Hi all. I wanted to post here to seek advice for designing models. What should I do to put my ideas on paper? Is there software I should use? Should I just draw something and cut it out to see if it works or can I go about this in a better way?
Modeling for dummies
- Thread starter Potamus
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This is a question that everyone asks, when they what to get into designing. There are many different avenues that one can take to start designing a paper/cardstock model template. One can hand-draw the template (very old school), use one (or a combinations) of several different 3d rendering programs, or a combination of all of the aforementioned. It is a matter of whatever works best for the person that is designing the templates. Here are some of the most common programs that many designers use are:
Pepakura
Sketchup
GIMP
Blender
CorelDraw
Inkscape
Each one has their own YouTube tutorial that can help you learn how to use the program.
WIth that being said,several of the members are designers and focus on particular genres. The first two designers that come to mind are @Revell-Fan (who designs "BSG" and "Buck Rogers" related models) and @mijob (who designs "Star Wars" related models).
I hope that this will give you a starting point to work with.
Pepakura
Sketchup
GIMP
Blender
CorelDraw
Inkscape
Each one has their own YouTube tutorial that can help you learn how to use the program.
WIth that being said,several of the members are designers and focus on particular genres. The first two designers that come to mind are @Revell-Fan (who designs "BSG" and "Buck Rogers" related models) and @mijob (who designs "Star Wars" related models).
I hope that this will give you a starting point to work with.
Try paint.net. also yes, draw all you can and assemble you will learn so much! Talk to RhavenBlaack about the scaling and mathematics. I would skip straight to drawing meshes for 3D printing.
What are your thoughts on scaling properly? One worry I have is drawing something and having it come out too big or too small. I was talk with Jim Bowen and he said he uses CorelDraw, and mentioned Inkscape being free. My goal is to make this as cost saving as possible while still maintaining quality so I guess I should start looking at Inkscape tutorials.
I use inkscape and import reference pictures front, rear, side etc. Also I search for model specifications how the model is. This good be life size, imaginair size or model suze. Then I determine the scale that I would like to use. I try to use common scale size. If all this is done I start drawing and the all the fun starts....
I hope this helps you.
I hope this helps you.
Yes, Inkscape is free. Even though it is similar to CorelDraw, there are a few differences between the two programs. However with that being said, Inkscape is a great vectorizing program. Yes, there are tutorials available on YouTube.
Other free programs that I would suggest to download are:
Sketchup 8. It is a free (alit be an older version. There are also plugins that you can download for it as well.)
GIMP
Blender
As for scaling, that is a question that @Revell-Fan can answer for you. He is a master at that.
Other free programs that I would suggest to download are:
Sketchup 8. It is a free (alit be an older version. There are also plugins that you can download for it as well.)
GIMP
Blender
As for scaling, that is a question that @Revell-Fan can answer for you. He is a master at that.
I have a been fascinated by researching model sizes and dimensions. For about six months to a year I’ve been interested in paper modeling 40K models and just finally getting into building minis. Going into this I have thought of human anatomy and how to draw proportionately. The rule I’ve discovered is a human can be drawn in approximately 7.5 to 8 head lengths tall and 3 head lengths wide, with the hips to feet encompassing 3.5 to 4 head lengths, meaning exactly as it sounds, you could stack 7.5 to 8 heads on top of one another to determine height and place 3 heads aside on a row to determine the width shoulder to shoulder, the the legs spanning 3.5 to 4 heads long. Going further you may draw in a Heroic proportion that means a human stands 9 head lengths tall and may be 3.5 to 4 head lengths wide at the shoulders. I think this heroic scale is best suited for space marines. Going further I think a space marine mini stands 4cm tall and to convert that to inches you divide by 2.54, equalling 1.57” ~ 1.6”. So if divided by 9 each head length section is 0.44 cm or 0.1777 inch long. In this way I should be able to come to a correct model scale, but this is going really in depth.
You could also go scientific and use the 'Golden Ratio' for calculations of size and proportion.....
Golden Ratio.
- Apr 5, 2013
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One way is to download models and study them. "Kitbashing", putting models of different types to make something different can give you a real feel. As far as software, that kind of depends on your general background. A compass, rule, and square, a set of French Curves can get you a very long way, maybe farther than some do with CAD programs. If you posted the type of programs you have used, that would be a start. If you have not used any, then say so and we can give you ideas. It would help to know what kind of models you want to design. 
I’ve seen this too. Love the Vitruvian man. Da Vinci was truly a genius. I’ve kinda drawn up some stuff to follow these rules but nothing incredible. I might give it a go again. My prints mostly come from my local library but their printers have been spitting out bad prints so I might consider going back to good ol pen and paper.You could also go scientific and use the 'Golden Ratio' for calculations of size and proportion.....
Golden Ratio.
I haven’t used any programs. Probably would like to make things like Jim Bowen’s Blockhead 40K minis. Pretty much just think of branching off of this template with my own ideas for models and weapons, possibly different posing. Can’t see myself getting too complicated yet but I’m just barely scratching this idea.One way is to download models and study them. "Kitbashing", putting models of different types to make something different can give you a real feel. As far as software, that kind of depends on your general background. A compass, rule, and square, a set of French Curves can get you a very long way, maybe farther than some do with CAD programs. If you posted the type of programs you have used, that would be a start. If you have not used any, then say so and we can give you ideas. It would help to know what kind of models you want to design.
I love using a compass. I thought myself how to make a perfect oval for oval shaped bases. I’m thinking of going back to that and recreating templates by hand. I can’t draw something as clean or perfectly colored as I could in a computer but there’s benefit of flexibility and freedom with a pen and paper.
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For a long time, I had a small drafting table for measurements, French Curve set, string, "L" shaped Square, compass, lots of pencils. I made some my finest ships hulls then. We're also here to help, so go for it.
For a long time, I had a small drafting table for measurements, French Curve set, string, "L" shaped Square, compass, lots of pencils. I made some my finest ships hulls then. We're also here to help, so go for it.
I still have all mine too, apart from the table!
I had an A0 size table with a full drafting machine. Loved it!
I havent used the other stuff for years, because I work mainly digital now.
But, even if there is ever an EMP burst or something, that knocks out the digital world, I'll still be able to draft!!
You make do with what you have at hand, is what I always believe...