Aircraft project

[MIke Ravenwolf]

I am designing a push prop, canard aircraft, mostly for the heck of it, with the eventual goal of building it someday.
I have the hand drawn sketches of what I am wanting to do, but am running in to some problems and need some advice.
I've attempted to do other aircraft designs in Sketchup in the past, and have always run into this problem, not being able to build complex shapes, such as a nose cone, or a canopy. oddly enough, wings haven't posed much of a problem, lol.
I learned 3D modeling using AutoCAD, and dabbled a little in GMax. Is there a script or some function that I dont know about that would let me create mesh type shapes?
I've included the fuselage I've been working on. yeah, it needs alot of work and to be slimmed down some.lol, but right now its a starting point
The nose cone was a HUGE pain to build, and still does not meet my satisfaction.

Any and all help would be greatly appreciated.

_ Mike

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canardfuse.skp

[solo]

Can you post some images of what it should look like?

[MIke Ravenwolf]

its kind of a bad scan, though i hope it gives a clear enough picture.
its a bit of a rough sketch, most of the details are evolving as i go. lol

[ridix]

I think his aircraft is some what like Long EZ like this photo.
http://www.ez.org/images/SAnderson.jpg

[Marian]

these will surely help you.
http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/details?mid=73d4121a922fcd2afc3f4fe6b3c2c221
http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/details?mid=bfe2089b01555507802d4395fd3064f8

[MIke Ravenwolf]

I'll take a close look at those tutorials, thanks.

Yep, that pic is an excellent example.
this particular design is inspired off the VariEze/Long-EZ design.
I've also been looking at the Berkut, Cozy, and several other homebuilt variations of the Rutan design in hopes of finding a good starting block. This is the simplest of the three designs i did recently so I figured I would start with this one

Does sketchup have various scripts that can be run on it? I know CAD had the LISP scripts that allowed me to build 3D meshes and build certain shapes i wouldn't otherwise be able to do.

thanks again

[Marian]

Sketchup uses ruby scripts and has many new functions added on top the standard tool set, but hasn't a ruby that can make complex shapes off the bat, there is one for making procedural cars although it's in early stages.

[geh4evr]

That's looking good. I helped build a Cozy Once, so I've had my fair share of looking at them. Have you progressed any with this?

[bigstick]

I think the subdivide & smooth plugin would really help you with this. It's probably the easiest way of building complex organic shapes.