slowly side to side.

  • My Image

    On the right are the red reduction gears. On the left the timing gears that drive the 3 active cam axles. The front axle is on a normal gear, the year one is on a Geneva wheel to give episodic movement. The front and back axles are co-ordinated. On some movements the rear cam switches the front cam off and on allowing repeated motion during only part of the 50 turn cycle. At the rear can be seen the heart lift mechanism that works on a linear gear. Note that all cam followers have nylon rollers to eliminate wear and dramatically reduce friction compared with wood on wood movements. The axles all have brass ends in nylon bushings, again resulting in a very smooth motion.
    The frame is made from best quality birch ply for stability.
    The crank has a revolving walnut handle on a brass axle.

© Philip Lowndes
Long View
Church Green
Hinxton
Nr Saffron Walden Essex
CB10 1RA
UK

Tel. +44 (0)7531 660021
plowndes@me.com