Miramodus
Molecular models, crystal structure models and mineral structures
Molecular Models. We design, build and sell beautiful premium quality ball and stick molecular models and crystal structure models for teaching, museum displays, presentations, awards, legal cases - or for anyone who just wants a stunning scientific model.
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Models are a fascinating and engaging part of chemistry teaching, and are a useful tool for explaining chemical concepts or material properties to colleagues and customers. They provide a tangible interactive means for educators to demonstrate the relation between molecular structure and chemical function in a form that cannot be replicated with, for example, computer imaging. Similarly, they usefully illustrate the relation between mineral structures and physical or chemical properties. Alternatively, they can simply be works of art - three dimensional sculptures that enrich a work or visitor area. Whatever you need them for, our models are accurate, look stunning, and will enhance any office or laboratory.
Examples of our work can be seen throughout our website. Please use the links above to find out more about our products, search our catalogue, or to inquire about having us make a model of your structure.
We hope you enjoy looking round our website and seeing the quality and variety of stunning scientific models that we make for display and education. To buy models from us, or to discuss what you would like made, please either complete an order form or the contact form, or email us at [email protected].
Pre-constructed Models
Pre-constructed models represent the vast majority of our sales, and they are some of the finest crystal structure models that can be purchased. We have the widest range of scales of crystal structure models in the world, ranging from a scale of 1cm=1Å (“Beevers’ Models”™) through to our giant molecular models at a scale of 20cm=1Å or greater, and in a huge range of materials. Almost all of our models are made to order, with the exception of a small number of the commonest chemical structures that we keep in stock, and nothing is 'standard' about them. If a bond angle in a "tetrahedrally" coordinated atom in the structure is 112°, the balls are drilled with holes arranged at that angle - we don't insist that you have to compromise by using regular tetrahedral coordination. The fact that we work with that accuracy can make all the difference between representing features that exist in a crystal and missing them out entirely. What's more, because our models are all made to scale, you also get to see the relative sizes of crystal structures - with regular model kits, for example, a diamond unit cell is much larger than that of sodium chloride, whereas in reality (and in our models) the opposite is true.
Beevers Models (named after their creator, Arnold Beevers) are made with acrylic balls and steel rods, but we also work with a wide range of materials to suit your purpose and your budget. We have made and sold molecular and crystal structure models in acrylic, phenolic resin, wood, brass, copper, aluminium, silver and a host of other materials.
A model of Gallium Nitride made with brass and aluminium balls, linked by green anodised aluminium rods on a granite base.
The accuracy and compactness of our Beevers Models™ system allows our model range to extend over the entire spectrum of 3-dimensional structures in Chemistry, Biology, Geology, Physics and Mathematics. Our huge list of Beevers' ball and stick models for sale from our catalogue includes crystal structure models, biological, physical, mathematical and crystallographic teaching models. We also make an extensive range of models of organic and inorganic molecules - or any compound you want to order. All the usual favourites are available - you can buy a molecular model of DNA or of RNA, inorganic molecules such as fullerenes (buckyballs), from C28 through C60 and C70 to C720 and beyond, inorganic structures such as NaCl or YBCO, and innumerable materials you have probably never encountered, such as Thorium Zinc Carbide. Even if the material that you want is not in our catalogue - or you want a molecular model of an entirely new compound - we will still be able to make your structure, whatever its size; all we need are the crystallographic details or node coordinates.
Multiple bonds in our models
All of our larger scale models (including our giant molecular models) can be made with double bonds, triple bonds or quadruple bonds as part of the structure. We have never attempted quintuple or sextuple bonds and, given their extreme rarity, we don't anticipate ever needing to, but we could include them in larger models if it were ever necessary. Similarly, we can include multiple bonds in allenes and similar structures. How the rods are arranged in triple and quadruple bonds is generally at the customer's discretion, but our default design is to have the bonds symmetrically arranged around the bond axis, rather than to have the rods in a line. So, a triple bond cut across its axis would have three rods at the corners of an equilateral triangle rather than looking like a double bond with an extra bond added in the middle. A quadruple bond would be arranged with either four bonds in square, or a central bond and three surrounding bonds in an equilateral triangle.
Because of size constraints, we do not currently make Beevers models with multiple bonds, but we are hoping to be able to introduce these with new equipment later in 2020 - where necessary, we currently indicate double bonds in Beevers models by using thicker (2mm diameter) rods, in either aluminium, copper or brass, depending on the customer's preference.
Scale matters!
All our models are made accurately and to scale, making it possible to directly measure angles and lengths, to visualise the relative scale of different structures and to show how, for example, a solvent molecule can enter into a porous structure. With other standard model systems, this simply isn't a reliable option, as the user has no assurance that the solvent and the matrix have been made on the same scale. With our models you can immediately see, for example, why diamond is more dense than graphite and why zeolites absorb some compounds but not others.
Kits
Model kits for any of our models can be supplied on request. Because it is largely impractical to send our large models and giant models out as fully constructed molecules or crystals, we routinely supply these models as kits, albeit kits made specifically for the construction of a particular molecule or crystal. If you want a more general kit of large or giant atoms and bonds, we are more than happy to make those up for you, and you can buy exactly what you want as we sell the atoms and bonds individually. Giant kits are fantastic for teaching, for interactive museum exhibits, and for fun activities.
That being said, we don't generally advise people to buy Beevers models in kit or self-build form. Because Beevers models are largely designed for display or teaching specific crystallographic or structural concepts, they are not designed to be taken apart and rebuilt, and they are not as easy to construct as normal model kits. By their nature, our Beevers models don’t readily lend themselves to being sold as kits but we are prepared to sell them for self-build. The buyer needs to be aware, and accept, that they are not as easy assemble as most people expect.
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