Welp, I find 3D modelling a daunting task for the first timer. Especially after overcoming all the fear of the interface! This tutorial is a reworking of the one that was before it. It serves as a rough guide on how to approach modelling anything. You need to plan. You need to get an idea on what it is you're trying to shape. Think of it more like modelling out of clay. If you were to do a face you would break things down into geometric shapes like spheres for eyes and a pyramid for a nose.

Take a look at this Starfighter model that I have above. I used reference to build on it...so should you too. There's a few ways to do it actually. One would be setting up photo reference where you would have a portrait and a profile to work off of as you build your fighter or you can use a pre-existing fighter model and build one off of that (WITH CREDIT GIVEN TO THE ORIGINAL MODEL MAKER OF COURSE) Consider it something like tracing, you don't want to 'ape' someone's work. But if you're only going to use it as a guideline for size and rough shape then most people would not have any problem. Honsetly, you're best bet is to use photo reference and build it that way to avoid any (ahem) Imperial entanglements. This is more philosophy than anything else since there no REAL right and wrong way to model as long as the end result is worth it, right?

Here's an idea of what the ship looks like to start off with...

I start off with simple shapes and use my Extrude and Scale options to push and pull my virtual clay form into something closer to what I need. I leave plenty of segments for each mesh. One for every major bend in my object. Not enough segments , gives you a crude form and too many will be a waste forcing you to optimize the form later that will cause you nothing but heartache and lost time. Look closely at the forms, then model.

 

Always keep changing the view of your model from front to side to top so as to ensure that every vertex is in place. You might think it looks cool then you rotate that puppy only to find that you need to tuck in the sides.

Remember, think in three dimensions not two or you'll be sorry.

Check out the wings and extrusions from them. Extrude. Move around some verticies to get the next shape and Extrude some more.
See how simple it is once you have a game plan.
And there's the Boosters.
And that is that...just keep in mind to take each part of the model one section at a time or you'll burn out. Practice makes perfect, so go out there and have fun making your dreams a virtual reality.
This didn't take me long the second time around. Once you get the main parts complete, adding in details don't seem like such a chore...the model will drive you to add more and more to it. Remember what you're making it for though. If it's a gaming model, there's no need to make it super detailed. Just enough to keep it looking respectable from up close.