In the heart of Shoreditch and Hoxton—London’s vibrant hub of artists, innovators, and design-led thinkers—stands a workshop that has quietly helped shape the creative landscape for decades. Capital Models, founded in 1994 by husband-and-wife team Robert and Marcia Danton-Rees, is more than just a model making studio; it is a trusted creative partner to some… Read more »
In our industry, creating often means cutting, trimming, and shaping, which inevitably results in waste. However, one person’s waste can become another person’s treasure. As we continue to strive for responsible waste management, we’ve discovered a fantastic solution, and that is partnering with the Watford Recycling Art Project (WRAP). Founded in 1995, WRAP… Read more »
In modern manufacturing, CNC and laser cutting machines are sophisticated tools that offer endless possibilities and are capable of remarkable precision. However, to ensure that they operate at full potential and remain a reliable asset, regular maintenance and servicing is essential, benefitting both productivity and safety in the workplace. At Capital Models we make sure… Read more »
The Carshalton Water Tower is a unique Grade II listed building in the grounds of Carshalton House in Surrey. A charity called the Carshalton Water Tower & Historic Garden Trust maintain the building and grounds and is run purely by friends, volunteers and trustees. When a former volunteer, Bob Steele, recently passed away, it was discovered… Read more »
Corian, (designed by the chemical company DuPont) is an engineered stone solid surface material similar to quartz. It is made from a blend of acrylic, minerals and stone derived materials unlike granite which is a natural stone pulled from the earth. Incredibly versatile, pliable and not prone to cracking, Corian offers limitless design possibilities and… Read more »
The model makers and founders of Capital Models don’t pack up their laser cutting tools at 5pm, power down the CNC machine and go home to have supper in front of the TV. Oh no, when Marcia and Robert Danton-Rees leave Capital’s workshop in Shoreditch, they continue creating and building on their own model, the… Read more »
Our ‘organic’ approach to running Capital Models worked like a well-oiled machine but then we had lockdown! So, like all businesses we have had to adapt our way of working. We were a family of 11 however we are now a small team of seven. Some employees are furloughed, and some we permit to travel… Read more »
When Santiago Suarez from Iberia Airline’s press team recently visited our workshop, he was fascinated at the array of miniature worlds found inside our Shoreditch studio. Santiago interviewed our founder Robert Danton-Rees and was so inspired by Robert’s story and passion for model making, that he decided to feature Capital in the May edition of… Read more »
Originating from the Italian Latin word ‘contornare’, the definition of the noun contour is; “an outline representing or bounding the shape or form of something, a way in which something varies, especially the pitch of music or the pattern of tones in an utterance”. Creating contours from a topographic map is a fundamental element in… Read more »
A big part of what we do at Capital Models goes under the radar and un-noticed but a recent project has inspired us to shout out about the repair and refurbishment side of our business. Architectural models are made from various materials that are often lightweight and delicate, so each repair, clean or refurbishment has… Read more »