Modelmaking

Modelmaking is the practice of creating scale representations of objects, structures, or environments. Models can be built by hand or with modern technologies and are used in education, design, hobby, and entertainment. Modelmaking differs from sculpture in its emphasis on accurate proportions, details, and often reproducibility.

Common materials include wood, plastic, resin, metal, foam, and cardboard, with 3D-printed and laser-cut parts increasingly common. Scales vary by field, with 1:87 (HO) popular in model railroading, 1:72 for aviation and wargaming, 1:48, 1:50 in diorama and vehicle modeling, and larger scales for display. Techniques include scratch-building from raw materials, kitbuilding from assembled model kits, kitbashing to combine parts, as well as casting and molding for duplications, and additive/subtractive fabrication such as 3D printing and CNC.

Finishing strategies include surface preparation, priming, painting, and weathering to simulate wear, corrosion, or aging. General purpose tools include hobby knives, files, saws, sandpaper, adhesives, clamps, and a variety of paints and weathering powders. Safety concerns involve solvents, fumes, dust from sanding, and proper ventilation.

Historically, modelmaking has roots in craftsmanship and education, gaining popularity with mass-produced plastic kits in the mid-20th century and expanding with digital design and 3D printing. Today it serves professional prototyping, film and theatre production, architectural visualization, and a large hobby community around scales, genres, and techniques.