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The idea
to build the model came from the desire to view the Mountain from all
angles, and to be able to use these views as reference for future projects.
For this reason and because of the small scale, I chose to represent only
the Mountain without any signs of human presence. There are no roads or
pasture lands, no Military base or State Park, no Hale Pohaku Visitor
Center, and no observatories.
The scale of the model is 1:24,000 horizontally, which represents
2.625 inches to the mile, or 1 inch to 2000 feet. Thus, at 48 inches square,
the model encompasses an area of just over 18 by 18 miles. Vertically
the scale is exaggerated by approximately 50%. This helps the viewer to
see features such as cinder cones and erosional gullies more clearly.
The model encompasses 10,396 feet vertically, from the lowest point at
3400 feet elevation on the North West corner, to the summit at 13,796
feet elevation.
The construction of the model utilized topographical maps to ensure
it's accuracy. Using the maps as a template, layers of mahogany plywood
were cut out, 46 in all, each one following the shape of a specific contour
line. Using 1/4" plywood, each layer added represented a 240 foot
gain from the previous one. Areas requiring more detail, such as the summit
and all of the cinder cones, were cut from 1/8" or 120 foot layers.
These layers were then stacked in order and laminated together using wood
glue, screws and hundreds of brass pins. The resulting step-by-step form
was covered with acrylic modeling paste to fill in the steps, and was
then intricately carved using a high speed cutter to reveal the wealth
of detail that you can now see. A ghost of the inner plywood layers can
still be seen allowing the viewer to understand the elevation gains involved.
The sides of the model were sanded and polyurethaned resulting in it's
beautiful laminated wood appearance. Finally, the model was painted using
acrylic paints resulting in a beautiful snow-covered Mauna Kea! Aerial,
land-based and even space-based reference photos were used to paint the
model to ensure that is was both true to life and beautiful to behold.
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