How to create a surface based on the contour of an existing part

ode_tujoy

I want to create a bracket for a home security camera. Camera is more or less a cube but its sides are contoured and edges radiused. The radius is easy enough to figure out but I'm trying to match the contour of the camera body on all four sides. The bracket will be more or less a sleeve but with a relief cut front to back on the bottom side. 
I could easily sketch a square, then shell it but I'd really like to match the contour.  

robert_scott_jr_

Are the sides along the length of the camera flat or curved? - Scotty

ode_tujoy

robert_scott_jr_ said:

Are the sides along the length of the camera flat or curved? - Scotty

curved. 

martin_kopplow

Measuring with a caliper has worked wonders for me. Also stratecgcally arranged photos, taken with a looooong focus lens, can be very helpful when reproducing curved shapes. Place in the sketches and trace over them.

nick_papageorge073

Take a guess and make a 2D drawing at full scale. Print it out, then cut with scissors and hold it against your camera. Adjust and repeat until close. Then switch to 3d printing.

That camera is also curved from front to back, which may be harder to match.

Consumer shapes like these are often modeled completely with surfacing tools to give them a premium appearance.