So, for about the last month I’ve been building and researching model-making and miniature filmmaking. After doing a bunch of experiments in 3d I kind of fell down a rabbit hole of effect techniques.

My initial instinct was to scratch build a spaceship but I have been toying with that for a year and the amount of work to source parts and the creativity to build was just too large of a hurtle for a first attempt.

Around a month ago I decided to step away from playing in 3d and Star Wars inspiration to another franchise that struck a cord with my as a kid. Terminator. There is a few technical reasons to be attracted to this world as well as the scale and terror of the Future War.

So I went out looking for simple toys or models of the Hunter Killer machines. As a kid I learned the surprising number of classic techniques that went into this scene being filmed. Looking around online I found kits and lighting kits for both the Aerial and Tank HK’s. There is only one problem.

I haven’t built a model kit since I was 12. Also I really didn’t build anything because it was a case of (grand)parental supervision turning into child supervision while the kits were built for us.

So, needless to say it’s been going pretty well so far. The next phase is the lighting kit which has already lead to my sizzling my fingers on a Soldering Iron. But I’m hopeful. As long as I keep all my digits. I have some ideas on how to “fly” the aerial model but I have found very little on how to do this online. I am going to try to get up a tutorial on what I do when i get to film this.

I’ve seen some videos such as Stan Winston School’s intro on the Lydecker Method of flying planes but there is a real hole on new info. I cannot find anything on the mechanisms used to hang planes and move models on screen. If anyone has suggestions please feel free to leave it in comments below.

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