Greeble

{{Short description|Detailing added to make models appear more complex}}

{{For|the objects used in studies of object and facial recognition|Greeble (psychology)}}

File:Brickcon 2011 spaceship (6209344182).jpg

Greebles, also called greeblies (singular: greebly){{Cite web |title=Revell V-8 Engine Model |url=https://www.partsofsw.com/v8parts.htm |access-date=2025-05-22 |website=www.partsofsw.com}} or nurnies, are small relief details used to give visual complexity to a model. The act of decorating a model with greebles is known as greebling. While greebling originated as a technique in filmmaking, it is commonly used in model-making, toy design, and kitbashing.{{cite web|url=http://future-past.com/interview/charlesadams.php|author=Fronczek, Steve|title=Interview: Charles Adams|publisher=Future-past.com|language=en|date=January 20, 2008|access-date=September 8, 2022|archive-date=September 9, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090909215543/http://future-past.com/interview/charlesadams.php}}{{Cite web |date=2021-02-19 |title=Interstellar Illusions: "Greebles" Lend Large Sci-Fi Structures a Sense of Scale |url=https://99percentinvisible.org/article/interstellar-illusions-greebles-lend-large-sci-fi-structures-a-sense-of-scale/ |access-date=2025-05-22 |website=99% Invisible |language=en-US |archive-date=2025-03-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250312105656/https://99percentinvisible.org/article/interstellar-illusions-greebles-lend-large-sci-fi-structures-a-sense-of-scale/ |url-status=live }}

The term "greeblies" was coined by George Lucas in the 1970s to describe details on model ships used in the production of Star Wars. Ron Thornton is credited with coining the term "nurnies" to refer to CGI technical detail that his company Foundation Imaging produced for the Babylon 5 series, while the model-making team of 2001: A Space Odyssey referred to them as "wiggets".{{cite web |title=What are Nurnies |url=https://www.lededesigns.com/what-are-nurnies/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170505164832/https://www.lededesigns.com/what-are-nurnies/ |archive-date=5 May 2017 |publisher=LEde Designs |quote=}}

File:Smithsonian_NASM_-_Close_Encounters_of_the_Third_Kind_Mother_Ship_spacecraft_model_(5177645602).jpg]]

In science-fiction model design, greebles are used to imply mechanical function without necessarily having any real purpose. They may also serve to create an illusion of scale.{{Cite web |last=Norling |first=Staffan |title=Comments about greebling |url=http://battletech-movie.com/html/tutorials/comments_about_greebling.php |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060214091217/http://battletech-movie.com/html/tutorials/comments_about_greebling.php |archive-date=14 February 2006 |website=battletech-movie.com}} In the production of Star Wars, many ship models began as simple shapes that were given visual complexity by attaching greebles taken from commercial model kits. Greebling is a common aspect of Lego model design.{{Cite web |last=Spencer |first=Theo |date=2025-04-14 |title=LEGO builders join forces for some greebley goodness |url=https://www.brothers-brick.com/2025/04/14/lego-builders-join-forces-for-some-greebley-goodness/ |access-date=2025-05-22 |website=The Brothers Brick |language=en-US |archive-date=2025-04-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250414233604/https://www.brothers-brick.com/2025/04/14/lego-builders-join-forces-for-some-greebley-goodness/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |date=2019-09-19 |title=Skulls could use more greebling in general |url=https://www.brothers-brick.com/2019/09/18/skulls-could-use-more-greebling-in-general/ |access-date=2025-05-22 |website=The Brothers Brick |language=en-US |archive-date=2024-10-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241009031140/https://www.brothers-brick.com/2019/09/18/skulls-could-use-more-greebling-in-general/ |url-status=live }}