Randal Birkey created this quick felt tip ink line sketch showing the location of a “piston pin” in the layout of an automotive V-8 engine.
Tag Archives: Technical Illustration
Aiwa Car Stereo
Exploded View Diagram
Exploded View Diagram of Automotive Engine Head
Exploded view diagrams are very useful for communicating technical information is an easy to understand manner. They show various parts and pieces of a manufactured item or product in a “pulled apart” manner, with lines and visual aids to help the viewer understand where each part fits, and sometimes even in what order. In this case, an engine head is shown with the gasket, and various pins, washers, springs, seals and plugs extended away and in line with where they fit.
This particular technical exploded view diagram is done in a “pen and ink” style, and can easily be replicated in a vector-based software program like Adobe Illustrator.
Abloy Lock Technical Illustration
The Customer’s Need
The manufacturer of Abloy Locks required an illustration to reveal the unique tumbler technology used in their locks for a trade advertisement.
Randal’s Solution
Randal was contacted by the manufacturer’s ad agency in the 1980′s and contracted to create the illustration. This image is one of the working “pencils” that Randal did on his way to the final illustration. Working from physical lock mechanisms provided by the manufacturer, Randal used his extensive engineering and blueprint knowledge to construct the cutaway view of the internal lock tumblers and mechanism. The final art was delivered to the ad agncy, and used in the trade ad for the customer.
Mita Copier Technical Product Illustration
Chicago is a very commercial, product-driven town when it comes to advertising and design work. Randal did this product illustration in Adobe Illustrator for an ad featuring a Mita copier. This technical line art style lends itself well to newspaper and magazine advertising reproduction, popular in the 1980′s.





