Modbury - 2mm Finescale (Brunel's Baulk Road)

What 3D software package do you use?

What 3D software package do you use?

 

Currently I'm using the free Google SketchUp. I've also installed a plugin (also free) to allow it to export .STL files.

I reckon you might be better off 'beefing up' the lamp brackets just a little, to be on the safe side.

 

They will look wrong close up on screen, but more likely to survive in reality.

 

Loving watching this develop, will have to try some wagons of my own!

Thank you Ian - I am not a CAD person. I already downloaded SketchUp and even with

the very good tutorial videos, it will take time getting into it before I can produce anything

that satisfies. With the add on for exporting STL file formats, this will be a very powerful tool

for the scratch modeller.

 

With examples such as yours, I would strongly recommend the set up to others.

hi Ian

 

I'm late picking up this blog, but I hope you can reply. I just got hold of SketchUp and have a query. Do you draw at full prototype size then export to your chosen scale? Or does Shapeways accept a scaling instruction with the STL file?

 

Jon

I don't know that Shapeways accept a scaling instruction. I recall seeing a list of requirements regarding what they could accept on their website.

 

I draw at scale size because then I can check that the model geometry is within the design limits for the chosen material.

hi Ian

 

I'm late picking up this blog, but I hope you can reply. I just got hold of SketchUp and have a query. Do you draw at full prototype size then export to your chosen scale? Or does Shapeways accept a scaling instruction with the STL file?

 

Jon

Jon,

 

I have drawn all of my wagons in 2mm scale size from published drawings (cross checking with photographs). In all honesty it never occurred to me to do otherwise, when I drew the first one I was (and still am) very new to 3D drawing and wasn't sure what I could or couldn't do with Sketch-Up.

 

In theory, it might be possible to draw objects in full size, then scale them down before producing an STL file for Shapeways (although I think Shapeways also accept .DAE (I think that's the file type) files directly from Sketch-Up).

 

One thing I have done is to draw the odd detail item twice or 4 times the size of the rest of the drawing then scale it back down to 2mm scale before attaching it to the rest of the "model". This is especially useful when drawing round objects as the minimum round object that can be drawn in Sketch-Up is 1mm diameter.

 

Hope this (and Richard's comments) help.

 

Ian