Since I was child I really loved the drones of SILENT RUNNING the 1972 environmentally-themed science fiction movie directed by Douglas Trumbull. They was cute and funny walking. So one cold day of February 2009 I decided to make my own drone.

I start drawing and cutting paper models just to have proportions and a 3D idea of what to do. Firstly I've tried using balsa wood, paper and polystyrene sheet. At least I make my first prototype; not do much similar to the real drone but to me was quite nice!.

With a lot of difficulties I start to make the small arm. Here is an idea of the model almost finished. I was not that happy of the details, and so I decided to finish and paint the model to see the final result. I make a small base using straw, paper sheet and polystyrene. Quite good but I was still not so happy. So, to make something new, I start to do some experiment with silicon rubber and resins….

I skip all my tragic experiments. At that time I haven’t internet at home (unbelievable I know..) and so I’ve no possibilities to see the suggestions of the other modellers and see the specialized web sites. Here is the definitive silicon rubber mold. And the resin model. On the bottom left there is the leg and the small foot. I tried to change colours and for the first time I used the “salt technique” for weathering the model. I make another base and this is the final result-

But I was still not happy! The small arm was different from the original and the proportions wasn’t the right ones. So I start to reproject the entire model: dimensions, legs, arm etc I decide to make mono valve silicon mold and according to this I create the different components of the drone.

Air bubbles in the resin was a real problem but trying a lot of times, putting few resin and moving and scratching the mold at least I make a good resin replicas! At least I finished the model. Using small peaces of wood, musk and rocks I create the green area of the valley forge dom.