Maybe a Waybe Thread

[RyanShort]

Well, I'm thinking that if I can find the time and the persistence, I will try and show some of my progress in designing a plane in Sketchup and hopefully eventually showing how Waybe works. Here's the first shot - for you to guess at the subject matter.
My intention is for this to be as quick and dirty of a design as possible, so I can actually join the ranks of designers rather than just commissioning and redrawing. Maybe if I can get one done, I can start on more.

Ryan

[RyanShort]

No takers on what this plane might be?

Ryan

[RyanShort]

Here's a screenshot of a Waybe unfold of the cowling... The hard part is learning how to designing the piece, the easy part - clicking the buttons and having Waybe unfold them.

Ryan

[Leif Ohlsson]

Hello Ryan,

there is something Piper-ish about it, and knowing your field of interest, a guess would be Piper PA-12.

Otherwise, the unfolding looks really pretty. How did you manage to reduce all those small triangles that Sketchup produces to that simple pattern? That's what got me in the end, trying Sketchup.

Leif

PS (edited afterthought): Perhaps you started out with something that would have simple curves. What really struck me, when I saw the work in progress, was a Wittman "Tailwind". It was something about the angle of the front window. Now that I had a quick look again, via Google, I think this would have to be my real guess. You went the sensible way first, only later progressing to what you'd really like to do, right?

[Gil]

Wittman Tailwind also came to mind but the vertical stabilizer is not typical for that design. A second guess is the Culver Cadet though Ryan's current drawing does not show the rounded turtleback. It does have the general characteristics of that design...,

+Gil

[RyanShort]

Sorry Lief, but your a bit off on the plane. Yes, I'm trying to do something somewhat simple, but probably not as simple as you think.
Reducing the little triangles in SU is more a matter of how you design, what kind of plugins you are using, and being able to think simplify things. Especially helpful plugins are the Bezier curves, curve stitcher, stitcher, weld, and TOS (tools on surface). Also helpful is learning to use the "map" or terrain features. Here's a view showing the "hidden geometry" (View > Hidden Geometry). The upper and lower cowlings were done with that lifesaver curvestitcher, the middle portion (not being a curve!) was done by hand, but I could've done it at least one other way.

Ryan

[RyanShort]

Oh, and I selected all of the parts from this and used the Window > Soften Edges as well, then made it into a group. Works pretty well.

Ryan

[RyanShort]

Originally Posted by Gil

Wittman Tailwind also came to mind but the vertical stabilizer is not typical for that design. A second guess is the Culver Cadet though Ryan's current drawing does not show the rounded turtleback. It does have the general characteristics of that design...,

+Gil

Culver Cadet is correct. I only wish I could find a drawing of the WW II PQ-8A instead...

Ryan

[RyanShort]

The drawing I'm using is of a Culver Cadet. What I'd really like to find would be a drawing of the Culver PQ-8A





Even a simple 3-view would be helpful. I've got a fairly good lot of photos.

Ryan

[shrike]

Neat little machine. We had one at the airport I worked at lo' these many years ago, blue and white emblazoned with 'Airpath Instrument Company' on the side.

Shouldn't be too hard to turn the Cadet into a PQ-8 since the original conversion was a cobble anyway. Enlarged rudder and I believe a touch of extra dihedral to improve stability and control under radio direction. Move the mains back and tack a nosewheel on.