Leonardo daVinci

These models were researched and constructed for the "And there was Light" exhibition held in Gothenburg, Sweden, in 2010. Recently, they have been on display in the "The Great Masters" exhibition in Istanbul, Turkey. Working closely with a dedicated team of Italian experts, I was given free reins to make the models look like the actual Leonardo drawings rather than having the designs evaluated by engineers. This way, the inherent problems with many of the inventions, but also the beauty of the designs, were celebrated and preserved in the models. All too often, the temptation to "correct" the machines result in pretty, but not very scientifically and artistically correct models and replicas.

And no, sorry, Leonardo did NOT invent the bicycle...

Here's a small selection of the models:

Studio pictures by Simon Schmidbauer

These are some random shots from the workshop. As always, it basically looks like crap at this stage, but I had a very clear vision of what I wanted to do.

 Early days on one of the "Scythed War Chariots".

The swinging bridge

The inside of Leonardo's "Tank".

The base for one of the many catapults Leonardo designed.

Slightly more evolved.

The "tempered spring gear mechanism". A very interesting build.

A very large weapon for hurling multiple projectiles.

Various parts. Time constraints demanded at least five models being built at the same time.

A fat mortar.

One of many wing designs.

Closeup.

The master (?) himself working on the 7meter wing.

A 33-barreled field gun.

The "Tank" with test fitting of guns.

My good friend and talented artist Monix Sjölin helping me with the 7 meter wing.

One of many excavators.

33- and 10-barreled field guns.

The swinging bridge on the rudimentary base plate.

Closeup of one of the war machines.

The big wing being dressed in white cotton.

More details of the "Tank".

The famous "Helicopter" which was not really operating according to those principles at all. Would not have flown.

The 33-barrel field gun in early stages of construction.