The 'Big Hive'

... came into being through an idea the owners had been developing over some time - a large old-fashioned European beehive which people could look into and see bee/honey related displays.

The hive was laid up in fibreglass, covered in cane strips and artworked. This shell is hinged at left and swings open to give access to the inner workings.

View of hive and setting. [left]
Picture of installation. [below left]
The hive in the workshop. The hive is still to have its bamboo texture and artwork applied. [below, below right]

To keep the European feel of the hive shape dormer-style windows were attached to the fibreglass shell. Visitors look into the interior displays through these windows.

A series of diaramas/graphics presenting phases of the worker bees' life cycle can be viewed by peering through the slot.

The upper dormer gives a view of 5 phases of the Queen's life cycle: lay eggs, some receive royal jelly, new queen, queen and drones, and the new hive.

Pushing the button presents the next of 5 scenes: cleaner, nurse, carrier, guard and field worker.

The shutters are fixed and well attached.

More details about the scenes.
View of the upper window. [top left]
Pic through upper window showing Queen scene [left]
View of the main hive entrance. [low left]
Pic through lower window showing Worker scene [below]
Pic of 'birth' scene on Worker wheel [below right]

At left is a picture of the queen wheel motor and switch.
Click to enlarge.

Inside the Big Hive...

Inside the frame are two independantly motorised wheels.

Seen at left is the wheel containing the 5 scenes which are visible through the lower slot of the hive. The viewer looks through the entry and slightly down. The field of view is restricted to one scene at a time by a "tube" - shown in grey at lower left.

Each scene has an area of approx 780 x 450mm and an available depth of 80mm. This depth allows for some relief effects: a background of honeycomb with cut-out bees mounted in front.

Views of Worker cycle wheel [above left]
& viewing tube [left]

The Queen wheel is similar with each scene about 450mm square. The option for relief is more limited than the Worker wheel as the scenes have been tilted slightly so as to appear more square-on to the viewer who is standing to one side of the hive. Back lighting may be an option.

The image at lower left shows the viewing "tube" to the Queen wheel in grey.

Views of the Queen cycle wheel [above left]
& viewing tube [left]

Note: The motors, drive systems and electrical sensors are not shown in these drawings.

The frame shown at left was used only to form the fibreglass shell and was eventually stored for future use (!)

The mechanical wheels inside the Hive [left]
The Hive with dormers. [low left]

Other Honey Farm pages:
Overall design
Big hive displays
Shelves and graphic panels
Game/donation box