A university degree in model making? Yup.

[Ace-Garageguy]

With all the discussion of the future of model making going on, I thought it would be interesting to look into whats happening in the real world, education-wise. Seems like the idea of creating physical models is still quite alive and well, and can apparently still lead to a productive and well-paid career in some fascinating industries.

Good things for younger people to be aware of, maybe. http://aub.ac.uk/courses/ba/ba-modelmaking/

Edited November 6, 2014 by Ace-Garageguy

[unclescott58]

Two things. I almost fell a sleep listening to these folks. Really telling me nothing. Second that one girl they interview really needs a comb or brush for her hair.

Scott

[Ace-Garageguy]

Two things. I almost fell a sleep listening to these folks. Really telling me nothing. Second that one girl they interview really needs a comb or brush for her hair.

Scott

Boy, nothing like getting the point of the post.

What they said includes several career paths for young people interested in model building and where some of their graduates have ended up.

Fields like the full-scale automobile industry, architecture, product design, medical prosthetics, movies and even Formula One. (These fields pay WELL, by the way)

And the facilities include everything in tools, from handsaws and hammers to state-of-the-art 3D print equipment...and training on same.

And that industry recruiters appreciate the broad, multi-material-and-technique exposure the students are getting, as they see a wide knowledge base being helpful to employees solving unusual problems.

But if that's your definition of "telling me nothing", that's OK by me.

Edited November 6, 2014 by Ace-Garageguy

[Shelby 427 1965]

I think you've just made my dreams come true. And inspired me to work more at school for the next two years of my final course..

Strongly, strongly considering this.

[afx]

My daughter has tremendous artistic and sculpting skills. She want's to pursue these interest as a career. I will definite show his this video to her. Thanks for posting it Bill.

[Lunajammer]

A friend of a friend got a degree in modeling. Travelled to TX from MN for his internship. He's a cook at a grill now. With 3D printing, there may be more outlets for modeling but unless you're passionate about it to go anywhere and take any job with impossible deadlines for any minimum wage for the first several years, then I wouldn't consider it.

I have two higher ed degrees and what I've learned is academia is full of vacant promises from instructors who are teaching rather than doing.

Just my jaded take on the career aspect of it. 3D printing is getting too exciting to ignore though.

[Ace-Garageguy]

I have two higher ed degrees and what I've learned is academia is full of vacant promises from instructors who are teaching rather than doing.

Just my jaded take on the career aspect of it. 3D printing is getting too exciting to ignore though.

Absolutely correct, but most decent (non-loading-dock or burger-flipping) jobs start off paying relatively little considering the education required...even doctors and lawyers in the beginning aren't driving Lamborghinis...but like in everything, for those who have talent, are passionate, work hard, and persevere, a career doing something satisfying and enjoyable is obtainable. In my own mind, doing work you love for a reasonable amount of money beats doing work you hate for big bucks. Your opinion may differ.

For those who don't know, Adam Savage (Mythbusters) was a professional model builder for years before getting the show. In the following video, he discusses model-building for films, and touches on topics well known to us all...scratch-building, kit-bashing, details, etc. He also says that though CGI has largely supplanted physical model work in movies, there is STILL a need for actual physical models, even in the film industry. Skills learned building model cars can translate into a job you like, if you go for it.

If you look to the right of the video on youtube, you'll also see additional videos by Savage on various aspects of model building, tools, etc.

[Art Anderson]

Excellent video, Bill! It simply goes to show that even with all the advanced technology available today, there is still room, and a need, for artisans who can do it the "old fashioned"way.

It seems to me that even with the coming of the likes of CAD, 3D printing, all of that, there is still a need for the skilled human hands of a true artisan, though. While I do not consider myself all that much an artisan, I have done some seemingly minor corrections on model test shots as a way of communicating quickly to the toolmakers just what correction is needed--found that works faster frequently than any flurry of emails, corrected CAD can accomplish.

Working, as I do, in the Physical Facilities area of the University, I still see, on occasion, architectural models, done the old-fashioned way, and certainly in the area of bronze sculptures (which seem to decorate many college/university campuses, those begin "life" as clay or even wooden sculptures, created by human hand and eye--and I can see the value of that sort of thing in the area of making movie props as well. Witness the Millennium Falcon--you can bet that creating something like that, as was done in studio, from a box full of model car parts along with a basic wooden shape, would take far less time just going from the idea to wood, then adding details from whatever source--and in that area, time is money.

Even with CA-designed and 3D printed model car tooling mockups, there is still a pretty fair amount of good old hand work involved--I've seen too much of that to be convinced that it all hangs on computerized, computer controlled technology, when creating tooling mockups that are presented for approval.

Art

[unclescott58]

Is this new? No. And the girl still needs to comb her hair.

Sorry if I'm not excited about this one. Teaching modeling and other similar forms of art are not new on a college level. I'm glad to see that computer technogy is not taking away jobs in this area.

Scott

[Ace-Garageguy]

Is this new? No. And the girl still needs to comb her hair.

Sorry if I'm not excited about this one. Teaching modeling and other similar forms of art are not new on a college level. I'm glad to see that computer technogy is not taking away jobs in this area.

Scott

Well Scott, obviously you already know all about it and choose to focus on the student's hair. That's fine.

However, I posted the information for people who MIGHT NOT know what career paths and educational opportunities were available SPECIFICALLY GEARED TO COMMERCIAL MODEL BUILDING, not art for art's sake.

I'm sure that with a little research, many more college-level courses could be found dealing with same. Architectural modeling, for instance, is sometimes taught as part of an architecture degree path, but is not always available as elective course work to non-architecture students . I was fortunate at Ga.Tech to have had the opportunity to take some architecture-related courses during my time there as a mechanical engineering major...but there was NOTHING even remotely resembling a model-building degree path similar to the one discussed and linked to in the first post.

Probably many students pass on trying for college because they're not fully aware of the opportunities available, and are bored stiff by the conventional offerings.

Knowledge is power.

[southpier]

I think whatever degree path a student chooses had better be worth the 200k investment

Edited November 6, 2014 by southpier

[Ace-Garageguy]

I think whatever degree path a student chooses had better be worth the 200k investment

Well, I guess if there's any possibility of failure at getting a great job after going to school, it would just be better to not even try. Get a negative, skeptical attitude, and give up without trying. Everyone knows that's the path to success.

It's not always right, but having a degree opens many doors that you just can't budge without one.

But here's something to think about. Having ANY decent degree will open doors that the specific degree may not have prepared you for. The degree will get your foot in the door, and your own talent, skill and hard work will do the rest.

And there are programs, like the one in Georgia, that will pay for a large part of the college education for students who work HARD ENOUGH to maintain a B average.

Draw your own inferences, but something like a degree in Art History, basically pretty much useless for employment in the real world, AND a collection of beautifully-built car models would go farther getting you in the door at a model-building company or studio than just the models themselves would. Real-world employers like to see that a prospective hire put out enough effort to get that degree...even if it's not exactly the degree that would be ideal for the position.

Edited November 6, 2014 by Ace-Garageguy

[southpier]

i infer that some career counseling and a study of the Occupational Outlook Handbook would be a benefit prior to signing and student loan agreement.

but it would be really fun to like get paid and stuff to build models.

[Ace-Garageguy]

i infer that some career counseling and a study of the Occupational Outlook Handbook would be a benefit prior to signing and student loan agreement.

but it would be really fun to like get paid and stuff to build models.

Your inference is absolutely spot-on. Interesting that you mentioned the Occupational Outlook Handbook. I just had a quick look, and it seems that Industrial Design and Multimedia Artists and Animators would be the first places to look for jobs building models. In both cases, the median pay in 2012 was around $60k. Not a bad living.

As I was driving earlier this evening, PBS was running a program saying that one of the most ignored college campus resources in general, the Career Counseling Office, is beginning to rise dramatically in importance to both students and parents during consideration of a particular school. Whereas it was usually overlooked until the senior-year-panic OMG-I-gotta-get-a-job set in until fairly recently, with the increasing difficulty of finding good employment, more kids and parents are looking into exactly WHAT kind of work to expect to get with that shiny new degree.

Edited November 7, 2014 by Ace-Garageguy

[southpier]

I meant in the junior year of high school.

[bill w]

Modelmaking in the professional department is alive and doing well. I've been working in a prototype shop for 15 years now, and the work just

keeps on coming. If you like working with your hands and are good at it, modelmaking is a great job too have and will be around for a long time. For all the different kinds of 3-D printing thats out there they all need finishing work, not to mention CNC. It's not always high end work, you do get mundane jobs. It is rewarding and a six figure salary is not out of reach. On the down side there is a lot of stress and tight deadlines.

Bill

[Ace-Garageguy]

i infer that some career counseling and a study of the Occupational Outlook Handbook would be a benefit prior to signing and student loan agreement.

I meant in the junior year of high school.

I guess I drew the wrong inference from your first statement. I wasn't aware that juniors in high school were signing student loan agreements.

[Ace-Garageguy]

I think you've just made my dreams come true. And inspired me to work more at school for the next two years of my final course..

Strongly, strongly considering this.

My daughter has tremendous artistic and sculpting skills. She want's to pursue these interest as a career. I will definite show his this video to her. Thanks for posting it Bill.

I really hope both of you can benefit from seeing this stuff. It's good to be able to work at something you enjoy, most of the time anyway.

[Ace-Garageguy]

Modelmaking in the professional department is alive and doing well. I've been working in a prototype shop for 15 years now, and the work just

keeps on coming. If you like working with your hands and are good at it, modelmaking is a great job too have and will be around for a long time. For all the different kinds of 3-D printing thats out there they all need finishing work, not to mention CNC. It's not always high end work, you do get mundane jobs. It is rewarding and a six figure salary is not out of reach. On the down side there is a lot of stress and tight deadlines.

Bill

Very good to hear from someone in the business, who's successful. Thanks for responding.