Occupational Outlook Quarterly • Spring 2005

42

Computers, gas pumps, and MP3 players—these 

are some of the everyday objects that Duane Martinez builds. But for him, form supersedes function. His objects look real, but they’re not. 

Duane makes models of new products before they 

go into production. As a model maker, he turns the ideas 

of designers and engineers into solid, three-dimensional 

objects that people can see and touch. “It’s a little like 

magic,” Duane says. “We are asked to create things that 

are entirely new.” 

Almost everything that is manufactured starts as a 

model. These models are created from foam or other materials and are used to test and improve designs or to give 

buyers a first look at new products. 

Like most model makers, Duane starts his work when 

a designer brings him a drawing. It could be as simple as 

a rough sketch on a napkin or as complicated as a digital 

blueprint. Either way, Duane uses the drawing to make 

a simple model out of lightweight foam. Later, when the 

designers are sure that they like the product’s shape, he 

creates a more realistic model.

Duane starts many models by drawing a three-dimensional picture on a computer using computer-aided design 

(CAD) software. Then, he programs the coordinates from 

the picture into automated tools in the shop. These tools 

follow the specified coordinates, cutting material into 

parts for the model.

Drawing in three dimensions is central to a model 

maker’s work. “You need to be able to think spatially to 

look at a two-dimensional drawing and add in the third 

dimension,” says Duane. “Most model makers can see 

something on paper and know what it will look like if it is 

flipped over or turned in space.”

Duane finishes his models by hand, sculpting them 

with woodworking tools, sandpaper, and small dental 

tools that he has modified for this detail work. “You cut 

away the extra until you get the shape you want,” he says. 

“But you have to be careful, because you only get one 

pass at the foam. You can’t go back and patch it if you 

make the wrong cut.” 

Some designers visit Duane in the shop to consult 

with him as they finalize the project. “Over time, I get 

to know the designers’ styles,” says Duane. “I know 

what kind of lines they’ll want.” As designers watch him 

work, they ask for changes along the way. Duane quickly 

sculpts several models, and designers choose which one 

they like best. 

The foam stage is over when the designer approves a 

shape. Then, it’s time for Duane to make a better model. 

He uses a variety of materials—including aluminum, 

titanium, wood, leather, plastic, rubber, and stone—that 

match the project’s purpose. Some models are photographed for catalogs and press releases and, thus, need 

perfect exteriors. Other models, such as Duane’s gas 

pump prototype, are built for trade shows. These models 

are often made with magnets so that they can come apart 

easily for travel. 

The final stage in building models is adding filler and 

paint. A good paint job goes a long way toward making a 

model look real. Nearly any look can be simulated, from 

the glossy look of a sports car to the wood grain of fine 

furniture. Model makers also add details, such as logos 

and digital displays. The level of realism needed depends 

on the model’s intended use. A model for a consumer 

focus group, for example, must be more detailed than a 

model that does not need to be examined as closely. 

Some models have to move and work as well as look 

good. Those models are among the most exciting to create. “I’ve always wanted to work in a James Bond lab,” 

Duane says, “so making things with moving parts and 

Model 

maker

by Olivia Crosby

Olivia Crosby is the managing editor of the OOQ, 

(202) 691-5716.

You’re a what?
43

Spring 2005 • Occupational Outlook Quarterly

43

working buttons is especially fun.” He fits pieces together 

like a 3-D puzzle, perhaps trying many different approaches before he finds a configuration that works.

Building models takes a steady hand and good eyesight, especially when making something small, such as 

the play and pause buttons on a CD player. 

Being so precise takes time. Duane has worked 36 

hours straight to meet a deadline. And modeling happens 

late in the design process, so model makers often have 

to make up lost time. Duane has slept on the floor of the 

shop to finish some projects, catching naps while coats of 

paint dried. “The passion that I have gives me the adrenaline I need to get a job done,” says Duane. “I want it to 

look good because a well-made model can really sell a 

design.”

Another motivation for working long hours is seeing 

the final product, especially when it’s on the market. “It’s 

fun to go to the computer store and see all the shapes and 

sizes of the computer notebooks I worked on,” Duane 

says, “or to see the gas pump I modeled standing at the 

convenience store near my house.” 

Modeling consumer products is only one part of 

the model-making profession. Many modelers work 

on movie sets, building models for special effects. 

Other model makers create museum displays or oneof-a-kind awards and trophies. Architectural firms also 

hire model makers to create scaled-down versions of 

apartment buildings, amusement parks, and other real 

estate. These models—which usually include tiny cars 

and people—help investors visualize how a project will 

look. 

Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 

(BLS) show that there were more than 11,000 model 

makers employed in May 2004. But that number 

doesn’t include people who ran their own businesses, 

and it might include workers who do tasks somewhat 

differently than the ones described here. 

Median annual earnings for metal and plastic model 

makers were $44,250, according to BLS data for May 

2004, meaning that half of these workers earned more 

than that amount and half earned less. The highest earning 10 percent made more than $68,790. The automobile industry paid some of the highest salaries. Wood 

model makers had median earnings of $26,910, with the 

highest paid 10 percent earning more than $57,230.

There are many different ways to become a model 

maker. Some people learn model making primarily on 

the job. Many others earn an associate degree in model 

making or industrial design technology. Others earn a 

bachelor’s degree in fine arts, design, or engineering. Still 

others complete an apprenticeship or study trades, such as 

drafting, woodworking, and painting. 

Model makers stay current by taking classes, watching experienced workers, and attending conferences, such 

as those held by the Association of Professional Model 

Makers. 

Duane’s interest in model making began in high 

school, when he spent hours building model cars. He 

also took classes in ceramics and other crafts mainly as 

a hobby. But when he finally discovered professional 

model making, those classes helped him get his first job. 

“There are opportunities out there. You don’t have to 

be a starving artist,” Duane says. “Growing up, I never 

knew model making could be a career, and I wish I’d 

found it sooner. I love it!”