Festival ready!
Posted 1 May 2018 22:48
Group 12 Soapbox
This Event will comprise of a design and build exercise of a 21st century soapbox that will be used at the Manchester Histories festival between the 7th - 9th June. A Soapbox is an anti-establishment platform used historically for public speaking. The use of the name ‘soapbox’ originates from the use of soap boxes (wooden crates used for storing soap) as a podium on which a person stands. The project will be led by 5 members from MSAP, we will be collaborating with the Manchester Histories Festival to produce an interesting and exciting project. // Download Poster
George K // Charlotte H // Alexander B // Dean E // Daniel M
Completed construction manual ready for the handover of the Soapbox to Manchester Histories Festival.
Posted 1 May 2018 17:29
Completed posters to hang in the perspex windows of the Soapbox!
Posted 1 May 2018 13:57
George hard at work fixing the bunting through eyelets in the top corners of the soapbox.
Posted 1 May 2018 13:10
Fastening the last of the screws to secure the fabric canopy in place!
Posted 1 May 2018 13:03
Yousra and her completed laser cut panel design! She chose the theme of Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament.
Posted 30 Apr 2018 17:41
Completed spray painted panel for the wings! The remaining spray painted designs will be finished tomorrow.
Posted 30 Apr 2018 17:39
A sequence of laser cut panels. Except one did get snapped in a closing door.
Posted 30 Apr 2018 17:21
Lazer cut acrylic plastic with theme designs. Fixed with screws to the panels.
Posted 30 Apr 2018 17:14
This was the first of the acrylic panels to be laser cut - Renata's design on Emily Davison!
Posted 30 Apr 2018 17:11
Rear bracing on the back panel. Providing structural support swell as a rear entrance
Posted 30 Apr 2018 17:10
Filming a time-lapse of the fabric roof. (Alec has been inducted on safe ladder use)
Posted 30 Apr 2018 17:07
We used a piece of wood to record the dimensions of the panels when it was which we then used to measure the laser cut pieces.
Posted 30 Apr 2018 17:06
Stencils!! 1st & 2nd years are spray painting panels for the soapbox theme
Posted 30 Apr 2018 17:04
This morning a base layer of spray paint is being applied to the plywood panels ready to add the stencil designs later today!
Posted 30 Apr 2018 11:16
The stencil designs are now complete and ready to be used to decorate the stud wings first thing Monday morning!
Posted 27 Apr 2018 16:40
The canvas has arrived and we will start to measure it up today so that it can be sewn on Monday morning!
Posted 27 Apr 2018 13:35
Like the person, the ply wood is also being cut to size so that it can fit in the stud 'wings'. These will be spray painted once the design team has finished their designs and stencils.
Posted 27 Apr 2018 13:34
The clear perspex panels are being fixed to the 'wings'! We are hoping to fill these panels with models that are relevant to the Manchester histories Festival.
Posted 27 Apr 2018 13:34
Some of our design team are working on the stencils that will be used for the spray painted plywood designs. These will be fixed to the stud 'wings'.
Posted 27 Apr 2018 13:33
Stencil Design
The design team are now working on stencil design to spray paint the ply wood panels for the soapbox! These designs continue to follow the histories festival themes of democracy and freedom of speech.
The design team are now working on stencil design to spray paint the ply wood panels for the soapbox! These designs continue to follow the histories festival themes of democracy and freedom of speech.
Posted 26 Apr 2018 16:12
Perspex panels will fill some of the gaps in the timber stud wings. Others will be filled with laser-cut designs or left open.
Posted 26 Apr 2018 15:37
Fixing the canvas roof:
In preparation for the canvas roof that will cover the soapbox, we have drilled fasteners into the timber stud frame
In preparation for the canvas roof that will cover the soapbox, we have drilled fasteners into the timber stud frame
Posted 26 Apr 2018 15:35
Some of the design team are currently putting together a document for the client that will show all of the design process and ideas that were involved with the Soapbox. Other members of the design team are finishing of the construction manual.
Posted 26 Apr 2018 11:32
Some of the construction team are working on the anti-slip flooring this morning. 4 individual pieces need to be cut to side and fixed to the base.
Posted 26 Apr 2018 11:23
Some of the construction team are working on the anti-slip flooring this morning. 4 individual pieces need to be cut to side and fixed to the base.
Posted 26 Apr 2018 11:23
To do list
- rubber non-slip matting apply to the flooring
- 45 degree bracing to the rear facade
- Fabric roof cover
- decoration of perspex graphic panels & bunting
- rubber non-slip matting apply to the flooring
- 45 degree bracing to the rear facade
- Fabric roof cover
- decoration of perspex graphic panels & bunting
Posted 25 Apr 2018 16:09
Structure on site! Testing Levels ready to show the clients and the structural engineer
Posted 25 Apr 2018 15:59
The structure fully assembled on site - ahead of a check from the structural engineers!
Posted 25 Apr 2018 14:23
The final structural component (timber bracing) is being fitted. Hopefully with all of the decretive elements and roof it will start to come to life.
Posted 25 Apr 2018 14:16
The coach screws that fix the stud 'wings' to the pallet base line up perfectly.
Posted 25 Apr 2018 14:15
All components are now on site and we are waiting for our collaborators to arrive so they can watch how it is assembled.
Posted 25 Apr 2018 14:14
The Soapbox is being transported over to site before the engineers come and inspect in later on today. The structure is complete so if everything goes as planned we can start adding the decorative elements that our design team have been working on.
Posted 25 Apr 2018 14:13
The Soapbox is being transported over to site before the engineers come and inspect in later on today. The structure is complete so if everything goes as planned we can start adding the decorative elements that our design team have been working on.
Posted 25 Apr 2018 14:13
The base is complete and the pallets have been reinforced with more timber. The stud 'wings' are now ready to be fixed to the base.
Posted 24 Apr 2018 23:15
Escaping the rain - we went into the workshop to stay dry and build the footings for the wings to be attached to.
Posted 24 Apr 2018 21:26
The sunny weather didn't last unfortunately! We all got a bit wet, but we had to carry on to get it finished in time to test it on site tomorrow.
Posted 24 Apr 2018 21:23
NO HANDS
We finished the rails today to guide the 'wings', when we tested them in place they seemed solid!
We finished the rails today to guide the 'wings', when we tested them in place they seemed solid!
Posted 24 Apr 2018 21:19
Graphics Team Group Pin Up!
It was great the see all the work that the graphics team have done coming together. The decorations have now been ordered and the instruction manual is looking great.
It was great the see all the work that the graphics team have done coming together. The decorations have now been ordered and the instruction manual is looking great.
Posted 24 Apr 2018 15:35
Graphics Team
The pin up gave us the chance to review the draft instruction manual which Gerry has been compiling.
The pin up gave us the chance to review the draft instruction manual which Gerry has been compiling.
Posted 24 Apr 2018 15:34
Graphics Team
Following the group pin up the final six panels have been selected to be laser cut! Each depicts a key theme of the Manchester Histories Festival.
Following the group pin up the final six panels have been selected to be laser cut! Each depicts a key theme of the Manchester Histories Festival.
Posted 24 Apr 2018 15:31
Graphics Team
Six panel designs have been selected following the group crit which will be laser cut later in the events week. Here is Yousra presenting some of her panel design ideas!
Six panel designs have been selected following the group crit which will be laser cut later in the events week. Here is Yousra presenting some of her panel design ideas!
Posted 24 Apr 2018 15:25
Graphics Team
Rowena presented research and design ideas for the decoration of the Soapbox and we have decided to use bunting (in the colours of the Manchester Histories Festival) to attach to the surrounding trees. The bunting has been ordered and will hopefully arrive in time for the test assembly!
Rowena presented research and design ideas for the decoration of the Soapbox and we have decided to use bunting (in the colours of the Manchester Histories Festival) to attach to the surrounding trees. The bunting has been ordered and will hopefully arrive in time for the test assembly!
Posted 24 Apr 2018 15:24
Graphics Team
Having spent this morning working individually on the instruction manual and decoration this afternoon we had group pin up to discuss our ideas so far.
Having spent this morning working individually on the instruction manual and decoration this afternoon we had group pin up to discuss our ideas so far.
Posted 24 Apr 2018 15:21
Graphics Team
Today work is continuing on both the decoration for the Soapbox and compiling the instruction manual for the assembly of the design. Eva is sketching the graphics for use on the cover of the manual and for posters to be displayed on the Soapbox!
Today work is continuing on both the decoration for the Soapbox and compiling the instruction manual for the assembly of the design. Eva is sketching the graphics for use on the cover of the manual and for posters to be displayed on the Soapbox!
Posted 24 Apr 2018 15:17
Today part of the team began working on the construction manual. This will allow Manchester Histories to assemble the Soapbox in All Saints Park at the time of the festival.
Posted 23 Apr 2018 16:56
This morning we received some feedback from the structural engineers on how best to improve a couple of our connection details. Thankfully, all of the alterations required are minor!
Posted 23 Apr 2018 16:51
Today we began setting out the location of the guide rails, which will be used to guide the placement of the 'wings' when they're erected on site
Posted 23 Apr 2018 16:37
For the first time during the build we have both stud winds erected on our base!
Posted 23 Apr 2018 16:35
The test run of the base went smoothly. The ply has been fixed to the pallets however minor amendments will need to be made tomorrow to ensure the platform is level.
Posted 23 Apr 2018 16:31
The design and construction manual team are busy and preparing the final document that will be given to the client. Within the next couple of days, they will collaborate with the construction team and take photos of the individual components being put together. This will help ensure the construction manual is coherent and the Soapbox is simple to erect.
Posted 23 Apr 2018 14:49
The design team are working in two teams today. One team is working on the pallet connection system whilst the other works on measuring and cutting the plywood that will be fixed to the pallets.
Posted 23 Apr 2018 14:46
Designing a system that gives the base stability and is easy to fix together.
Posted 23 Apr 2018 14:44
Building the base!
The construction team have begun attaching the timbers to the base pallets.
The construction team have begun attaching the timbers to the base pallets.
Posted 23 Apr 2018 14:43
Building the base!
The joining timbers all line up and are ready to screw into place.
The joining timbers all line up and are ready to screw into place.
Posted 23 Apr 2018 14:28
Building the base!
The 12 pieces of timber used for joining the four base pallets have been cut and are ready to assemble.
The 12 pieces of timber used for joining the four base pallets have been cut and are ready to assemble.
Posted 23 Apr 2018 14:26
Polina's design sketch for the Soapbox decoration using ribbons, rope and plastic tape to create spaces between the Soapbox and the surrounding trees!
Posted 20 Apr 2018 16:39
Packed away and ready to be continued on Monday. We are meeting our client and collaborator on Wednesday to show them our progress so far!
Posted 20 Apr 2018 16:38
We have two finished timber 'wings'! Looking good and finished slightly earlier than expected.
Posted 20 Apr 2018 16:37
The pallets are all a little different in size, therefore each one needs to be slightly amended so that the overall dimensions sions of the Soapbox is correct.
Posted 20 Apr 2018 16:35
We have split the construction team into three sub teams. Group 1 are working on the pallets and preparing them to be fixed to the ply sheets. Group 2 are continuing with the first stud 'wing' and last but not least, group 3 are finalising the other stud 'wing' whilst preparing initial drawings for the construction manual.
Posted 20 Apr 2018 16:34
Decoration precedent studies which the graphics team have used as inspiration for the Soapbox. On Monday we will finalise ordering the selected materials!
Posted 20 Apr 2018 16:32
Brackets have been added to add stability and rigidness to the 'wings'. 60 angled brackets have been fitted so far! A few more to go...
Posted 20 Apr 2018 16:30
Using the first stud 'wing' as a template for the second. Another sunny morning!
Posted 20 Apr 2018 16:29
The remainder of the materials arrived this morning and work began on the second of the two stud 'wings'.
Posted 20 Apr 2018 16:28