Functional Modelling

Archival Accuracy to Interactive Experience

This project set out to digitally recreate two icons of early home computing: the BBC Micro and the Acorn Electron. Working from original technical drawings, manuals, and photographic references, each machine was carefully modelled in Blender with an emphasis on historical accuracy and visual clarity. To complete the set, a matching Cub monitor was also built, textured, and rendered, extending the context for both editorial and digital applications.

The original commission came from Acorn – A World in Pixels (Idesine), a landmark retrospective on the Acorn era of computing. The models were used to bring new levels of precision and detail to the book:

  • Wireframe diagrams illustrated the underlying structure of the machines.

  • Realistic renders conveyed their form, finish, and character with clarity.

These assets gave the publication a clear and contemporary visual treatment, strengthening technical overviews, layout spreads, and feature imagery. They allowed the book to communicate the machines’ design in a way that was both accurate and visually engaging.

For Page and Screen

Interactive Use

Following publication, the models took on a second life. Developer Dominic Pajak integrated the BBC Micro and Cub monitor into virtual.bbcmic.ro — a browser-based BBC Micro emulator. Adapted for web interactivity, the assets became fully functional components of a virtual user interface. Visitors can now explore and operate a simulated BBC Micro in real time, all from within the browser. This unexpected but welcome development demonstrates how carefully constructed assets can extend beyond static visuals into dynamic, user-led experiences.

Acorn – A World in Pixels

The original commission was for the book Acorn – A World in Pixels (published by Idesine). The models were used to generate both wireframe diagrams and realistic renders, providing a fresh visual language for this expanded retrospective. These illustrations showcased the machines in high fidelity and were tailored for use across layout spreads, technical overviews, and feature imagery. The renders added a modern layer of visual depth to a book grounded in computing heritage.