Ark Replica

[jameth]

I posted this on COW but I wanted to put it here as well for any input.

There does not seem to be much about a full size Ark replica anywhere on this forum. Please forgive me if there is and I just could not find it. This is what I found:

juasilatos has done some awesome work on trying to build an Ark and has great info, measurements, etc. But there has been nothing new in a year. I emailed him and am waiting for an update.

doc riviere's kit appears to have not worked out to well.

and lastly
Dr Jones 3000 has an awesome Ark that he is not sharing any info on???

Okay if there is any additional info can you please let me know because that is all I have found.

Now for the questions:

Does anyone know where to get an Ark replica kit and or parts from a reliable person???

Does anyone have measurements of the diameter of the legs?

Also I have emailed one of jvasilatos' people about gold covering on wood because his website says he can do it. It's only $200 to do a car bumper in chrome so I'll throw up his response when I get it.

I do not see any reason why a good looking Ark replica can not be done for $1,000 or less.

[jameth]

Ark Maker Found.

This is a copy of the email Cris sent me who is a very nice guy and very quick to answer questions.

Any thoughts would be appreciated:

Thank you for your interest in the ARK OF THE COVENANT project!! You can see a video of a finished ark from these same parts here:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=AuUKcdEr9JU

The website homepage is here: www.goldenarmor.com/arkhomepage.html

In late 2008 several parts have undergone improvements and remasterings to ease the construction of your ark should you decide to acquire it in KIT form. It is also available in FINISHED form either
virgin raw surface or a painted surface. *Ask for details
**PLEASE NOTE: anything that is described as a KIT means that the artist does absolutely no work to the pieces. They are cast from the mold and immediately set into a shipping box. You will need to trim the pieces, putty, clean and sand all the seamlines, assemble, detail, paint etc..
**Carpentry and modelling skills are highly recommended. The mercy seat is a 2 part thermal formed shell that requires some time and patience to put together.
Here are prices in KIT form.
______________________________________
4 custom made pinecone feet including the bottom ribbing: $90 for the set of 4
Bottom bead ribbing trim (3 very long strips enough to cover the entire bottom panels $75)
Story panels (set of 2 rectangles, set of 2 squares) $185
Top ribbing components with corner cutouts to fit flush on a 90o angle (set of 4) $95
Stave rings (set of 4 cut to the proper lengths) $25
MERCY SEAT aka LID (this is the BIG one) - over 500 hours to construct with 264 lotus leaves lining the top surface, top layer, and bottom layer.
$350 for the thermal formed version
Gallery Rails $135 (uses a special high strength casting resin) Enough linked figures to produce 2 long sides and 2 short sides (46 characters).
ARK ANGELS: 245 each separately or $420 for a pair.
________________________________
If you decide to get ALL the above kit pieces, the price is discounted to $999.00 (nearly a $400 savings)
This base kit does not include the lumber, hardware (bolts & screws) and flat plastic you'll need for the construction. All of those materials can be found at any home improvement center. Measurements for the carpentry phase are provided with each kit.
LUMBER
If you would like all the pre-measured and pre-cut lumber to produce the trunk please include $125. This includes ALL the lumber you will need ready to assemble except the stave poles which you will need to pick up at lowes (8-foot bed posts).

SIDE PANELS
The only other component needed is the flat material for making the smooth surface for the sides. Essentially you just need a flat surface that you cut 'windows' out of that the story panels show through. Styrene, ABS, Masonite, vinyl flooring, etc.. there are a number of options you can find at home depot.
If you would like styrene side paneling from me, please add $85 for all 4 sides, pre cut to the proper dimensions with the windows stenciled into position, you will need a dremel to cut them out by hand.

_________________________________________________________________
Measurements of a finished ark:
the LID is 43" long, 25 1/2 " wide, 15 1/2" tall including the angels.
The TRUNK is 19 1/2" tall, 23" wide, 40" long.
So that makes it a total of 35" tall when assembled with the lid on the trunk.
The weight (estimated) is around 75 pounds.
________________________________________________________________
FINISHING SERVICE
If you would prefer a FINISHED ark either painted gold (sorry gold plating not availble currently), or in RAW virgin surface (this leaves you the option to have the ark mirrorchromed, gold chrome plated or hand-guilded), here are prices:
RAW surface completed ark $3,200.00
Painted ark 3,550.00

Contact [e-mail] for more information.
Thank you!!!
INFORMATION ON GOLD GUILDING (the best alternative to chrome metalizing)
www.gildedplanet.com/gildingtutorials.asp


www.youtube.com/watch?v=1HegY-Y5DWA


www.youtube.com/watch?v=BVNTdS32s58

Finishing:
Unfortunately gold plating is the best way to go and even that is very elusive. The company that did my first one is out of business. The company I found for the second does a really crappy job and aren't able to do the lids because its too large to fit into their chamber. A 3rd company I found in California can do the job and do it right, but they want upwards of 4,000 for the job.

THe least expensive alternative is the gold leafing I talk about at the bottom of the priceguide. MUCH better than paint, but still not as smooth or mirrored as a gold plated surface.


Shipping for the entire kit about $125