About Michael Wernecke
⚒ Craftsmanship
Everything built to last, with precision and care.
🔍 Curiosity
Always asking "what if?" — from art to engineering.
💡 Ingenuity
Solving real problems with hands-on creativity.
🎨 Artistry
A sculptor's eye behind every machine he builds.
Michael Wernecke grew up in Wisconsin, developing an instinct for how things work — how they're made, why they break, and how to build them better. He moved to California in the 1970s, where he earned a Masters in Sculpting at the Otis College of Art and Design, one of three degrees forming the foundation of his dual identity: artist and engineer.
His career has spanned domains that rarely overlap: precision machine building for the Human Genome Project at PerkinElmer, Packard Bioscience, Solatron Enterprises (auto air bag ignitor assembly machines), SMG Optical (lens coating machines), General Dynamics (microwave waveguide assembly), and Northrop Aviation; model construction on Disney films including Con Air, Deep Rising, and Godzilla; technical training at the U.S. Army Engineering School at Fort Belvoir, Virginia; and 40+ years of property management across Los Angeles.
Michael publishes in Nuts and Volts, Make Magazine, and The Subcommittee Report, and exhibits at Maker Faires across California. His most beloved invention: the KID SUB — a miniature submarine powered by Alka-Seltzer.
Otis College of Art & Design
Masters in Sculpting, 1973. The artistic DNA behind every machine.
U.S. Army Engineering School
Fort Belvoir, VA. Where precision became discipline.
A Timeline of Building
From Wisconsin to Hollywood to the Human Genome Project — a life that defies a single category.
Wisconsin Roots
Grew up in Wisconsin with a fascination for how things are made, fixed, and improved.
OriginsUniversity of Wisconsin–Milwaukee
General studies — the academic foundation before pursuing sculpting.
EducationMasters in Sculpting — Otis College
Earned his Masters in Sculpting in Los Angeles. The artistic DNA behind every machine he'd build.
Education · ArtU.S. Army Engineering School
Engineering certificate from Fort Belvoir — where technical precision became a discipline.
Military · EngineeringPost-Graduate Engraving — Drake University
Advanced drypoint engraving studies in Florence, Italy.
Education · ArtRegional Property Manager — Jabour Realty
40+ years managing apartment properties across Los Angeles.
Property ManagementModel Builder — Walt Disney Company
Built the C-123 cargo plane for Con Air and boat assemblies + Argonautica forklift for Deep Rising.
Hollywood · FilmSenior Machine Builder — Packard Bioscience
Six years building precision machines for cutting-edge biotech instrumentation.
Precision EngineeringHuman Genome Project — PerkinElmer
Built precision machines for one of the most important scientific undertakings in human history.
Science · EngineeringInventor, Author & Maker
Inventor of the KID SUB. Author in Nuts & Volts, Make Magazine, and The Subcommittee Report. Maker Faire exhibitor. Writing a book on innovation.
Inventor · Author · MakerThe Alfa Submarine
A scratch-built, 5-foot radio-controlled Russian Alfa-class submarine — designed, engineered, and built entirely by Michael Wernecke over 10 years. It submerges and surfaces using a custom onboard compressed air system, and has been featured in Make: Magazine and Nuts & Volts across 5 published articles.
Build Specifications
The Alfa Submarine — 5-foot scratch-built Russian Alfa-class RC submarine
Also Published In — Nuts & Volts Magazine (2011)
🔧 Alfa Sub — Early Development Photos
Behind-the-scenes build photos from the 10-year construction of the Alfa submarine — internal components, watertight cylinders, electronics, and early prototypes.
The KID SUB — Electro-Chemical Submarine
Maker Faire California
Michael has exhibited at Maker Faires across California — demonstrating the KID SUB and connecting with the global maker community.
Bay Area Maker Faire
San Mateo, CA
Michael's first Maker Faire appearance in May 2007, showcasing his scratch-built 5-foot Alfa-class submarine. Featured in Make: Magazine Volume 10.
View Listing →DTLA Maker Faire
Los Angeles, CA
Michael exhibited his 5-foot scratch-built radio-controlled submarine, showcasing his skills as a machine builder, inventor, and author.
View Listing →OC Maker Faire
Orange County, CA
Exhibited the Alfa submarine and KID SUB invention. Demonstrated engineering, electronics, fabrication, and robotics to the maker community.
View Listing →Maker Faire 2023
California
Most recent Maker Faire appearance — continuing to inspire the next generation of makers with the Alfa submarine and KID SUB inventions.
View Listing →Movie Model Builder
18 months building the physical world of major Hollywood productions for The Walt Disney Company.
Deep Rising
Built boat assemblies and the 1/5-scale forklift seen in the bow section of the Argonautica — visible in the film opening sequences. Built at Cinnabar model shop for Walt Disney / Dream Quest.
⚙️ Role: Set Model Construction · Cinnabar / Dream Quest · Walt Disney Company
1/5 Scale Forklift — built by Michael, seen in the Argonautica bow section
Deep Rising forklift on set — the finished prop during filming
Deep Rising Model Shop Crew with the 26-foot Argonautica — Dream Quest / Walt Disney Co.
Godzilla
Built a supertanker foam cannon model for the 1998 Hollywood Godzilla production. The model was built at the Cinnabar model shop alongside the Deep Rising crew.
⚙️ Role: Prop Model Construction · Cinnabar · Walt Disney Company
Supertanker Foam Cannon — built by Michael for the movie Godzilla
Godzilla prop detail + Cinnabar model shop crew with the 26-foot Argonautica
Con Air
For the 1997 Jerry Bruckheimer production Con Air (Touchstone Pictures / Dream Quest Images), Michael served as model maker on two key set elements. He fabricated the aluminum panel rivet-row indicator lines on the C-123 Provider cargo aircraft model using a custom pounce wheel fashioned from a hacksaw handle fitted with a riding spur — a precision technique that replicated authentic aircraft skin detail at scale. He also cast and assembled the lamp posts in resin and fiberglass, which were installed along the miniature Las Vegas Strip set alongside radio-controlled scale vehicles. Both elements appear in the film's climactic Las Vegas sequence.
⚙️ Role: Aircraft Detail Fabrication & Set Model Construction · Dream Quest Images · Jerry Bruckheimer Films · Touchstone Pictures
The C-123 Provider cargo aircraft on the Las Vegas Strip set — Con Air (1997)
Con Air official production collage — Model Maker: Michael Wernecke · Dream Quest Images · Jerry Bruckheimer Films · Touchstone Pictures
Models, Machines & Builds
A selection of Michael's builds and models. More photos being added regularly.
🖨 3D Printing & Precision Lab
Articles & Writings
Michael has published articles in Make: Magazine and Nuts & Volts documenting his 10-year journey building a 5-foot radio-controlled Russian Alfa submarine from scratch — one of the most detailed maker build series ever published in hobbyist electronics press.
Precision Machine Building Career
Before and during the Alfa submarine project, Michael spent decades as a senior precision machine builder for companies across Southern California — building auto airbag ignitors, optical lens coating machines, biotech fluorescence systems, and Hollywood film props. This is the engineering career behind the maker.
Solatron Enterprises — Auto Airbag Assembly Machines
Coater Pneumatics — Complex pneumatic wiring system built by Michael at Solatron
Solatron Enterprises — Auto airbag ignitor assembly machine. 3 seconds per part, 24-nest circular index table. Michael Wernecke, Station Assembly Department
SMG Systems Manufacturing / Satisloh — Optical Lens Machines
Michael with the Satisloh optical lens coating machine at SMG, Huntington Beach
Satisloh G4 optical coating machine — lens processing system built at SMG
SMG Systems Manufacturing Group — Satisloh lens coating machines, Huntington Beach CA
Coating Bowls and Transport Assembly — precision optical machine components
MAGNASPIN machine — precision optical lens processing system
Packard BioScience / PerkinElmer — ImageTrak Fluorescence System
Packard BioScience ImageTrak — Epi-Fluorescence System for drug discovery and molecular biology
ImageTrak Epi-Fluorescence Machine (PerkinElmer) — precision scientific instrument built by Michael
ImageTrak internal component — precision fluid handling assembly, 10/24/01
Original engineering sketch — 180° turn configuration diagram from Michael's notebook
Workshop & Film Work
Michael in his workshop at Sun Valley Skylights — Grizzly milling machine
Michael at PerkinElmer — precision instrument manufacturing
1/5 Scale Forklift — model built for the Hollywood film Deep Rising (1998), seen in the Argonautica bow section
Contact Michael
Project inquiries, media questions, magazine features, or just to talk about submarines.
✉️ocean_tech04@yahoo.com💼LinkedIn Profile▶️YouTube ChannelSend a Message
Project inquiries, media questions, builder community, or general contact.