Sketchup advice needed

[SpaceBadger]

I've seen a lot of recommendations here and elsewhere for using Sketchup for 3-D modeling, so would like to give it a try.

Googling for it and also reading the wiki article, I see different sources for free download: one from sketchup.com,another from Google through softonic.com, another from C-net. Are these all the same? If not, which one should I get?

I want to use this for making ships, both deckplans and models for exterior views. Any suggestions on good tutorials with those goals in mind?

Thanks!

 

[BytePro]

http://www.sketchup.com/ is the official source and the only place I would download from.

(Sketchup is now owned by Trimble, BTW, but the non-pro version is still free.)

See: Ian Stead's site for some Traveller sketchup help -
https://biomassart.wordpress.com/category/traveller/wip-deckplan-traveller/
https://biomassart.wordpress.com/category/tutorial/

 

[aramis]

Also, find one fo the walkthroughs and follow it. It really helps to be able to see what's supposed to happen...

It's not hard, but there is a strong learning curve...

 

[SpaceBadger]

I watched the tutorials at sketchup.com w examples of making houses, but I'm not so sure about how to go from there to making starships.

I'll try messing around w it and see what happens - also need to look at those pages of Ian's that BytePro posted.

One more question: when making a set of deckplans and also 3-D exterior, do you try to include all that in one model, or do one model for 2-D deckplans and another model for 3-D exterior?

 

[BytePro]

I haven't done any full ships in sketchup myself - just extruded a few deckplans for fun - Ian had some cool 3D exterior/interiors of a cutter and a few other ships I think, including a very nice Scout. However, I think he found them too much work - but comment/email at his site.

Aramis had a ship (cutter?) or two in progress here at one time, IIRC.

Decades ago I made wireframe ships (custom coded before the days of OpenGL) - calculating volume then filling with 2D deckplan slices. I also did a few using CSG and POVRay which were very accurate - and very time consuming (again coded, no interactive 3D/GUI). I think Sketchup will give you volumes pretty easily. Think it helps to rough it out first based on primitive shapes. Refine till the exterior is complete. Then use section (IIRC) and lay in the deckplans and/or volumes (I'd 2D and extrude) - taking advantage of fuel dtons in awkward spaces.

Note - Sketchup does not really do curves well and it isn't a solid modeller (nor very parametric). If you want to work with curved surfaces - learn the basics (how/limits of Sketchup), then grab some of the really great plugins at http://sketchucation.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=250026 (Fredo's are some of my favorites).

Also, when dealing with curves remember that once set, curves, like everything else, are just collections of faces made of lines and vertices. I.e. not solids and not editable as curves (directly). Picking the right number of segments is extremely important - helps to know your highest target scale (I.e. - if you plan to view/print a deckplan square at a certain RW unit size - like 1/2" = 1.5 meters). Right after creation you can easily change the number of segments, but later, especially when connected to other geometry, its a real PITA.

[I'm assuming you are using the free version - the $$$ version has boolean ops and lots of other nice features.]

Sketchup's modelling method is hard to beat, but if Blender ever gets some decent CAD features (IIRC, 2.49 had a BlenderCAD project - but newer versions broke its foundation), it would make a great starship modeling+deckplanning tool.

 

[navanod]

I watched the tutorials at sketchup.com w examples of making houses, but I'm not so sure about how to go from there to making starships.

I'll try messing around w it and see what happens - also need to look at those pages of Ian's that BytePro posted.

One more question: when making a set of deckplans and also 3-D exterior, do you try to include all that in one model, or do one model for 2-D deckplans and another model for 3-D exterior?

I don't use sketchup (although I've just started playing with it to compare capabilities with other 3d packages), but I've done quite a few ships and made fairly significant progress on a full interior for one. How you go about it and the level of detail you're aiming for are going to determine your methodology. If you're just doing the exterior with a relatively simple interior, you can do it all in one model. For high detail, you'll want to separate them into exterior and interior models, and possibly break each deck down into sections as well; again, a lot is going to depend on the size of the ship, the level of detail, and the software you're using.

Interiors more complex than the most basic level are going to be time consuming, although the library of objects for sketchup will help significantly. If you model the works from scratch, it's going to take time. But, you can achieve some pretty fair results...

And yes, there is a lot of red in this...I needed a bright color to show where I screwed things up.

 

[BytePro]

Very nice navanod!

Re: details - GPU Geometry Instancing (introduced ~2002) might help.

Not sure what modelers support it directly, though Cycles in Blender (at least with an NVidia NV40+ GPU) does, IIRC...

(ah - http://www.blendernation.com/2012/03/23/19-billion-triangles-render/).

 

[savage]

very nice

Very nice. The players will feel at home.

 

[whartung]

Yea that's a nice deck plan.

Every time I dabble with a 3D program I feel like a complete idiot.

I feel like the tutorials are like those drawing books. They go from simple circle, to sphere, to rendered, textured, and animated Death Star with the Battle of Endor raging around it, all in 3 steps.

I reckon I don't have the patience for it. Should find a community college or extension class and take that. Move up to being able to create a red colored box by the end of the class.

 

[HiverLord]

Yea that's a nice deck plan.

Every time I dabble with a 3D program I feel like a complete idiot.

Oh, do I agree with you 1000%...
I keep trying occasionally, but I'm NOT an artist, nor an engineer. I'm *slowly* learning (now that my arm is healed and have time, anyway).

Navanod, I love your designs and work!