Seattle Space Needle

thingiverse

I love to build models from scratch using just pictures. Despite living nowhere near Seattle, my mom is a huge Seahawks fan, and this challenge caught my eye - I thought it would be awesome to model the Space Needle based on images I found online. I've uploaded the entire model so far, but will load individual pieces later. Here's how I did it: When modeling actual buildings, I find that using blue print images is key. The Seattle Space Needle has plenty of these available, which I imported into DraftSite and used to trace its shape. Next, I gathered high-resolution photos, focusing on the top section since there were many images of this part. However, getting accurate measurements for the legs was tricky due to a lack of straight-on images; I had to estimate using my best judgment. One of the biggest challenges was getting the proportions right - trial and error was the main time-sink. After creating the model's main body, I fine-tuned the details. Some features, like the fins holding the halo bar on top, were left as low-poly models to avoid sharp overhangs; these are actually two tubes that could break if supports were added. The topper may require additional support, but for now, it's just a single solid triangle.