Hi Bob, You might be interested in a forum at http://www.phlatforum.com/ that is supported by a mom and pop company that developed and markets cnc machines that are controlled by software that can unfold virtual solid SketchUp models or cut them into slices. The current machines work mostly with rigid sheets of eps foam, but a new machine is being developed to cut sheets of wood or nonferrous metals.
Best wishes, Frank On Jan 22, 4:41 pm, "Bob Watt" <[email protected]> wrote: > Hi folks > Its been a while since I've posted anything here, but have been receiving the > daily updates. Its nice to know that while the economic pundits have been > spouting doom and gloom outside the group, paper modeling has never faltered. > This says heaps for the hobby. > > Recently my wife and I moved into our own home, and while there is still a > lot to sort out, I've been able to return to my favorite hobby, model > buildings. Having one's own workspace apart from the main house is a real > bonus when modelmaking. The other bonus is having a job of building 3D > models that can ultimately be turned into paper models as well. > > At the moment I'm contracted to build Wagga Wagga Airport (Australia) in 3D > for a military simulator, going beyond the normal Google Earth mode of > simplistic blocks, with additional detail. Each hanger, administration > building etc can be rendered at a later date as a fold-up-glued-together > paper model. > > As for paper modeling, having a space where I can create models without > having to clear the workings away after each session is really a Godsend. > Also having a permanent workspace means I am more likely to take time off > from my work and indulge in paper modeling. > > As the title of this post says, I'm in the process of writing (about 50% > completed) a book which covers the process I use to create model buildings. > While I know other developers use Blender, Rhinoceros, and other 3D > applications, I have chosen SketchUp because 1. It is free (Blender is too), > 2. It exports to dae file format, 3. It has an easy to learn interface, 4. It > is one of the less complicated 3D modelers, and 5. There is a wealth of > models on Google 3D Warehouse that could be converted to paper models > (buildings included). > > The process covers conversion from SketchUp to Pepakura, and uses Photoshop > to create the textures. Although other imaging applications such as the free > Gimp could also be used. There is additioanl processes that will be explained > in the book, such as using real-life photos to create the model and textures, > as well as other techniques to turn a paper model into a realistic > representation of its real-life counterpart. > > While I model mainly in 1/160 ('N' gauge) scale because of space > constrictions, the book will show how to convert to other scales such as > 1/64, 1/87 etc. Also while the book will be aimed at building models the same > techniques can be used on other models such as vehicles etc. > > At this point I do not have a release date as the project is apart from my > normal work, but rest assured I do want to get it completed in 2010, as I > have also planned a further book on advanced building modeling. The books > will probably be in print format as well as pdf. > > The pic below shows some early development models. The large cement building > is based on a real-life building. This is 1/87 (HO) scale. I made a smaller > one in 1:220 but a gust of wind blew it onto the floor and i stood on it > squashing it like a bug :). The smaller house in the pic is a 1/220 scale > trial. both buildings have been made in 120gsm paper. > > Cheers > Bob da Kiwi > > models.jpg > 432KViewDownload -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Papermodels II" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/papermodels?hl=en.
