Scale models · Powai, Mumbai

Custom scale models, 3D printed and hand-finished in Mumbai

FabraForma builds architectural, plant, machine and exhibition scale models for developers, architects and EPC firms at its Powai, Mumbai studio.

Fine detail is printed in SLA resin and massing in FDM; bases are CNC-cut, repeats are cast, and every presentation surface is sanded, primed and painted so no layer line shows. Quotes come back within 24 hours, an NDA precedes CAD on request, and small and medium models move at the pace of a print queue, not a hand-cut workshop.

Download the scale-model catalogue (PDF)

Studio: B-17, Solaris Co-op Soc Ltd, Gate No. 6, opp. L&T, Saki Vihar Road, Marol, Powai, Mumbai 400072
In-house: FDM (Bambu Lab), SLA resin (HeyGears Reflex 2 Pro), CNC, silicone and PU casting, finishing; partner processes labelled in the quote
Quote: Within 24 hours; one person quotes and answers for the job
NDA: Before CAD on request; files access-controlled, never used to train anything, deleted on request
Delivery: Pickup in Powai, courier across Mumbai, shipping pan-India
Hours: Mon–Sun, 10:00–22:00 IST; visits welcome

Model types

Scale models we build, by buyer

These are the scale models FabraForma makes in-house (partner processes are labelled in the quote); viewing distance, handling and photography decide scale, process and finish.

Architectural and real-estate models

Sales-gallery centrepieces, roadshow, competition and presentation models, show flats and cut-sections, delicate parts protected or replaceable for the whole sales cycle. Typical process: SLA resin façades, FDM massing, CNC base.

Industrial and plant layout models

Refinery, power, cement and water plants at site scale for receptions, expos and bids, colour-coded by unit or phase. Typical process: FDM terrain and civil blocks, SLA resin equipment and racks, CNC base.

Engineering and machine models

Cutaways and demonstration models of machines, pumps and skid packages for trade shows and dealer training; removable covers designed in at CAD, moving parts quoted per model. Typical process: SLA resin internals, FDM casings.

Product and exhibition models

Display models and product miniatures for stands and launches; shoot replicas are on the ad-film page. For ACETECH Mumbai, 19–22 November 2026, the plan runs backwards from install day. Typical process: SLA resin; oversized pieces in sectioned FDM, see the exhibition page.

Defence and aerospace display models

Display and briefing models of platforms, vehicles and sites, built NDA-first; mock-ups and training models are on the defence page. Typical process: decided after the NDA; SLA resin and FDM in-house, partner metal labelled.

Marine models

Vessel, port and jetty models for shipyards and port operators; hulls print in keyed sections along station lines, faired before paint. Typical process: FDM hull, SLA resin superstructure, CNC water plane.

Miniatures as mementos

Your product, plant or headquarters in miniature, batch-made for dealers, an inauguration or Diwali (8 November 2026). Typical process: SLA resin master, silicone mould, PU castings; see the corporate gifting page.

What it can look like

Concept renders, not photographs of past jobs

Rendered from our 3D models so you can see the kind of thing before you commission it. Scale, palette, base and nameplate are yours to change.

Concept render of a 1:200 architectural model of two white residential towers on a podium with a rooftop pool, landscaped grounds, tiny trees and cars, on a dark base with a black frame and a brass plate — **Architectural model, 1:200**Two towers, a podium and landscaping on a framed base with a nameplate. Concept render, not a past job.

Concept render of a 1:50 industrial process-plant model: two dark blue vertical vessels, a horizontal drum, a three-tier pipe rack, an exchanger, yellow handrails, staircases and a control cabin on a dark grey base with a brass plate — **Plant layout model, 1:50**Vessels, pipe rack, exchanger and control cabin on a framed base with a nameplate. Concept render, not a past job.

Self-qualify

Which scale your model should be

Pick the scale from the viewing distance and what must fit on the base: divide the real dimension by the scale, so a 100 m tower at 1:200 stands 50 cm. Tell us the closest viewing distance; we confirm or push back.

Common scales and resulting footprints
Scale	Typical subjects	Worked footprint	Detail that survives
1:5 to 1:10	Machine cutaways, demo units, product miniatures	2 m machine: 40 cm at 1:5, 20 cm at 1:10	Fasteners, nameplates, handwheels
1:20 to 1:50	Interiors, show flats, villas, process units	15 m villa front: 30 cm at 1:50	Furniture, railings, pipe runs
1:100	Single towers, competition entries, substations	100 m tower: 1 m; 30 m floor plate: 30 cm	Façade depth, balconies, stair towers
1:200	Mid-size complexes, plant blocks, terminals	100 m tower: 50 cm; 1 ha site: 50 × 50 cm	Massing, fenestration rhythm, pipe racks
1:500	Townships, master plans, plant sites, ports	100 m tower: 20 cm; 10 ha site: about 63 × 63 cm	Block forms, roads, yards, jetties
1:1000 to 1:2000	City context, corridors, pipelines	100 m tower: 10 cm or 5 cm; 2 km corridor: 2 m or 1 m	Land use, alignment, terrain

The figures are arithmetic; the quote states the actual size. Mixing two scales on one model is common: a township at 1:500 with the launch tower at 1:100 on its own plinth.

Process mix

Which process for which scale

Most presentation models use all of them: SLA resin for detail, FDM for volume, CNC for flat planes, casting for repeats, hand finishing over the lot; the 3D printing guide covers FDM against SLA.

Processes for scale models, in-house and partner-routed
Process	Detail	Single-piece size	Speed	Finish	Suits
FDM, Bambu Lab fleet, in-house	Layer heights 0.08–0.28 mm; typical tolerance ±0.2 mm or ±0.2%, stated per part; multi-colour AMS	Sectioned beyond the bed, keyed and joined	Quicker than SLA for volume; printers run in parallel	Sanded, primed, painted	Massing, terrain, hulls, plant structures, casings
SLA resin, HeyGears Reflex 2 Pro, in-house	Fine features; surfaces close to injection-moulded quality; limits confirmed at quote	Sectioned beyond the bed	Stated per part; many small parts per plate	Primed and painted, or clear-coated	Façades, railings, pipe racks, machine internals, figures
CNC machining, in-house	Flat, true, toleranced parts	Larger bases from machined sections	Quick for flat work	Machined, painted or clear-coated	Bases, plinths, site and water planes
Silicone moulding and PU casting, in-house	Reproduces the master's surface	Matched to the master	Slow to set up, quick per copy	Cast-quality, painted per piece	Dealer sets, gifting batches, repeated units
Partner-routed: SLS (PA12), MJF, metal (DMLS/SLM), large-format SLA	Per partner; labelled in the quote	Per partner	Adds partner lead time	Finished here	Pieces that will be handled, metal accents, large single-piece resin

Numbers are the studio's published FDM figures; everything else is stated per part in the quote. Office PLA study models creep and soften in Mumbai heat; keep the office printer for iterations and send the model here when it must be exact, stable and finished.

Process, up close

From raw print to finished scale model

The stages a scale model goes through, from keyed print sections to primer and paint.

Three identical small villa models by a rainy window: a raw white print with layer lines, one sanded and grey-primed, one painted off-white with dark windows — **Raw, primed, painted**Three copies of one villa model: raw off the printer, sanded and primed, and painted, which is where most of a presentation model's hours go.

Three grey 3D-printed hull sections of a ship model on a cutting mat, two joined with a filled seam, the bow section apart to show its alignment pegs — **Keyed sections along station lines**A hull longer than a print bed, split where the ship already has a line so each section fits one way only before the seam is filled and sanded.

Sectioned builds

Models larger than a print bed

Models larger than a print bed are printed in sections, keyed, joined, reinforced and finished to a seamless surface, the method FabraForma uses for exhibition builds; build volumes are shared in the quote and on a visit.

Seams go where the subject already has a line: floor plates, road edges, plot boundaries, battery limits, hull station lines; keyed features make each section fit one way only, and joints are reinforced from inside, filled and sanded. The same seams work later: Phase 2 lifts out, a façade under discussion is swapped when signed off, a plant model travels in sections and fits through the door. Say at the brief which sections will be lifted.

The part people see

How a presentation model is finished

Visible layer lines are not acceptable on a presentation model, so every surface is sanded, primed, painted and, where asked, clear-coated or textured; that is where most of the hours go.

Finishes run from monochrome grey to full colour with glazing, landscaping, figures and vehicles, painted to the elevations and checked under the gallery lighting. On plant models colour carries information: units by colour, phases by tone, existing grey beside proposed; the scheme is approved at proof stage and kept on file so a later section matches. Options below are quoted per model.

Lighting or a dust cover, if wanted, scoped in the quote
Plinth or base with nameplate; a developer's RERA number on request
Landscaping, water, figures and vehicles at scale
Removable roofs, floors or casings; painted cutaways
Modular sections so a phase or façade can be swapped later
A repair kit, touch-up paint and spares of figures, trees and railings, shipped with the model

Six steps

How a scale model job runs

Six steps, one person answering throughout, as on every job at the studio; the design is locked before fabrication and finishing time is planned, not squeezed.

Send whatever you have
CAD, drawings, a site or plot plan, photographs or a sketch, via the quote form or WhatsApp, with the on-site date and where it will stand. Confidential? Send the NDA first, yours or ours, then the files.
Quote within 24 hours
Written: scale, footprint, process and tolerance per part, finish, options as separate lines, partner-routed work labelled. Design options come to the first call.
Approval and design lock
Approve the quote and design in writing; a 50% advance starts the work. The design is frozen at an agreed revision; changes after that are quoted separately.

Digital proof or test print
A digital proof, drawings or a render, of colours and base, or a test print of a critical section; changes after sign-off are quoted separately.
Build and finish
Parts are printed, machined and cast in parallel, then assembled, filled, sanded, primed and painted. Dimensional checks against the drawing and inspection notes on request.
Crate and deliver
Packed properly and crated in sections, with numbered parts and assembly notes. Pickup in Powai, courier across Mumbai, shipping pan-India.

The brief

What to send for a scale model quote

Send whatever you have; a site plan and an elevation, or a plot plan and a GA drawing, start a quote.

Files: STEP, IGES, STL, OBJ, 3MF, PDF drawings, site and plot plans, elevations, a P&ID if colours follow the process; Revit, Rhino, SketchUp, DWG and plant-design work exported to STEP, STL or PDF, or zipped
No CAD: sketches, photographs or brochures; Forge, the studio's design-and-build line, builds the model from these
Purpose and audience: sales gallery, jury, roadshow, reception, trade show, dealer training, gift
Viewing: closest viewing distance, whether people will touch it, and whether it will be photographed
Dates and site: deadline against the on-site date, where it will stand, and the transport route
Budget: a budget band, so scale and process mix are proposed to fit
Colour: colour and material references, or a note that monochrome is wanted

Cost drivers

What a scale model costs

Suggested price ranges by model size, to help you plan a budget. Every job still gets a written, itemised quote, and the quoted price is final.

Suggested ranges for a typical presentation finish. Lighting, effects, moving parts and other additions are not included, and the level of detail or the way a model has to be made can change the price.
Size class	Typical size	Typical subjects	Suggested range
S · Desk and miniature	Up to about 30 cm on the longest side	Product miniatures, machine models at 1:5 to 1:10, dealer sets	₹15,000 – ₹60,000
P · Presentation	Base about 30 cm to 1 m	A single tower at 1:100 to 1:200, a villa or show flat at 1:20 to 1:50, a machine cutaway	₹60,000 – ₹2.5 lakh
C · Centrepiece	Base about 1 m to 2.5 m, built in sections	Sales-gallery centrepieces; a township at 1:500 with the launch tower at 1:100	₹2.5 lakh – ₹10 lakh
X · Plant, port and expo	Usually 1.5 m and up, sectioned to travel	Refinery, plant and port layouts; large stand models	From ₹5 lakh

Where a model lands within its range depends on these:

Size and scale: footprint drives base, crate and finishing hours; one scale step down, 1:100 to 1:200, halves every dimension
Detail and process mix: railings, glazing, figures and pipe racks are SLA resin and hand-fitted; massing is FDM and quicker
Finish, base, cover and lighting: monochrome costs less than full colour with landscaping; the other three are quoted as separate lines
Your date: no rush charge. We agree the timeline before the price, and the quoted price holds

To bring it down: drop one scale step; detail the subject only, context as massing; agree which faces are presentation grade; build phase one on a modular base; add cover and lighting later.

Powai, Mumbai

Where we are: Marol, Powai

The studio is at B-17, Solaris Co-op Soc Ltd, Gate No. 6, opposite L&T, Saki Vihar Road, Marol, Powai, Mumbai 400072; Saki Naka metro is ten minutes away.

Andheri East, Saki Naka, Chandivali, SEEPZ, JVLR, Vikhroli and Ghatkopar are a short drive. Visits are welcome Monday to Sunday, 10:00 to 22:00 IST: bring the site or plot plan and settle the scale with the person who will quote it. Phone or WhatsApp +91 83698 49639, email info@fabraforma.com.

FAQ

The ones we are asked most

How much does an architectural scale model cost in India?

As a guide, FabraForma suggests ₹15,000 to ₹60,000 for desk models and miniatures up to about 30 cm, ₹60,000 to ₹2.5 lakh for presentation models on a base of about 30 cm to 1 m, ₹2.5 lakh to ₹10 lakh for sectioned centrepieces of about 1 to 2.5 m, and from ₹5 lakh for large plant, port and expo models. Lighting, effects and other additions are not included, and the level of detail or the way a model has to be made can change the price. Send drawings, the on-site date and a budget band for a written, itemised quote; the quoted price is final.

How long does a scale model take?

Build time for a scale model depends on footprint, detail and finishing; the quote states the date. Small and medium models move quickly because FDM and SLA resin parts print in parallel while the base is machined; finishing is not compressed. Share the on-site date; FabraForma plans backwards from it.

What files do you need?

Send whatever you have: STEP, IGES, STL, OBJ or 3MF; PDF drawings, site and plot plans, elevations; Revit, Rhino, SketchUp, DWG and plant-design work exported to STEP, STL or PDF; photographs and sketches. With no CAD, Forge, FabraForma's design-and-build line, models the project and sends a proof before anything prints.

Which scale should I choose?

Start from the footprint the room allows and the closest viewing distance. As a guide: machine cutaways and product miniatures at 1:5 to 1:10, interiors and villas at 1:20 to 1:50, a single tower at 1:100, a complex or plant block at 1:200, a township or plant site at 1:500, city context at 1:1000 to 1:2000. Tell FabraForma the viewing distance and it confirms the scale or pushes back.

Can you make a model bigger than a 3D printer bed?

Yes. Models larger than a print bed are printed in sections with keyed alignment features, joined, reinforced from inside, filled and finished to a seamless surface, the method FabraForma uses for exhibition builds. Seams sit on floor plates, road edges or battery limits and double as modular joints.

Will you sign an NDA before seeing our drawings?

Yes. On request an NDA, yours or FabraForma's, is signed before any CAD or drawing changes hands. Files are access-controlled, never used to train anything, and deleted on request. One named person quotes and answers for the job; we suggest an NDA for unlaunched projects, competition entries and defence display models.

Can you make many identical models for dealers or gifting?

Yes. For a dealer set or a gifting batch, FabraForma prints one SLA resin master, takes a silicone mould and casts the run in PU resin, so every copy carries the master's detail, usually at a lower cost per piece than printing each; the quote shows both routes. See the corporate gifting page.

Do you make architecture thesis and jury models?

Yes. A thesis or jury model is worth sending out when it must be exact, stable in Mumbai heat and finished by a fixed date. Massing prints on FDM, fine elements on SLA resin, the base is CNC-cut, and a monochrome finish keeps cost down. Send the files and the jury date.

Scale model, miniature, maquette or dummy model: what is the difference?

A scale model is built to a stated ratio so measurements on it are true. A miniature is a small replica where likeness matters more than ratio. A maquette is the architect's word for a study model. A dummy model is a non-working product replica for display or a shoot. FabraForma builds all four.

Can you add lighting or a cover?

Lighting and a dust cover are quoted per model when asked for, as separate lines in the quote, and a nameplate on the base can carry the developer's RERA registration number on request, with the developer supplying the exact text.

Launch date on the calendar?

Send the site plan, plot plan or machine file, say where the model will stand and when; one person comes back within 24 hours with scale options, the process per part and a written quote. If ACETECH Mumbai, 19–22 November 2026, is the deadline, say so; the plan runs backwards from install day. Prefer to start with the NDA? Send that first.

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Written by the FabraForma studio team · About the studio · Page updated 5 October 2026