Mitsubishi A5M
Metalworking, engineering, and design expression. Traditional metal manufacturing techniques
The Challenge
Create a sculpture of an enclosed volume, with at least one curved surface, using traditional metalworking techniques.
The Outcome
This project culminated in a detailed airplane sculpture by blending engineering, metalworking , and design expression. Utilizing CNC plasma cutting, TIG welding, and hand-tempering, it embodies the fusion of engineering and creativity,
Skills
Sketching, Ideation, Prototyping, CAD, Traditional Metalworking.
About
This sculpture was the final project for my metalworking course at the Massachusetts College of Art and Design. It pays homage to Hayao Miyazaki's film “The Wind Rises,” reflecting on the imagined origins of the Mitsubishi A5M aircraft. Crafted from 12-gauge A32 sheet steel using a combination of cold hydraulic press and traditional hot forging, each piece was hand-shaped and TiG welded together, forming a coherent structure from 30 individual pieces.
The project was a test of new skills, taking countless hours to turn a simple sheet of steel into a complex, 3D sculpture. The result is a piece that proudly shows off my determination, creativity, and how design and engineering can come together beautifully.
This sculpture was the culmination of my intensive metalworking summer course at the Massachusetts College of Art and Design. Drawing inspiration from Hayao Miyazaki's film “The Wind Rises,” which beautifully imagines the genesis of the Mitsubishi A5M aircraft. This piece is a tribute to one of my favorite films.
Crafted entirely from 12-gauge A32 sheet steel, the sculpture is a testament to both my determination and will to learn. Employing a blend of cold hydraulic press and traditional hot forging techniques, I meticulously hand-shaped each component. The assembly process involved TiG welding, a method requiring both precision and dexterity, to attach all 30 individual pieces into a coherent whole. This endeavor was not just a test of skill, but also of endurance. Countless hours of sweat and grit were spent transforming a simple sheet of steel into a complex, three-dimensional form. This project was a creative challenge demanding both physical effort and ingenuity.
What began as a vision in my mind evolved through the rigorous process of engineering and artistic design, culminating in a sculptural piece that I am proud of. This experience was more than an academic exercise; it was a journey of transformation, bringing together the realms of art and engineering to create something truly unique that will last a lifetime.
Design Process
The film "The Wind Rises" that Hayao Miyazaki was the inspiration for this piece. In the film we see a white airplane in a dream within the mind of the main character "Jiro" that is thought to be a spiritual predecessor to the Mitsubishi A5M. I wanted to compare this dream plane to that of a real Mitsubishi A5M, so I took measurements from the film, pausing scenes and physically measuring the hand drawn animations to make assumptions on proportions of the airplane. These measurements were scaled and transferred onto two sheets of craft cardboard, where I created a side-by-side representation of the Mitsubishi A5M and Jiro's dream plane.
My initial vision for this sculpture was to create a man, poised to launch an airplane skyward as if it were made of paper. This figure was to be forged in bronze, a medium symbolizing durability, expert craftsmanship, and the timeless elegance reminiscent of ancient Greek statues. The contrast between the bronze and steel would have offered a captivating interplay of materials. Due to unforeseen complications, casting in bronze wasn't feasible.
I constructed a cardboard model to determine the airplane's proportions, aiding in visualizing the final metal sculpture's scale. This process was instrumental in conceptualizing the design. In SolidWorks, I ambitiously tackled the task of designing the airplane using the sheet metal feature. This approach allowed me to flatten each component, and create a comprehensive 2D drawing with all the parts. Each part was then precisely cut from sheet metal using a CNC plasma cutter.
The forming and assembly of these pieces was an extremely physical hands-on endeavor. I employed a variety of techniques, including cold hydraulic pressing and traditional hot forging, blending these methods to achieve the desired shape. Eager to challenge myself further, I opted for TIG welding, known for its versatility and complexity. A distinctive feature of my work is the use of silicon bronze welding rods (gold) for attaching the nose and hand-tempered canopy to the body of the airplane.
The last touch on this project that brought it to life was the hand-tempering of the airplane's canopy and nose cone. Tempering is typically a precise process, where different temper colors can be brought out of the metal based on exposure to very specific temperatures. This is usually performed in a temperature-controlled oven, or in a place where the temperature that the metal will be exposed to is measured. In my case, all I had available was a blow torch. I proceeded carefully, applying high heat in very short bursts and watching the metal physically change color in front of my eyes; a truly mesmerizing moment. While the end result was an unexpected outcome, it became a defining feature, adding a vibrant splash of color that pops out against the steel airplane body.
