Hi, Import your plans as an image. Then use the measuring tape tool to measure an internal wall and then just type the actual length of the wall and hit enter. You'll be asked 'do you want to resize the model'. Choose yes, and now your imported image of the plan is to scale! It's a case of happy modeling from here. I advise to use layers for different things like Walls, floors etc. It'll prove invaluable

Wonder how the background was done...

Well, as I first wrote, this is where I am stumped as it's a Mac only feature so I have never been able to play around with it and don1t know what the trick are.

@catkinsonfox said: My problem is, I'd love to create separate components that I could then drag over and attach to the main component. Think the complexity of a motorcycles engine! Is it possible to do that? I have not yet tried it, having crashed and burned the first time (two years ago) I even thought of the idea . . . Conversely, are there any 3D models of motorcycles I could borrow and modify to give me what I need: decent 6-view renderings of the basic machine -- chassis, engine, wheels/tires, etc.? Yes. You can create separate components and attach them to the main model. You should spend some time learning the basics of SketchUp. Watch the tutorial videos on the SketchUp website as well as here and other places. You can check out the 3D Warehouse for motorcycles or the parts. You might find what you need there.

Jack, select your line then rigth click-->convert to-->polyline divider and set an interval. I suggest you to read the manual that comes with the plugin.

Perfect. Thank you, TIG.

Thats what i was looking for. Thank you very much Tig.

You can even save ALL of the Components in the Model into an external folder as a 'Collection' of SKP files - see the right-side pop-out menu, in the Component Browser > Model tab ...

Not from within SU. But as mentioned further up there are free uv mapping tools out that work with whaat's uv tool. Best there is, but could be something in the future

@gaieus said: Szia András! ... Remember where you save them, go there and open the component just to see that they are now just a simple file (without being a component inside the file). .. when you drag some dynamic component from the file manager to the sketchup windows, it seems to lose its dynamic characteristics your explanation solves the problem: just explode once the dynamic component you just dragged into sketchup, and the dynamic characteristics are available again thank you, this is a big help but how do you make sure in the first place when you register the component, that it is "just a file", and not a "component in a file" ?

SUp's inferencing can be like magic sometimes - it can be annoying at others BUT with use you know how to fool it into, for example, not locking the snap to the red axis when you are trying to pick a point just off it [tip orbit arouns so that the direction you are moving the cursor is not parallel to the sides of the screen - the red inference is less like to predominate - or still your cursor and wait a second and it'll suggest another inference]

Gai, Good tip. I will have to remember that one.

Hi there, Have you tried SU Sandbox tools? You should enable it first, since they don´t appear in SU by default http://sketchup.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=38496 As for the plugins, you could try Sculpt Tools http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?f=323&t=20781&hilit=plugin

I think it was Didier Bur who made the plugin... However, unless the edges/faces are very simply related any script will have a problem guessing which face looks where - try making three faces with a common edge to see the problem only two of them can be 'oriented' the same at any one time - the third must always be 'wrong' All faces formed 'flat' at Z=0 will automatically face down [made manually or even when scripted - an event you have to watch for and trap by reversing that face if appropriate] - it's a quirk of SUp - which assumes you want to PushPull them 'up' from Z=0 so it always points than 'downwards' so the extrusion is not made 'inside-out'. Any other flat faces face 'up'. With 3D CAD import it the facing in/out probably depends on the way the face's edges were originally created If you make shortcut keys for Reverse [say Q+shift] and Orient [say Q+alt] it makes sorting this type of thing out much easier. If it's a 'flat' plan then select one face with the required orientation [or make one 'reversed' as needed] and then Orient - all the others connected will now match. Tools like PushPull and FollowMe temporarily highlight a face below the cursor - even when it's not been selected - so you can use your shortcut keys to Reverse or Orient the Face as you are using those tools too... Also work in a Style that has front and back faces in clearly different hues and uses Monochrome mode - so you can easily see them if they are reversed - it is actually a relatively quick and painless task to get all of your model's faces the right way round early on using these methods... As Chris says if you are exporting to other 3D file formats or into many renderers you must have the faces the 'right way round' - otherwise they will fail to give the expected results...

Ok, don't have a Mac myself, just cut the excerpt out of the link. Sorry I couldn't be of help.

Thanks, Chris. These quirks become truly minor when one is made aware that they are 'bugs'. Transparency has virtues beyond the squeak: time, energy may be conserved for other crap.

Thank you, TIG. Having battled so well SU's limitations in this area, your work-arounds are no doubt old-hat and reflexive to you. I'm still trying to squeeze that turnip, though, and don't want to do as much as you suggest, even if it is the only and/or best way. Drawing extra, otherwise unneeded lines (guides) to place text is just not right, as stupid AND true as that judgment may be.

Unfortunately only geometry can be exported to GE which means that yes, only3D Text if you want text.

Hi honolulu and mac1 - thanks for your time and advice. I'll look in to everything you've written. have a nice day! best, lene