Models - Girl bridging the gap

Albert Hall model

By girlbridgingthegap | 23 August, 2023

The Royal Albert Hall is a concert hall situated off Hyde Park in central London. It was opened by Queen Victoria but dedicated to and named after her husband, Prince Albert. The hall has stood since 1871, more than 150 years. The distinctive dome is made of glass and wrought iron.

I used a series of thin triangles bent around a flat circular piece of card to create the domed shape, glueing on the flat part. It holds its form even though the triangles are not actually attached on the curved part.

low angle – what you see as a pedestrian approaching from Hyde Park

Probably the most time consuming element was cutting out all the windows – for this I used a craft knife and mat, after drawing out the design with a ruler.

some close detail – this part took a long time to cut

Big Ben (Clock Tower) model

By girlbridgingthegap | 1 July, 2022

Probably the most iconic landmark in London, Big Ben was completed in 1869. Technically the name referes to the actual bell inside, but is normally assossiated with the actual tower. It began renovations in 2017 and was covered in scaffolding for years, destroying what is my favourite view of the building: stepping out of the western exit of Westminster tube station, it comes out of nowhere but stands so boldly and beautifully that you can’t seem to look away.

I tried to capture some of the detail in my model. The shape isn’t hugely complex, especially since there are no difficult curves. I split the form up into sections and created nets for each. Then added small details with tiny strips of paper. The clock itself was not easy to replicate, but I practised a couple of times and then used a black fineliner pen to draw in on white card.