Tank Malin

Closterman,

What software are you using?.
Had a look at your other pictures... very nice.

TTFN

TM

dr_wogz

My Feedback: (3)

he's using Inventor, the latest 'parametric modeller' form Autodesk. It's what they are repalcing their popular 'Mechanical desktop' with. It is quitre simple to use, and yet quite powerful. The rendering options are out of this world!

the rest of his site is www.mraerodesign.com

Tank Malin

Dr_Wogz,

Thats what I use in my design business. Very good software, still needs refining in places but I'm sure that will happen so will have to wait and see what release 9 has to offer.

TTFN

TM

phuffstatler

My Feedback: (20)

I still do my drawings by hand. In my humble opinion, CAD has removed all the "art" from drawing. But, i suppose I'm old-fashioned... [sm=pirate.gif]


phil in austin

Mike James

That's an interesting comment. I personally feel that CAD is just another tool, and if possible, I like to take advantage of new and better tools. When I create these things, they're definitely "art" to me, although others may not see it that way.

Here's the 2004 fleet...

a088008

I ONLY scratch build, so CAD is important for my designs, although I sometimes get the building bug and just draw up some plans on the table as I build. It can also be quite fun, allthough you need to keep things simple when "wing'n" it (excuse the pun).

I design models using 3D exclusively and then print the view and parts I need. Here are 2 designs of mine. The first picture is of a plane I built last year and the second is a design that I hope to produce in the coming year. It is a Pattern/3D Hybrid for large electric motors and will have an 80" wingspan.

BMatthews

To phuff and Mike, I know what phil means. Hand drawn in either ink or pencil had a certain quality to it. Having drawm my dreams for most of my life and worn out many a pencil and eraser in the process I tend to look at my old paper drawings with a different feeling than I do my CAD work. What you do with your renderings is definetley art in design but it's not that personal touch that comes from the penmanship of the draughtman. And I don't mean the clinically correct drawings of the magazines. I'm talking about the old Ray Malmstron drawings, the crisp but still human lettering and style of Bjorn Karlstrom, William Wylam and Paul Matt. Those drawings have soul that you can't get from CAD or 3D out of a computer. It's not the subject in this case but the presentation. Yes the stuff in this thread is awesomely good on all counts but it's a new technical perfection generation where these others are from quite another time and place where the work style marks the source every bit as much as the name on the title plate.

Don't get me wrong. I don't want to go back because in the end the idea is to build models or other bits of "stuff" from the plans. ButI can see where it may be sort of nice to redo an old timer plan with a bit of flair in pencil and vellum now and then, just so there's a human touch.

In defense of my stance I offer a portion of my own work from 1991....

Closterman

Tank, like dr-wogz already said, I use Autodesk Inventor. I work on it at my work, this is why I can use this HI-tech software ! Very good software but Adesk have to give us more speed at my opinion ! ..

Tank Malin

Closterman,

Are you on release 8?
I am on subscription and eagerly await every new release !
The modelling side of things is very good, but I still have some gripes with the drawing side of things[X(] !
Unfortunately sometimes I cannot achieve the finer details what I could in AutoCAD many years ago!
Still nevermind I certainly wouldn't go back to using AutoCAD full time [:'(] Ahh
Hopefully I can progress on the Lysander a bit more very soon.

Cheers

TM

Closterman

Yes,I'm on release 8 and wait for the 9 (possibly this summer).
What finer detail you can't do ? I really like the drawing side of INV. More easy than Acad I.M.O.
(e-mail me if you want: [email protected] )
I have only 2 complaint about Inventor: Speed and lost of reference in adaptive situation...
But, I like it and go on ACAD as less as possible.. !! [:'(]

dreadnaut

My Feedback: (5)

here's my lqatest work in progress. It's is a 2M patern plane

dreadnaut

My Feedback: (5)

Here's more. I "Build" the model in 3D. This helps to insure that the parts will fit. I put each part on it's own layer. I select colors for contrast, not looks. Then I take it apart and plot the patterns. I have a HP 750 CAD plotter. I can print a sheet up to 35 inches wide, and as long as necessary.

dr_wogz

My Feedback: (3)

How about also posting teh software you're using as well?

I'm on both Mech desktop 5 and Inventor 5.3

dreadnaut

My Feedback: (5)

Here are two more. The first shows the right fuselage side removed. The second is the view from underneath.

I use ACAD2001. I also have Inventor and Solidworks. They are both great software, but I can still work faster in AutoCAD. Mine is an educational version that, unfortunatly, does not allow me to render to a file. I have to CTL/PrintScreen and paste the image to MSPaint, then save as a GIF.

aston70

My Feedback: (1)

Here's a couple of mine.

The 3D is Nick Ziroli's 1/2a sukhoi plan I found in an old magazine drawn accurately in 3D.

The cub is still in work, and some others have built it as well. You can see it at my website.
[link=http://www.dano.hostrocket.com/index.php?plane=7]http://www.dano.hostrocket.com/index.php?plane=7[/link]

Johng

My Feedback: (4)

Well, I can't take credit for this, it was sent to me from Butch Sickles. It's a 3-d model for the U-2R fuselage. I have a "kit" that he made some time ago waiting on the table right here behind me. He sent the file to me so I could work up my own bulkheads as it's pretty much just a fiberglass shell, and I'll be doing things (turbine) that were not envisioned when the plane was designed.

BTW - Before you ask, I can't share the data without permission of the author.

The second file is my own doing - it's a vertical wind tunnel I'm designing. You can figure scale by the stairs. Not even remotely RC but at least I did it myself.

I'm using TurboCad 9 standard right now. I just ordered the upgrade to Version 10 PRO which will have real rendering tools and allow textures. The way to get into Turbocad is to buy the standard version for ~$150 then wait for them to send the upgrade promo for ~$150. Beats buying the pro version up front for ~$700.

canadagoose

My Feedback: (2)

Here's my next project, a little bipe.

Looper

My Feedback: (22)

These are all magnificent! Now, hasn't anyone done a Funtana type model of at least 78' span? This would make a lot of people happy!

kitfoxkid

My Feedback: (1)

here is my 3D drawing:
It is an motoglider, for a speed 400, and I designed and draw it in the 2000 with Autocad r14.
happy flights.
Richard
Argentina

a088008

Good looking, simple contruction.
Can I suggest you use half the amount of ribs and less wing sheeting.
Your design is WAY over built (If you don't mind me saying so).
You will be surprised with how light you can make it and still keep it strong enough for its intended purpose.

BMatthews

Actually I think it looks great the way it is. The width of sheeting he's showing there will carry it well beyond the high point which is a big benifit aerodynamically. Many of the "older" designs suffered from separation bubbles at the end of the D tube sheeting. Selig and Drela have shown that extending the sheeting back past the point of the most curvature and well past the thickest part has a very positive effect.

But to help the weight problem the sheeting should be thin and light. Without the proper attention I agree that it could get heavy in a hurry.

I'm more concerned with the apparent lack of dihedral. That small an amount will result in a lazy response to the rudder inputs. Otherwise I think it looks great.

a088008

I'm aware of this benefit, however a speed 400 electric plane might find less weight more beneficial.
I agree that the thinnest sheeting should be used, considering the size of the plane.

Don't get me wrong. I DO like his design. I have designed many similar park fliers and found that, most of the time, weight was the biggest enemy for a speed 400 plane.

Chevelle

My Feedback: (2)

Here's mine. It is a 1910 AVRO Triplane. The design is in SolidWorks and is at 1/4 scale. I hope to start building it soon.

CoosBayLumber

My Feedback: (1)

Chevelle:

That looks interesting, but still haven't explained how you propose to do the wing warping feature as in the original A/C. That I gotta see.


Wm.

Chevelle

My Feedback: (2)

I intend to do it pretty much like the original. In that plane, only the outer sections of the upper and middle wings warped. The spar was hinged to reduce the twisting the main sections.

The tricky part for me is the servo mounting. In the original, the warping wires emerge from the tube that holds the wheel. If I did the same but fixed mounted the servo, there would be warping when there was elevator movement. I have to mount the warping servo on the yoke structure so that it moves back and fourth with elevator inputs.

I hope to prototype that up to see if it is a good design.