2 days ago
How do you make a 'special shape' hot air balloon for Bristol Balloon Fiesta?
The Bristol International Balloon Fiesta is off to a successful start with over 80 balloons launching on the first mass ascent.
A highlight for many are the 'special shapes' - depicting characters or items - but what does it take to make and fly a differently shaped balloon.
What are the special shapes to spot this year?
There have been many memorable shapes over the years of the festival and this year sees some new appearances and familiar faces. These ones will be flying:
Wednesday - the Addams Family character, star of her own Netflix series, casts a silhouette with her famous plaits.
UP - the balloon made of hundreds of balloons from the famous animated film.
Buster & Bella the Bulldogs - hear more about them below.
Astro the Alien - the green face will be watching you.
Oggy the Friendly Dragon - giving a thumbs up as he passes by.
Wera Screwdriver - shaped like the handle with the shank below the basket.
Wallace & Gromit's Moon Rocket - having a Grand Day Out.
Slither the Snake - twisted around a yellow balloon.
Lips - with a beaming smile and bright white teeth.
Daisy The Cow - the black and white Friesian floating above the fields.
Orange - a slice of citrus
Slick The Dragon - floating by a box with his feet dangling
Tethered only (can be seen at Ashton Court)
Ralph the Roziere
Ordnance Survey Map
Panasonic Battery
BBC Globe
Nivea Deodorant
Thomas the Tank Engine
Rupert the Bear
Snow White
Sonic the Hedgehog
How are they made?
Many of the special shapes are designed and produced in Bristol itself - at Cameron Balloons. The Director and Founder Don Cameron is credited with bringing ballooning to the UK and has overseen many special shapes over the years.
'It's difficult to have a favourite because your one at the time is the most interesting'
Concept
The customer will often approach the team with an idea in mind. Buster the Bulldog for example was created after a request for a dog-type shape.
Graphic Designer Will Offer explains, 'We've gone away and done some sketches and really thought about how it might fly. We've talked to the technical team - seen what they can produce for us - whether it will work as a shape and then we add more detail, artwork and it ends up hopefully looking fantastic'.
Technicals
This team has to make sure the idea works in practice and can actually fly.
Envelope Designer Steve Cocker explains 'It was a sketch and I said it can work - let's put it onto a standard balloon then let's just animate it."
"It's very easy to have two ears the same - so we have one ear going down, one ear going up, put the tongue to the side - it gives it a little bit more character. So it's a question of nudging it into the right shape and then saying yes we can do that.'
Assembly
Fleur Pryce is one of the seamstresses who then sew the shapes together.
'It's absolutely crazy - every day is a different day. It's so rewarding'.
She's been so charmed by ballooning she's becoming a pilot.
'I thought since I make them I may as well give it a go. So yeah I'm learning to fly."
After testing and delivery the shapes are ready to head to the skies.
As Don Cameron says, ' It's different from flying in an aeroplane. You can lean over the side of the basket and talk to people on the ground for example. It is just a magical thing.'
