Geodesic-based lamp spheres have, seemingly, been popular, over the past few years. Here's a sampling for your SketchUp modeling exercises: [image: VgMc_Geodesiclampshade.jpg] [image: us4w_tumblr_m9r5np3AnF1qavpd4.jpg] [image: fepm_KentBlazek-NexusKitset-2.jpg]

Hi Dave, I was thinking around the same lines and tried that, it should have worked but no luck. I have attached an image with the straight line in so you could see the shapes. At a loss here [image: Km1t_Dave.jpg]

Thanks, much appreciated!

Thanks. Yes I have always found Layout very frustrating and it is only because I have bought a new computer with a lot more RAM that I am even considering it. I think I am getting there with a system that works for me - a few more weeks and hopefully I will have it cracked. Thanks for your reply.

I would not get put off by the shape It is all quite basic geometry and simple machining. The shape of the leg is basically a 'Squashed' baseball bat, scaled down upon its longest axis. This could be achieved with the "follow me tool" It is basically "Lathe" in other programs. Then a bit of it is removed by putting a box or plane against the "leg" and look at 'intersect faces' to remove the box or plane leaving a flat bit on the lathed leg to fit against the flat side of the body. You are subtracting a plane or box from the lathed leg. I have attached an image of basically how you could do a leg. It is not in proportion though.[image: G8VA_Dogleg.jpg] Hope this is some help

MEGA thank you! your replies are very helpful!!

Hi Tony, firstly my 'out clause'....I am definatley not a computer guru . I have recently posted "what graphics card" (might pay to check out that thread) I was having the same issue as you. I am now running 16 gig of RAM with a gainward Z77 nvidia 660 on a high speck quad core I5 3.4 GHZ. I WAS running an small AZUS graphics card. When I changed to the "bells and whistles" Nvidia 660 not much changed. . I am assuming you are doing commercial developments/streetscapes, as I sometimes do which end up being BIG models, you wish to turn on shadows to set them for rendering....."sketchup not responding" If that is the case it seems Sketchup itself is the limiting factor and it does not have a big GPU dependency at all. I hope the developers can do something about this as it seems to me computer graphics/RAM/processing has caught up to the limitation of SU for large Architectural models with lots of detail. Thats my experience for what it is worth. Click on this link. http://www.vtc.com/products/GoogleSketchUpPro8/Introduction/99227

Thank you very much everyone, I will try to solve it with your advice. Best wishes.

The network licensing mechanism doesn't support mapped network shares (e.g. X:/Y:/Z:), use the UNC path only, e.g.: \ServerName\SketchUpLicenseFolder The folder used needs full read/write permissions of course. For moving a network license to a new server/folder just create a new license file from scratch. hth, Norbert

Thank you TIG, and thank you for all your ruby script contributions. Dan

Yes. That works, too. The best way to create dashed line and of course control line weights is to do it in LayOut.

You are right The standard 'en' template-set does indeed have 'mm' versions - as the 'b' types ['a' types are 'inch']. During ATC training I had to make a 'mm' training-template for the UK, because there isn't one for 'training' - only a=inch/b=meter - so that's where my memory broke down......

Because there's nothing in it.

@cuddlebunny said: What i did before was to make the walls on layer 0 then group them send them to their layer and when i need to work on the walls i`d have the wall layer active and visible and draw the lines on that wall layer, i see now that was my problem. Yes. That is the problem. @cuddlebunny said: If i understand right, when i need to work on my wall group thats on is on the wall layer i must make sure layer 0 is active with the wall layer visible and draw all lines in the 0 layer. Really the thing to do is leave Layer 0 active at all times. If you need to edit your wall group which is on the Wall layer, you'll open the group for editing and make the needed changes. At that point you'll be working on Layer 0 where all the other geometry is. As layers and visibility are concerned, I often use the analogy of the cloaking device on the Romulan Bird of Prey spaceship. (Did you ever watch the original Star Trek series?) The Romulans would activate the cloaking device which would make the ship invisible. It would still be there but it couldn't be seen. In the same way, turning off the visibility of a layer associated with a group or component cloaks the edges and faces inside. @cuddlebunny said: Thank you Dave for taking your time to explain this to me hopefully now i can finish my first model. You're welcome.

Thanx a lot! That helps!!!