Playing around with Sketchup

[mabrown]

Originally Posted by RyanShort

It's going somewhat slowly, but part of that is I'm testing every part's unfolding capabilities before I move on to the next one. I'm hoping that once I unfold it, it will be a relatively trouble-free initial build.

Ryan

Exactly what I've been trying to do. Makes for a slow process but hopefully reduces the going back and having to do it again thing.

In my case I did build the frame of my ship's hull along the way though. I needed to do that to learn a few things. Needless to say a number of my design thoughts have changed, some within the last week or two. Oh well...

[RyanShort]

Well, progress is being made on the M18 but I just found a new tool that made it possible to get this much done this afternoon (home sick) on a new project in just a few hours...

And yes Mike, I am working on the other thing, too...

Ryan

[RyanShort]

Another view...

Ryan

[mabrown]

Also looking good Ryan. Might I ask what the new tool is?

[RyanShort]

It's a loft ruby plugin I'm testing! It's not perfect, but it looks like it's going to be very good. Right now the biggest thing is learning to use it so that Waybe likes the results. I can tell you right now that it's superior by a lot to the sandbox tool and probably to the curve stitcher as well! It does require that you have another set of tools installed first.

Ryan

[Kazziga]

Ryan, would you be so kind and tell me/us where can we download all those plugiins (like the loft ruby plugin)?

[RyanShort]

Some of them you can find at: Smustard(TM) - the Companion to Sketchup(TM) - Plugins and Scripts
Others, like the loft, you can find at the Sketchucation Forum: SketchUcation Community Forums • Index page
The loft feature won't just work... on it's own. First you have to use another tool to set the number of nodes correctly and then use the loft. Also, the loft script doesn't like connecting lines. So, I'm trying to develop an efficient way of using it.

Ryan

[Kazziga]

Thanks for the info! I will follow your design process with great interest.

[RyanShort]

Well, if anyone's interested in test building an M-18, speak up. I'm not sure if I'll finish the design this week or later, but it's getting close!

Ryan

[RyanShort]

Well, now it's just the details. Trying to decide whether or not it's worth trying to build this in 1/72, or to go something more like 1/48. Problem is I figure if I move up, I have to be more detailed, while some of the details will be awfully tiny in 1/72. As mentioned before, if you're interested in helping with a beta build, speak up!

Ryan