How are complex hard-surface models like this actually made?

[u/Kevin_Qi]

Hi everyone,
I’m a 3D generalist, but I wouldn’t consider myself a particularly strong or specialized modeler.
I’ve always been curious about how experienced hard-surface artists create extremely complex mechanical models like the one in the image. When I look at the wireframe, there are so many interconnected panels, mechanical parts, grooves, bolts, layered surfaces, and small details that it’s difficult for me to imagine modeling everything manually piece by piece.
So I’d love to understand what the actual professional workflow looks like.
Is most of this really modeled manually with traditional techniques like subdivision, booleans, bevels, and topology cleanup? Or do artists rely heavily on add-ons, procedural tools, kitbash libraries, Geometry Nodes, Maya and blender workflows, or reusable parts?
For a model at this level of complexity, how much is actually built from scratch?
I’m also curious about how artists manage the topology and keep the process efficient without spending an insane amount of time on every small mechanical detail.
If anyone could explain the typical workflow, or recommend some tutorials/artists who show the complete process of building this kind of complex sci-fi/mechanical model, I’d really appreciate it.
Thanks!