Titmouse Tithouse
Date: February-March 2025
Project Length: 5 Weeks
Background
This project was to create an avian sanctuary catered to a selected species of bird. I chose the tufted titmouse, a small songbird native to Eastern North America. They like wooded areas, visiting feeders, and are “clinging birds” who like to grasp small surfaces and typically hang from the ends of twigs.
Mid-Fidelity Model
I vacuum-formed 60% scale models using positives I made with wood and epoxy clay.
Selected Direction
Orthographic & Cross-Section Drawings
I hand drafted both, full scale, on 18"x24" poster paper.
Process
The positives were built with wood then covered with “Rock Hard Water Putty” and layers of epoxy clay, then block-sanded to a smooth finish. I vacuum -formed using 0.03 inch Polystyrene to create both halves of the body. The two halves were connected with binding posts. I made three models, two of which I spray painted.
Final Prototypes
