Shropshire's model professionals – from Eddie to Dr Who

Bakers Patterns, based on Telford's Stafford Park Industrial Estate, makes models and patterns for a huge range of customers.

Eddie, the wild-eyed Iron Maiden mascot, appeared above the stage during the heavy metal band's 2011 world tour thanks to a model made by the company, while it has also created structures of aliens for the Mars-set 2012 movie John Carter, and a giant wolf for the hit television programme Game of Thrones.

It has made plastic heads for Robbie Williams, which were then turned into glitter balls for the star's appearance on Strictly Come Dancing, and for the props department to work on as a stand-in for Matt Smith on Doctor Who.

It also has a long relationship with Disney, and has been responsible for modelling huge props such as submarines for the Captain America movies, and a full-sized replica of a stealth hawk helicopter for Zero Dark Thirty, the Oscar-winning film about the death of Osama Bin Laden.

Managing director John Baker said: "Mr father Bill Baker founded the company 30 years ago, as an engineering pattern maker making the patterns for press tools for the wings on cars, but when the industry was in decline 10 years ago we diversified into technical art.

"Now we do a lot of work for people like Marvel, and Disney. On some occasions we can replicate an actor for them by laser scanning, so their dress-making department can have a sculpture of each actor."

Among the actors to have been reconstructed using the company's huge, seven-metre long, five-axis CNC machines are Willem Dafoe, for his role in John Carter, and Zoe Saldana of Star Trek fame, for her forthcoming Guardians of the Galaxy film.

Bakers Patterns Ltd is also responsible for creating prop patterns for movies such as Thor: The Dark World, Promethius, and upcoming blockbusters Jupiter Ascending and Exodus: Gods And Kings, as well as for artists including Angel of the North creator Antony Gormley.

"We never make the same thing twice," Mr Baker added. "I have never had a better job.

"We can do anything from 10 to 50 jobs per week. We made a full-sized wolf for Game of Thrones and the aliens for John Carter, as even if something is done by CGI the actors need the wolf to see what they are talking to."

Now, as the company embraces new projects, it has enlisted the help of Julie Owen from Wellington-based business management company Jigsaw to help transform the business.

Mr Baker added: "It has been a breath of fresh air. Our turnover has increased because we are doing more work now.

"We are getting invoices out quicker so the cash flow is better and turnover goes up – it makes business sense."

The company employs seven people, including Mr Baker, and is now attempting to use its partnership with Jigsaw to ensure it can continue to raise the number of projects it takes on.

Mrs Owen said:

"To know that we have already made an impact on the efficiency of their business is an honour, it drives us on to see how else we can help the business grow."