You are wrong in in one manner in that this subject has been brought up NUMEROUS times at this forum. Again, what has been termed and questioned, bears little help in solving anything as your basic background has not been indicated. You are not looking hard enough at the end product, but a way to get to any possible solution. There are a few initial items to be resolved before going too far. We need to know how much hand drafting experience you have, any trade school quality computer drafting, how familiar are you with the basic computer (and Windows) operating system and their plug-in components. All of which have a bearing upon the type of quality or end result that can be expected. Cost, speed of use and being "Easy to Use" are not all the factors to consider. More often than not, you will be using the same dozen functions over, and over and over again until the printing on top of certain buttons on your computer keyboard are worn off.

Your dream project has little bearing to reality. Initially you are going to have to copy some small, simple, design out of a magazine. As an example for what you have envisioned exceeds the sheet parameters of the average plotter. Each component of the project has to be drawn and sized to fit within the standard sheet sizes. MODEL AVIATION and RCM have on-line parameters as to what they like to see for linework and details. Not indicating for you to use them, but you are going to have to set up your own known parameters as to appearances and sizing before going too far. Most of the persons currently using CAD and reading the forum do not give a second thought to this, as by now it has become as familiar as your backhand. We all know there is no such thing as a 36 inch wide drawing, the real maximum is somewhere between that and 35 inches, so all of us adjust accordingly. These are things not written into any CAD software manual that I know of, but is something you learn from experience or at trade school.

What hasn't been mentioned is that I assume you are going to try an do all this at home. The market seems to have divided itself into four factions now. Autodesk (Autocad), IMSI (TurboCAD, DesignCAD, etc.), the 3-D vendors (like Rhino and Solidworks) and the CAD-CAMM vendors (like MasterCAMM). I first drafted up a plan in the late 1970's using a Civil Engineering software, so any system can be adapted. Some of these softwares will operate in Windows 98 and some new versions will only operate in Windows XP. This may seem a moot issue at present time until you begin to purchase or set up for hardware. If you want to work at home, many of the used and available items, and moreover AFFORDABLE items will not work in XP. There are no drivers available. So it is best to get some experience in set up also before you buy anything, it has to first-off meet your abilities, familiarity, interchangeability, compatibility, other components, and then lastly your wallet. It is much cheaper to investigate than to purchase. CAD Version X may be the hottest and latest, but your system and abilities may be better suited for a slightly earlier version.

I currently draft up model A/C plans for a couple of the west coast distributors and after your first couple of uncompleted projects, you will soon find out the capabilities of your software, the hardware, and your wallet to become compatible with others. Each of these distributors have theirown appearance and hardware standards, and you have to alter the thinking accordingly. I would also begin by using the noted standards and trying to replicate the works of another, but keep the project to maybe a 36 to 48 inch span A/C to begin with. Keep the 1/4 scale project in the back of your mind until a year of so from now. Complete something short and simple first. This will keep your costs down and give an indication as to what needs to be learned next. And, real or actual airfoils have little resemblance to performance on model A/C.


Wm.