A model of the statue of Hayden Fry is shown. Photo by Joe Cerwinske

In February, Max-Cast in Kalona was commissioned by the City of Coralville to make a statue of former University of Iowa head football coach Hayden Fry. Currently the full-sized clay model is nearly finished, and will be inspected by the end of the week. With the completion scheduled for late August, Steve Maxon of Max-Cast says there’s still a lot of work to be done, so they’re really starting to feel the deadline. It will take a couple of weeks to do the rubber mold and then the wax pieces, then they’ll make the plaster molds and pour the bronze. Once that’s done, it’s a matter of welding the bronze pieces together for the finished statue.

In spite of the looming deadline, Maxon feels confident it will be completed on time for the unveiling at Fryfest on September 2nd in Coralville. He’s been working primarily on fixing details to make everything just right, and those who have seen it have said the resemblance is remarkable. In addition to clay, the full-scale model uses steel rods, plywood, cardboard, and styrofoam. Max-Cast previously made a bronze statue of Irving B. Weber for Iowa City that has been standing since 2003.