<span style="font-size: medium">Does anybody out there know of a software available to experiment with differant color schemes? Ihave to admit that I have little to no creativity and Ican use all the help Ican get. If Ihad a method to develop a plan in advance it would be a big help. What better place to find out other than RCUniversity!!!</span>

I just finished covering a model. and had the same problem. I don't know of any software for the purpose, so I drew a 3D outline of the aeroplane in Paint (all PC' s have it). I then used the "fill" tool to change the colour of the different portions. It actually worked really well, but It did require that I draw the model.

I do all my design from structual to the color sceams and patterns in AutoCAD.

Take a look at the "Lets Talk About the Covering Sequence". It has evolved into a thread on creating and adjusting covering schemes. The main antagonist is a professional artist. His warbird battle artwork will blow your socks off. See Charlies Flying Circus (CFC Graphics).

Some kits included top and side 8.5 x 11 images that can be easily scanned. They make for great templates for scheme ideas.

I happen to use Microsoft's Visio. The structures that I create can be printed on roll paper to recreate the building plans. I frequently include every stick used in the assembly. I can print very precise trim templates that can be used in cutting the film. I can pull the schemes apart then drag-n-drop the covering pieces onto "film roll" templates so that I can plan my film cutting to keep the scrap to a minimum and determine how much film I'll need to cover the plane.

I've added bottom, side and top views of the plane in the "covering sequence" thread. It's a Bridi Killer Chaos 60.

Just for grins I created a side view that has a background color that might help you "see" the scheme in the air. Hey, some days Colorado sky really is THATblue.

Is Visio a cad program that ya gotta be college eductaed to be able to figure out? I do consider myself computer literate, to a point. But it did take classes to learn some things. I guess I am asking, do you think Visio is a program your basic idiot can learn on his own? It sounds like a good piece of software.
I have looked at autocad programs in the past and they were a bit beyond my skill level.

Ihave been checking out that covering thread. Its what got me to thinking about this issue. Ifigured Iwould put the question out there for all to see in case someone who knows a simple solution hadnt read that particuler thread.

From Microsoft's website "Both editions (standard and professional) deliver powerful tools tailored to meet a variety of visual communication needs for business and technical professionals." It has been quite a while since I put system architectural diagrams and models together with the tool. I use it to create scale drawings. Are there better tools for that? I'm sure. Maybe CoralDraw. I know that CD is used to transmit structures for laser cutters. Maybe a search in the scratch building forum might help. I just use what I'm comfortable with.

Btw, you can download a trial version of Visio from Microsoft Office support. And there is a "Vision for Dummies" book out there. Maybe I should grab a copy for a refresher ...

The attached pics are the gruesome structural details of the Killer Chaos.

Visio has something that ITcalls layers (different from Photoshop layers). When you put a structure together you can apply 1 or more "layer" attributes to each piece (or group that is made up of 2 or more pieces). Then you can display or hide any combination of layers. You can then save all displayed information as a jpg. That's what I've done with the pictures that I upload.

You could do a kind of human body structure that includes layers "skeleton", "organs" and skin. With skin displayed that's all you see. You can adjust the transparency of skin to be 50% so that you can see it but you can also see underlying structures. You can turn off display of skin and you would see the skeleton and organs. Likewise, you could turn off display of organs (or change its transparency)so that the skeleton is displayed.

You can save structures as CADstructures so that people with Rhino 3Dcould import your work and develop a laser cutting image. And on it goes ...

I added a couple more that includes textures &amp;shades that can be used to differentiate between the structures.

I've used both Rhino3D and Adobe Ilistrator. The later gives you a wider amount of color control.

Now, for agot ya. If you work from a 2D, IE3 view drawing for your base, and say you have acomplex pattern for the wing, you have to take into con
sideration the fact the the actual surface of the wing is bigger than the2D drawing of the wing. If you have thesoftwareto do it, make a 3D drawing of the wing, fuselage, etc and lay out your covering pattern on it. In Rhino3d, there is a function called "smash" that truns the 3d surface into a2D sheet. When you cut to this drawing, the parts will trun out right on theplane. When cut from a 2D layout, they will end upshort at times.

On a surface like a flat slab rudder or elevator, the 2D is usually OK. However, the curvs of the wing and fuselage can drive you nuts. My Ruberts Dad, RIP, was one of those times. The Ilayed it out in Rhino 3D and also imported it into Illistrator for coloring. When I cut the parts and then started the layup, every seam was a compromise. Thank goodness for the 1/8" wide black auto trim tape.

Don

Campgems - thanks for the Illustrator heads up. Visio stinks when it comes to color rendering. I've scanned in many film samples - none can be easily matched. Time to rethink Rhino3D - kinda pricie though. As far a guestimating film needs 2D is not an issue. Making spot on accurate templates - 2D is most definitely an issue - especially on nicely rounded fuses and nice thick wings ...

When ya think have a handle on something - boom - there goes another shoe.

Looks like I may have to actually read a book. Or take a class. Thought those days were behind me.
Thanks for all the info guys. I think this will be a long term project.
BTW Camp....beautiful a/c.

Campgems - I'm gonna put you on my "pftzzzzz" list. Just opened up Illustrator CS3 and how to say this - I AM CLUELESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now you know how I feel.

I am a professional Graphic Artist/Digital Imaging specialist and I work with Photoshop and Illustrator on a daily basis.

If you need any tips, just ask.

Try Model Airplane Colour Design

[link]http://www.airplanecolor.com/[/link]

There is a fourteen day free trial period and it gives you 3D rendering of the model.

Very easy to use as well.

Worth a shot.

Andrew

Thanks Andrew.  I just sent them an email asking what the full version price is.  Their website doesnt say.  Looks like good software. 

where is the Lets Talk About the Covering Sequence thread??????

Try the 2nd page under Kit Building or [link=http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_9522953/tm.htm] DaLink [/link]

Matt, here is the link to that thread

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_9522953/tm.htm