This is probably easy, but I can't figure it out. I can't figure out how to make what I've illustrated in the picture.

When I first started with sketchup it was fun. Then I started doing more advanced stuff. Then I ran foul of follow me. It never... and I mean, never works right. ONCE has it ever done what I've wanted it to do.

As you can see I got it to work once, but the next attempt is another disaster. I've tried everything and nothing works. I quit learning sketchup because of this. And will again if someone can't tell me why it doesn't work 99.9% of the time.

This is stupid to admit, but I have no idea how I did this.

I don't know how I made my engine so smooth and I can't find an answer as to how to do it again. I didn't soften the lines or anything.

I think it's going OK. Given my inferior level of knowledge. Anyway...

See the blue line? I don't like it. I messed up along the way and can't figure out how to straighten it up. Short of rebuilding the whole thing...

I know a lot of my questions seem stupid, but keep in mind I've only been using sketchup since sunday. And searches for answers often prove fruitless. As for flipping, it feels dirty because I have OCD and I want everything to be perfectly clean.

For only using it a few days, I think I'm doing OK. I can't get solid tools to work, rotate is a nightmare, follow me is useless. And I can't figure out how to make bended pipes, but as I said, I haven't had much experience with any of it. I've tried modelling in lightwave ten and haven't accomplished in a month what I have in less then a week with sketchup. Also didn't have as much fun figuring things out on my own.

Making the instance works, but losing that mirror sucks.

well flipping it works, but it feels dirty.

Anyway, new problem. I have half my model mirrored, but I need to make changes to one side and not have it on the other. How do I keep the mirroring, but disable making changes on the opposite side of the model?

I've only been using it for a few days.

See the picture. I need to take that piece and put a duplicate on the bottom. Is to make a copy of it and rotate it the only answer? Because rotate is unbelievably frustrating to get to work.