Drone Modeling Course

Our SketchUp drone modeling tutorial is an eleven-lesson series on modeling a technical object in SketchUp. The drone has been one of the most popular gadgets of recent years. But we did not choose this model for its popularity; we chose it because it is challenging to model. A drone’s parts call for more than one modeling technique. (The video is in Turkish; this guide walks through the key steps in English.)

Most people choose SketchUp for architectural modeling. But the program has also come a long way for drawing and rendering models like this. You can start on complex modeling with this course too.

Drone modeling tutorial playlist

The playlist at the top of the post contains all eleven lessons of the series. We recommend watching them in order, because each lesson builds on the previous one. We also covered the first lesson of the series and the modeling method in our SketchUp drone modeling post.

Why model a drone?

If you have followed us for a while, you know we have a large SketchUp group. From time to time we make modeling and extension videos based on requests from the group. This series came from those requests too. Our users wanted to see different techniques beyond architectural modeling.

This lesson is an introduction to the advanced stages of modeling. We start our videos on more complex modeling techniques with this drone lesson. If you are curious about the extensions we use in the series, our SketchUp extensions post is a good starting point.

Reference for the drone modeling tutorial

As a reference for this model we chose a work by a DeviantArt user. You can see the reference work on the FUSE Attack Drone page. Keeping this image open while you build your own model makes the job much easier.

Working from a reference is one of the most important habits for technical models. Getting the proportions of the parts and how they connect right from memory alone is very hard. Studying the reference from different angles also helps you guess the parts you cannot see.

What to watch for in technical models

Technical objects like a drone call for a different way of thinking than architectural models. Instead of flat walls, these models have curved bodies, thin arms and repeating propellers. So we recommend paying attention to these points:

• Use symmetry: Model half of the drone and create the other half by mirroring it.
• Make components: If the four arms and four propellers are identical, make one a component and copy it.
• Keep parts separate: Keep the body, arms, motors and propellers in separate groups.
• Watch the scale: SketchUp struggles to create faces on very small objects. So draw the model at a large scale, then scale it down.

The scale issue in the last point is something many users who work with small objects run into. You can find detailed information about SketchUp tools in the SketchUp Help Center.

Materials and rendering for the drone model

Once the model is finished, your choice of materials at the render stage changes the result a lot. Drone bodies usually have matte or semi-gloss plastic surfaces. For parts like motors and screws you use metal materials. You create this difference with reflection and roughness settings. For example, give the plastic body a light, diffuse reflection. On metal parts, make the reflection sharper.

The best scene for technical objects is usually a simple studio setup. A flat or slightly curved backdrop brings the model’s lines forward. Two or three soft light sources are enough for lighting. That way every part of the model looks clear and readable. You can reuse the same scene later for product and furniture images.

After the drone modeling tutorial

Once you finish the series, modeling non-architectural objects will feel much easier. You can use the same techniques for vehicle, furniture or product models. If you want to continue with landscape elements, our gazebo lesson is a good next step.

Also, take a screenshot of your model at the end of each lesson as you watch the series. When you put these screenshots side by side, you clearly see how the model developed step by step. You also notice the stages where you struggled, and you can practice those topics again. If you share your finished model in our Facebook group, you also get feedback from other users.

We publish our modeling videos on our site in order. Visit the site often so you do not miss new lessons.

Frequently asked questions

How many lessons are in the drone modeling tutorial?

The playlist has eleven lessons. We recommend watching them in order.

Do I need extensions for this series?

The core tools are enough for most of the model. But extensions speed up the work on some curved parts.

Where can I find the reference image?

We shared the link to the reference work in the post. For your own model, also collect images taken from different angles.