A Special Ship?

**paperengineer** · #1 02-15-2015, 07:41 PM

Hello designers. I have a special design request if someone could please do it. My grandfather was in the Navy from 1959 to 1961 on lsd-18 USS colonial. ( http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Colonial_(LSD-18) )
I've tried to make a paper model of it for him but I lack the 3d software that would really help out. Hand drawing models can only go so far. His birthday is in June so if it can be finished by June this year or next that'd be great. Thanks for your help guys!

**jeanma** · #2 02-16-2015, 04:41 AM

i ever did something like that for my hown father's birthday, a french ship "autun"
You can see the build here : • Afficher le sujet - dragueur oceanique classe MSO (terminé)
i love that kind of job

**paperengineer** · #3 02-16-2015, 05:04 AM

Wow. Good job!

**sharunas** · #4 02-16-2015, 10:27 AM

Hi,

first of all is there any blueprints or deck plans?
I've looked on Google for the general interest but couldn't find anything.

**Lee Anne** · #5 02-16-2015, 01:17 PM

Here are a few small drawings from The-Blueprints.com - The largest free blueprint collection on the Internet

**paperengineer** · #6 02-16-2015, 07:34 PM

I haven't been able to find many but as Lee Anne pointed out probably not too different from other lsds in its class

**sharunas** · #7 02-18-2015, 01:15 AM

Well that's not very much info to make a decent large scale model... However these schemes plus some bunch of photos from different angles would be enough for more simple design (imho).

I think with a help and advice from PM community You would be able to learn one or other 3D software and USS Colonial (lets say in 1/400) might be a good start?

**paperengineer** · #8 02-18-2015, 09:37 AM

I guess I could learn. Do you have any 3D software that works best for you?

**sharunas** · #9 02-18-2015, 12:05 PM

I'm actually work on Rhino3D - most of members probably would agree with me that this is the best software for paper model design.
Also recently started with Ultimate Papercraft 3D (aka UPC3D). Analogical to Pepakura 3D. These two programs can unfold parts with textures.

For beginners probably would recommend Pepakura Designer (or UPC3d) + some freeware (or rather not expensive) 3D design software (main design tool), lets say Blender3D or Metasequoia.
There are some members who work very well with Pepakura + Metasequoia (Eric_Son; TheWebdude) they may give some advise.

I guess the main thing is to "cracK" the 3D design and philosophy itself, to train spatial comprehension and so on and so forth

After that the software is more like a mater of taste.

**maurice** · #10 02-19-2015, 12:21 AM

Quote:

I guess the main thing is to "cracK" the 3D design and philosophy itself, to train spatial comprehension and so on and so forth.

Now that cries out to be classified as an absolutely concise and precisely accurate vague generalisation.

In serious vein though it also invites a question as to how much you reckon it is possible to train for "spatial comprehension"?