We’ve got gold on our mind this week with our special sale (20% off your own models in Gold + select marketplace items), and this story on the announcement of 3D printed Oscar statues just added to the fun.
When it comes to the Oscars (or if you prefer, the Academy Awards), most of the attention is on the actors. And for good reason – this is one the biggest nights of recognition for them. While the “awards season” lasts a few months, the Oscars are typically the finale and fans can’t wait to see who will take home that iconic gold statue.
Many people don’t realize that the statues have changed over the years. Even if you watch the awards show every single year, you still might not have realized that the design and material has slightly changed since the first ceremony in 1929. The original award was made from gold-plated bronze, but due to manufacturing process changes it switched to gold plated metal just a few years later. Since then slight design tweaks have been made over the years as well.
{via 3Ders.org}
However, this year the Oscar’s organizers worked with a New York-based company to create statues that return to their original roots. The process started with 3D scanning the original 1929 Oscar, and combining it with the most recent (2015) version. The two designs were combined to “bring the statuette closer to the original Oscar statue, with sharper features and a more art deco aesthetic.” From there the model was 3D printed in wax, hand-casted in Bronze and then plated in 24-karat Gold.
Be sure to check out the full story on 3Ders.org to learn more about the process and see photos of how it all came together. And if it inspires you to create your own Gold, be sure to take advantage of our sale this week!
