Pick Your Model Path
4.
Build Your Model. Do ONE of the following using physical and/or computer design methods. Before beginning any model, discuss your approach with your counselor, including the possible use of computer design software such as CAD or 3D modeling tools. Present your plans and completed model to your counselor.
You must choose exactly one option from this requirement. Each path teaches the same design habits — planning, scale, material choice, and revision — but each one emphasizes a different kind of thinking.
Your Options
- Req 4a — House in Miniature: Design a scaled house model with floor plans, elevations, doors, windows, and exterior details. You will practice layout, proportion, and presentation.
- Req 4b — Showing How a Building Stands: Build a framing-corner model that highlights studs, joists, rafters, and other structural parts. You will learn how buildings carry weight and stay rigid.
- Req 4c — Mapping Water In and Waste Out: Model a house plumbing system with supply lines, drains, and venting. You will learn to think in systems and flow paths.
- Req 4d — Motion with Simple Machines: Build a working device that uses at least two simple machines. You will focus on force, motion, and function.
- Req 4e — Designing a Scaled Passenger Vehicle: Measure a real vehicle and turn those observations into a scaled model. You will practice proportion, exterior form, and multi-view drawing.
How to Choose
Choosing Your Option
Compare the kind of work each project asks you to do
- Time and detail: The architectural and vehicle options often require lots of visible detail. The structural and mechanical options can be more focused if you want to show function clearly.
- Best for hands-on building: The structural and mechanical options are especially good if you want to cut, assemble, and test parts physically.
- Best for systems thinking: The plumbing process model is strong if you like understanding how hidden systems connect and flow.
- Best for visual design: The architectural and vehicle options are ideal if you enjoy shape, appearance, and presentation from multiple views.
- What you will gain: Architectural work builds design communication, structural work builds construction understanding, process work builds system mapping, mechanical work builds motion and problem solving, and vehicle work builds proportion and industrial-design thinking.
| Option | Main focus | Good choice if you enjoy… | Main challenge |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4a Architectural | Space, layout, appearance | Houses, room design, presentation models | Keeping scale and details consistent |
| 4b Structural | Framing and support | Construction, how things stand up | Making the skeleton clear and accurate |
| 4c Process | Systems and flow | Plumbing, diagrams, hidden systems | Keeping all lines readable |
| 4d Mechanical | Motion and force | Gadgets, moving parts, testing ideas | Getting the device to work smoothly |
| 4e Industrial | Form and proportion | Cars, vans, buses, exterior styling | Translating measurements into clean model views |
4a Architectural
- Main focus
- Space, layout, appearance
- Good choice if you enjoy…
- Houses, room design, presentation models
- Main challenge
- Keeping scale and details consistent
4b Structural
- Main focus
- Framing and support
- Good choice if you enjoy…
- Construction, how things stand up
- Main challenge
- Making the skeleton clear and accurate
4c Process
- Main focus
- Systems and flow
- Good choice if you enjoy…
- Plumbing, diagrams, hidden systems
- Main challenge
- Keeping all lines readable
4d Mechanical
- Main focus
- Motion and force
- Good choice if you enjoy…
- Gadgets, moving parts, testing ideas
- Main challenge
- Getting the device to work smoothly
4e Industrial
- Main focus
- Form and proportion
- Good choice if you enjoy…
- Cars, vans, buses, exterior styling
- Main challenge
- Translating measurements into clean model views
🎬 Video: New to Scale Modeling? Avoid These Five Beginner Mistakes! — SpruesNBrews Scale Modeling — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tn2SnnhHoLo
The first option is the architectural model. Even if you end up choosing a different build path, reading through one option carefully can help you understand the level of planning your own project will need.