Models - Phil Fraley Productions

SMP-Phytosaur Diorama | Project Info

SMP-Phytosaur Diorama

photo credit: D. Giles © The State Museum of Pennsylvania

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SMP-Coelophysis Peers Out from Foliage | Project Info

SMP-Coelophysis Peers Out from Foliage

photo credit: D. Giles © The State Museum of Pennsylvania

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SMP-Coelophysis Foot Detail | Project Info

SMP-Coelophysis Foot Detail

photo credit: D. Giles © The State Museum of Pennsylvania

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SMP-Redfieldius Fish | Project Info

SMP-Redfieldius Fish

photo credit: D. Giles © The State Museum of Pennsylvania

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SMP-Icarosaurus Rests on Triassic Tree Stump | Project Info

SMP-Icarosaurus Rests on Triassic Tree Stump

photo credit: D. Giles © The State Museum of Pennsylvania

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AMNH-Dolphins and Tuna Swim Under Resurfaced Water | Project Info

AMNH-Dolphins and Tuna Swim Under Resurfaced Water

In 2002, the American Museum of Natural History contracted PFP to restore three dioramas located in the Hall of Ocean Life. Each diorama’s old water surface had turned cloudy over time and the water lacked a feeling of motion and fluidity. In addition, the models of feeding dolphins and yellowfin tuna featured in one of the exhibits were faded and needed repairs. Much thinner than the historical surface, the new water surface combines updated technologies with traditional hand crafting techniques to produce significantly more realistic results. In addition to the repairs, PFP fabricated new models of tuna, flying fish and mackerels.

photo credit: R. Mickens © AMNH

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AMNH-Flying Fish and Mackerel | Project Info

AMNH-Flying Fish and Mackerel

In 2002, the American Museum of Natural History contracted PFP to restore three dioramas located in the Hall of Ocean Life. Each diorama’s old water surface had turned cloudy over time and the water lacked a feeling of motion and fluidity. In addition, the models of feeding dolphins and yellowfin tuna featured in one of the exhibits were faded and needed repairs. Much thinner than the historical surface, the new water surface combines updated technologies with traditional hand crafting techniques to produce significantly more realistic results. In addition to the repairs, PFP fabricated new models of tuna, flying fish and mackerels.

photo credit: R. Mickens © AMNH

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AMNH-Spectrum of Life | Project Info

AMNH-Spectrum of Life

The Spectrum of Life exhibit illustrates life’s diversity through an open-air display of over 1,500 plant and animal models and specimens. While on the staff of the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) in New York City, Phil Fraley recruited and directed the mounting and preparation teams responsible for assembling the exhibit. Since it features representative samples from all major phyla of animals and divisions of plants, which are attached to backlit glass panels that form a wall 100 feet long and 25 feet high, The Spectrum of Life required hundreds of unique mounts. The exhibit’s preparation process consisted of cleaning and repairing specimens from the museum’s collections. Detailed replicas were created to replace those specimens too rare or fragile to be placed on display. Fraley’s museum team then built a mock-up of the wall in order to help determine the best location and position for each of the specimens. Once an arrangement was selected, they designed and crafted individual armatures to support and attach each specimen to the wall.

photo credit: D. Finnin/C. Chesek © AMNH

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AMNH-Specimen Array Detail | Project Info

AMNH-Specimen Array Detail

photo credit: D. Finnin/C. Chesek © AMNH

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AMNH-Rainforest Diorama | Project Info

AMNH-Rainforest Diorama

The Hall of Biodiversity at the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) includes a recreation of the Dzanga-Sangha rainforest in 40,000 cubic feet of interior exhibit space. While on the staff of AMNH, Phil Fraley worked on the development of this diorama and helped coordinate a specimen-collecting trip to the Central African Republic. The museum team worked for a month in Africa, where they collected, documented and preserved over 163 individual species of plants and animals. When civil war broke out in the capital city, Bangui, the crew had to be airlifted to Cameroon for safety. Phil swiftly arranged transport of several tons of collected materials, including a number of full-sized trees. Phil recruited and supervised over 50 project employees who helped produce the simulated rainforest. His team built a scale model that was used to develop the diorama, and had full responsibility for casting, painting and mounting all trees, plants, animals and insects in the final exhibit.

photo credit: D. Finnin/C. Chesek © AMNH

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SMP-Zamites | Project Info

SMP-Zamites

In addition to remounting the Marshalls Creek mastodon, the State Museum of Pennsylvania’s renovation project also included the design and fabrication of a Triassic diorama. The project scope included the sculpting of a Coelophysis, as well as the mounting of a phytosaur. Staff members performed research and corresponded with consultants prior to the creation of a variety of Triassic-era plants, including Cycadeoids, Neocalamites, and Sanmiguelia. Baby phytosaurs, Redfieldius fish and Icarosaurus specimens provide additional details for the simulated environment. Huge Araucarioxylon trees frame parts of the hall, and a mural completes the scene.

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SMP-Icarosaurus | Project Info

SMP-Icarosaurus

Icarosaurus was sculpted in a variety of poses, including gliding, and is featured in multiple locations throughout the diorama.

photo credit: D. Giles © The State Museum of Pennsylvania

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SMP-Icarosaurus | Project Info

SMP-Icarosaurus

photo credit: D. Giles © The State Museum of Pennsylvania

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SMP-Cycad | Project Info

SMP-Cycad

In addition to remounting the Marshalls Creek mastodon, the State Museum of Pennsylvania’s renovation project also included the design and fabrication of a Triassic diorama. The project scope included the sculpting of a Coelophysis, as well as the mounting of a phytosaur. Staff members performed research and corresponded with consultants prior to the creation of a variety of Triassic-era plants, including Cycadeoids, Neocalamites, and Sanmiguelia. Baby phytosaurs, Redfieldius fish and Icarosaurus specimens provide additional details for the simulated environment. Huge Araucarioxylon trees frame parts of the hall, and a mural completes the scene.

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SMP-Rutiodon Waits for Prey Under Water Surface | Project Info

SMP-Rutiodon Waits for Prey Under Water Surface

photo credit: D. Giles © The State Museum of Pennsylvania

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SMP-Coelophysis Diorama Refurbished | Project Info

SMP-Coelophysis Diorama Refurbished

The State Museum of Pennsylvania’s Rutiodon was repainted as part of the museum’s Coelophysis Diorama refurbishment. New aquatic plants were added and a new water surface was fabricated.

photo credit: D. Giles © The State Museum of Pennsylvania

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SMP-Coelophysis Diorama Refurbished | Project Info

SMP-Coelophysis Diorama Refurbished

photo credit: D. Giles © The State Museum of Pennsylvania

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Inwood Hill Nature Center-Oak Tree Bark Panel | Project Info

Inwood Hill Nature Center-Oak Tree Bark Panel

Part of the New York City Parks and Recreation system, Inwood Hill Nature Center provides city dwellers with access to the natural world, and educates the public about the native flora and fauna that inhabit the park. The additions to the site included the fabrication of a new information desk, which features cast bark panels of trees found in Inwood Hill Park. Each panel features the tree’s leaf and fruit, as well.

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Inwood Hill Nature Center-London Plane Tree Bark Panel | Project Info

Inwood Hill Nature Center-London Plane Tree Bark Panel

Part of the New York City Parks and Recreation system, Inwood Hill Nature Center provides city dwellers with access to the natural world, and educates the public about the native flora and fauna that inhabit the park. The additions to the site included the fabrication of a new information desk, which features cast bark panels of trees found in Inwood Hill Park. Each panel features the tree’s leaf and fruit, as well.

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Inwood Hill Nature Center-Rotten Log Habitat | Project Info

Inwood Hill Nature Center-Rotten Log Habitat

Part of the New York City Parks and Recreation system, Inwood Hill Nature Center provides city dwellers with access to the natural world, and educates the public about the native flora and fauna that inhabit the park. A rotten log habitat with hinged bark panels enables visitors to lift a panel and discover insects that have made their home on the decaying wood.

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Inwood Hill Nature Center-Changing Seasons Mural | Project Info

Inwood Hill Nature Center-Changing Seasons Mural

Part of the New York City Parks and Recreation system, Inwood Hill Nature Center provides city dwellers with access to the natural world, and educates the public about the native flora and fauna that inhabit the park. A tri-modal tree, rock, salt marsh habitat features integrated terrariums and aquariums for living specimens. A rotten log habitat with hinged bark panels enables visitors to lift a panel and discover insects that have made their home on the decaying wood. One new mural depicts the natural landscape as it changes throughout the seasons, while another, designed as a cartographer-style map, illustrates the Hudson River Valley from Manhattan to the Hudson’s source, Lake Tear of the Clouds. It accurately marks sites of historical importance, geographic features and other places of interest.

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Inwood Hill Nature Center-Marsh Grass | Project Info

Inwood Hill Nature Center-Marsh Grass

Part of the New York City Parks and Recreation system, Inwood Hill Nature Center provides city dwellers with access to the natural world, and educates the public about the native flora and fauna that inhabit the park. A tri-modal tree, rock, salt marsh habitat features integrated terrariums and aquariums for living specimens.

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Inwood Hill Nature Center-A Vole Peers Through His Tunnel | Project Info

Inwood Hill Nature Center-A Vole Peers Through His Tunnel

In addition to the new exhibits PFP fabricated for Inwood Hill Nature Center in New York City, repairs and renovations were made to some of the exhibits, including the repair and replacement of the taxidermy mounts.

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CMNH-Miniature Cretaceous Diorama | Project Info

CMNH-Miniature Cretaceous Diorama

Working in conjunction with the CMNH educational department and exhibit staff, PFP fabricated custom made portable dioramas for use by docents or for classroom visits. The Cretaceous diorama contains a fish feasting on a dragonfly.

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CMNH-Miniature Jurassic Diorama | Project Info

CMNH-Miniature Jurassic Diorama

To coincide with the opening of Dinosaurs in Their Time, PFP provided CMNH with a wide range of educational items and interactives. The Jurassic Diorama was one of a set of three portable dioramas. It features a Corythosaurus model eating leaves, while a T.rex peeks ominously through the foliage.

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Horseshoe Crabs | Project Info

Horseshoe Crabs

These horseshoe crabs were fabricated as studio samples. They can be removed from their sand-covered mount for further study.

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SoFo-Topography Map | Project Info

SoFo-Topography Map

The South Fork Natural History Society (SoFo) wanted a hands-on museum that captured the wonder and excitement of in-the-field discoveries. PFP crafted site-specific exhibits that brought the local Long Island ecology inside. A highlight of the project is the topographical relief map, which reflects the geography of the South Fork of Long Island.

photo credit: S. Berman © Evidence Design

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Tang Museum-Molecule Models | Project Info

Tang Museum-Molecule Models

In 2006, the Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery at Skidmore College, in Saratoga Springs, NY, asked PFP to create giant models of carbon-based molecules for the traveling exhibit Molecules that Matter. This exhibit showcases ten organic molecules that had a major impact on our world in the twentieth century: aspirin, isooctane, penicillin, polyethylene, nylon, progestin, DNA, DDT, Prozac, and buckminsterfullerene. Each model is 2.5 billion times larger than the chemical structure it represents, and each is designed so that it can be completely disassembled for transport or storage, and then reassembled in a number of configurations depending on the specifics of the installation location.

photo credit: A. Evans © Tang Museum, Skidmore College

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Tang Museum-Buckyball (C60) Molecule | Project Info

Tang Museum-Buckyball (C60) Molecule

In 2006, the Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery at Skidmore College, in Saratoga Springs, NY, asked PFP to create giant models of carbon-based molecules for the traveling exhibit Molecules that Matter. This exhibit showcases ten organic molecules that had a major impact on our world in the twentieth century: aspirin, isooctane, penicillin, polyethylene, nylon, progestin, DNA, DDT, Prozac, and buckminsterfullerene. Each model is 2.5 billion times larger than the chemical structure it represents, and each is designed so that it can be completely disassembled for transport or storage, and then reassembled in a number of configurations depending on the specifics of the installation location.

photo credit: A. Evans © Tang Museum, Skidmore College

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Dodo | Project Info

Dodo

In 2006, the Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research, in conjunction with Singapore Science Centre, commissioned PFP to create “the world’s most accurate dodo model.” To achieve this goal, PFP worked with noted dodo historian Julian Pender-Hume, PhD, and ornithologist Anwar Janoo, PhD. Actual dodo skeletal elements from the American Museum of Natural History were measured and photographed. Casts of both a dodo skull and of the famed dried dodo head from the Oxford Museum were examined. This array of evidence was used as reference throughout the process of sculpting, molding, casting and painting the model.

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