/diy/ - Do It Yourself

what is the best way to design a scifi film set on a budget? What sort of building materials should I look into to replicate >pic related?
I've seen pictures of set builders making just about everything from 2x4s, but I don't really understand how they make it look like metal and plastic so convincingly.
Lastly, what would be the best location to use for a project like this? I have a moderately sized basement, but I think I should look into space in older warehouses and factories that are no longer in operation.
Does anybody have experience with building sets like this?
Also, general scifi set design thread.