https://www.customink.com/fundraising/phs-panther-art-2024-2nd-age-of-vikings-fundraiser

It's already that time of year again!  A week from now students will be here and we will begin this whole adventure once again.    The summer flew by.    I’ve been putting off this thread, as it felt a bit overwhelming.   We no longer have an empty canvas to start with.  As we did last year with our taxidermy,  and the year before with our F22 project, we will be adding to an existing display.    That has made the planning for this year more complex in some ways, and easier in others.  

Many of you have contributed, followed along, and read these threads for the last 11yrs now.  I would not even consider taking on another project without you all here to help us along and make this project better than we could ever imagine. In fact, I know my anxiety for starting this new project will go down as soon as we get this thread going.    You all will come up with crazy ideas, some of which will become major focal points in the display.    

I should be updating syllabus’, and all the other important classroom tasks done soon, , but getting ideas ironed out for this project will  relieve more stress than anything.   I have that much faith in ARFCOM.

A brief history for those who are new to these threads......
ARFCOM has been an essential part of the adventure my students' experience with the building of permanent large installation projects here at our high school.   I know that this year and next will be no different, and our success will be attributable to the incredible help that so many of you provide.   This will be my 28th year teaching.   These projects have rejuvenated my teaching style, given my students something they love coming to school for, and providing experiences that they truly value.  Thank you all, again, for being such a great community.  

My Art classes will again work with CAD students, Welding students, Woodworking students, and Robotic students to try to create our next display.   For those new to our adventures, roughly 60-80 students from grades 9-12 will work the entire school year to build from scratch a permanent 3D display in an area roughly 17’wide x 24'long x 20’high.  Some students might only spend an hour working on this, some three weeks,  and some might spend several hours every day the entire year.  Our last four projects have ended up costing about $2500-2900 each.  The generosity in both funds, equipment, and advice in our previous years have made all the difference in being able to spend that much money on such a project.    Since the UBoat project(2015), ARFCOM has covered the costs of every single one of these projects.    Not a single dime has had to come out of my classroom budget.   We will again have to have a t-shirt sale(later, much later) to celebrate the adventure and raise the funds needed. The fundraiser will be near the end of the project, so not for almost a year.  I know the designs should be epic this year.  

On to the important part……
The 2nd Age of Vikings!
We will be renovating the Dragon and Viking Ship display room this year.  The room is large, 17’ deep, 24’long, and 20’ ceilings.   It’s big, but there is a life size dragon, and 1/3rd scale(13' long?) Viking ship in there already.    I’ve been brainstorming all morning during our meetings.  




Where I’d like to see this go:
-A castle tower around the support column.  Something like this….?  Viking horn sounds, and lights up as you walk by.


-A large 3D British castle in one of the corners of the room built on a landscape tier as we’ve done in the past.  Moving pieces to the castle? Draw bridge?
-Move the existing Viking ship against a wall.  Not sure yet which side.  Remove the oars and turn the sail so it is closer to the wall, opening up more room.
-Build a new, more detailed ship.   Possibly bigger/front half coming out of the wall?  Fans to move the sails?
-Acrylic waves around both ships
-Rune stones?
-Murals of coastal coves, waves, storms, dragons, map of Viking conquests
-3D Viking village, lodge, docks?
-1/3rd skeleton crew aboard the ships.
-Famous Viking riding the dragon?
-Dragon skin covering the existing skeleton.  Glowing lights under the skin.   Add meat to the leg bones with foam.

-Dragon’s breath, flames

I know you will all come up with even better ideas so let’s get this started.  Post your ideas, pictures of what you might envision, or what you’d like to see us add in.   Nothing is set in stone yet.    My ideas are just a starting point.   Students will be able to brainstorm starting next week, and along with your ideas, we can start sculpting out a design.

Some of our previous adventures.
https://www.ar15.com/forums/general/Firebomber-and-Smokejumpers-Student-Project-2022-23-Update-5-25-Adventure-Complete-pg33/5-2578121/








https://www.ar15.com/forums/general/-/5-2479438/?r=-1&page=1





https://www.ar15.com/forums/general/ALARM-U-Boat-Type-VIIC-2015-Liberty-Ship-Edward-Avila-Update5-4-pg71-ships-up-/5-1781084/




https://www.ar15.com/forums/general/-/5-2247089/?r=-1&page=1


https://www.ar15.com/forums/General/1-3rd-Scale-17ft-Marine-One-Helicopter-Project-ThreadUpdate-6-17pg54-magazine-article-/5-2133113/


https://www.ar15.com/forums/general/ALL-ABOARD-1-3rd-scale-Baldwin-4-4-0-Locomotive-Update-5-24pg29-The-End-is-here-Video-/5-2025503/



This last pic brings tears to my eyes....   My youngest son showing off his t-shirt and his work on our Space Shuttle.  Now, almost 7yrs later, starting his 3rd year working for Raytheon Missile Defense as a Computer Engineer.

We have 24 new people in our building this year.  

The new woodshop teacher is sporting a viking beard, Nordic sleeve tats on both arms, and seems pretty excited to be able to help us out with the new project.

I think we can be friends.  

I appreciate the enthusiasm.
Fundraiser will be later....   T-shirt designs will also be later.

Not sure I'm ready to dive into that yet.

I was thinking a burned dragon, with skin like the burning embers in the wood from last year?

Leaving some of the bones would seem like a good idea.

This is intriguing.......the internal organs, not the freshman locked inside.   At least not yet.

Something like that in the mural should be doable.  

I like the idea of the siege of Paris also represented somewhere.