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Conservators under the Skull

from the NHM London working on the skull of the Blue whale

Suspending the whale in the hangar at Bicester Heritage

PRINTS available for all artwork on this page. 

Why not own a part of history?!

Purchase a limited edition print of 'Hope' the Blue Whale Skeleton recorded in situ at Bicester Heritage.  These reportage pastels were created from life as the as the RCI crew worked on the Blue whale skeleton offering a unique insight into the fabrication process.  The prints are of exceptional quality  images photographed by Jonathan E. Jackson - Photo Unit Studio Manager, Lucie Goodayle - Photographer, The Natural History Museum. A record of the work resides in the Natural History Museum's archives and the originals are owned by Research Casting International Ltd Canada.  ENQUIRE

The skeleton crew attaching the mandibles 

Conservators working on the Skull

sketched whilst looking down from the bridge in Hinzte Hall

Attaching the final vertebrae to the tail

In the hangar  working on the mandibles (jaw bones) and  vertebrae

In the beginning setting up the vertebral column and working on the armature of the skull

Lizard Whale

Chris working on the metal work (armature) to support the ribs.  The large fan like scapula in the centre of the page shows the armature before it's painted and camouflaged to the bone.  Created over three full days in the hangar at Bicester Heritage whilst RCI were away.

Skull Spaceship

The skull is raised as the skeleton crew begin to attach the mandibles

Scapula alignment

Full team attaching and aligning the humerus and scapula to the ribcage 

It's a messy business! mixing the paste              Father and Son working on the flippers              Working on the armature of the flipper

                                                                                        

Working on the humerus with the skull in the background

Attaching the first rib with the skull in the foreground

In the hangar at Bicester Heritage on the right having a conversation around the scapula

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