how do you make scale modles?

DisJosh

Well-Known Member
Very cool. I still have my "N" guage train, but I never had a layout.

All my friends growing up had "HO", I never knew anyone else that had an "N"


I'm definitetly impressed! :wave:

I had an HO layout when I was growing up. My problem was that all the hobby shops catered to old guys into O scale Lionel trains. lol One of these days when I have a home with some space I WILL build my dream layout.!

I'd love to do a G scale in the backyard too. :D
 

mousermerf

Account Suspended
I love model work, but it's really hard. I hope to vastly improve at it.

Lemme see if i can dig up some photos of some of the stuff i've done for classes.
 

mousermerf

Account Suspended
Here we go (no making fun of me! I'm still learning!) but here's Inherit the Wind with some basic lighting design thrown in. 1/4" scale model of a black box theater.

It's supposed to be raining.. so this is my blatant interpetation of rain during preshow.

light1.jpg


The opening, warm summer day, a little on the reddish side of things, but looks better if the image is printed out.

light2.jpg


And we go into the center for the courtroom, hard to tell but the lighting warms up in that area. Lighting a scale model is hard cuz you get shadows that wouldn't normally occur. Unless you've got those magic tiny rigs, you're lighting a small set with the equivilent of suns.

light3.jpg


And finally the prayer meeting, all dramatic :)

light4.jpg


Okie, there ya go - it took forever, and I hope it's just one of many such projects I get to do. Here's hoping i learn and improve.
 

disneytopdog

Active Member
Trust me don't go into architecture unless you plan on spending ever waking moment studying and building models that most likely are going to be ripped apart by the professor because its not how he thinks it should be and you should know that. Its a very very very long process and from the few architects Ive talked to while Ive been studying most of the stuff I'm learning about model building I will never even use because its all on computer now. Go Figure.
Also it looses its fun factor when you have to do it day and day and day over again and again.

Architecture has done all right for me and my family as a profession. Yes it was a long process to get my degrees, my work was torn apart by the professors many times. But thats all part of it. What you learn in that process only makes you better at your craft. This applies to any degree of study, Doctor, Lawyer...etc

Yes it is all being done on computer, but models are still being made and used.
 

mousermerf

Account Suspended
There's still plenty of architects who don't do computer drafting. They actually pay other people to put their stuff into a cad program if it's needed.
 

MickeyJman06

New Member
Original Poster
Here we go (no making fun of me! I'm still learning!) but here's Inherit the Wind with some basic lighting design thrown in. 1/4" scale model of a black box theater.

It's supposed to be raining.. so this is my blatant interpetation of rain during preshow.

light1.jpg


The opening, warm summer day, a little on the reddish side of things, but looks better if the image is printed out.

light2.jpg


And we go into the center for the courtroom, hard to tell but the lighting warms up in that area. Lighting a scale model is hard cuz you get shadows that wouldn't normally occur. Unless you've got those magic tiny rigs, you're lighting a small set with the equivilent of suns.

light3.jpg


And finally the prayer meeting, all dramatic :)

light4.jpg


Okie, there ya go - it took forever, and I hope it's just one of many such projects I get to do. Here's hoping i learn and improve.
that wasn't bad, pretty cool:cool:
 

Tigggrl

Well-Known Member
These Models are so cool!
I thought we had pics in the computer, but I havent been able to fond any. From what I now now, most of the Work in progress pics are at burnsland, under CalDisney. Sorry Guys!
 

New2WDW

New Member
Modeling: Many of the statements about modeling and architecture that were stated previously are true. You will definitely need the proper basic tools x-acto knives and scale as shown before. Foam core is a pain due to the core pieces clumping as you cut it.

I would recommend some other materials:
1) Chipboard (it is a pressed cardboard great for filler, topos, structure, etc.) If you have a blueprint/copy house near they might have plenty they would give you as it comes as a backer in packages of paper.
2) Balsa wood or plastic formed beams - for detailed ironwork or structure that could be spray painted. You can find these in craft stores Michaels, Hobby Lobby, etc.
3) The trees and grass elements can be found in Hobby stores as well but with limited selection or you can look up places online like this tree site http://www.modeltreeworld.com/
4) Also (if they still have this) there was a product called Flec Stone that when sprayed on came out looking like stone, grass, etc. It depends on the scale of your model whether this will look appropriate.
5) Cardstock or Mattboard - you can use these items to apply over chipboard if needed to create designs, color and texture. Mattboard is thicker - more like chipboard. You can print images from the computer onto Cardstock and then apply to your model to get excellent signage, billboards, etc.

So with just some basic materials at little cost and some creativity you can turn out some great models. Also, if you would like to do models look into some classes at Art schools and go directly into that as opposed to becoming an Architect. You could find a job at a modeling company doing this. As it has been stated before, very few models are built anymore as the Architecture field is so rushed that by the time you build the model the client wants the actual building built! :lol: Plus much is done on the computer in the way of three dimensional work. If you like playing with 3-D modeling I would recommend a fairly inexpensive (trial free) software called Sketchup. I have been using this program over the super expensive modeling programs due to its ease of modeling and finished imagery and getting out finals to the client quicker. The other programs take a lot of tweaking of lighting, camera, materials, etc. And the clients do not want to pay for the higher end modeling when they just want to see the basic form of their project.

Well, break is over and I gotta get back to it! Good Luck!

Keith
 

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