Me 2- Looked up my previous residences, coastal landmarks, and places I'd been when in the Navy.
Sidebar... Lately, I'm thinking someone could make a lot of money by applying store-names, etc on rooftops. I think it would be a great time-saver when looking for specific stores when you know you're very close to it. Think of the advertising potential!
BTW- I'm too old to get into this, but if you do, please mention you heard it here 
@will03 said:
its all about the firefox/thunderbird the ultimate, and best ever combination for internet stuffs hands down
Slightly OT (sorry)
I'm over three years out with the Fox, but there's one nagging thing..
I'm a Hotmail guy from waa--a-y-y-y long time back, and Firefox will not let me use the html option on email.
I HATE that!. It just aint' right, having to start up IE browser just to use Hotmail's extra features.
Okay, I'm done-- aplogies for rambling 
Reg
Here's another...
http://www.free2design.com/
(In the lower left section of main page is the download link for the free version)
I downloaded it mainly because I needed a simple 2D app that can import jpg or bmp files for tracing over. I am still at the nooby level, struggling to do the most elemental things with it, but it looks pretty impressive.
My favorite super-simple 2D app is Drafix Quick Cad, but it can't import reference images. I bought it on a sale-table at Wallyworld years ago, and it still comes in handy.
@unknownuser said:
I found this at http://sketchuptips.blogspot.com/
Looks like a nice, free little app. for image viewing and basic to intermediate editing.
http://www.faststone.org/FSViewerDetail.htm
Yup, I've been using for several months now, and it's been a very handy gadget.
Highly recommended by me 
@krisidious said:
are those apratments made out of shipping containers?
fantastic... great sketches too...
Don't want to get too far OT, but can't resist showing y'all a South Louisiana version of the Container School of Design.. Not a slick as the UK layout, but it did survive Hurricane Katrina.
Just a reminder- My Wacom Graphire has a pen and a mouse. (I think most of the other Wacoms have both). The mouse is cordless, no battery, no ball, has a fabric bottom that is not hard to clean. It has 2 buttons and clickable scroll wheel ( I think you can program all buttons). The mouse will only work on the Wacom pad, but that has been no problem.
So in some cases, the pen and mouse can be really handy. Also, the mouse does not have a problem with my main "system" wired mouse, which rests next to the keyboard on a slide-out shelf below my desktop. Just another option.
I'm so glad I don't actually "work" anymore. Else I'd have to show you spoiled brats a pretty sad sight.
Google Earth shows a few treetops and some roofs which disappeared two years and two days ago.
Anyway, it's fun looking at the posts.
As Steve McQeen says in Papillon: I'm still here, you bastards!
Reg - Zip 70083 USA
@marked001 said:
wait... i do have a comment..
where are the trucker girls???
[Image clipped from quote]
You build it, and you can bet the gals will be there!! Chrome, and other materials
Kris- If you can find a suitable tract near ANY NASCAR venue, I think you'd have to fight off the offers with a stick!
(Hmmm- how about a coffee shop that uses old gas pumps for espresso, .. and uhh maybe not?)
Boofred- That motel is from one of the few DVD's I WILL NOT lend out. I love the plot, the characters, the scenery, the whole thing just knocks me out! (Okay- for the uninitiated: CARS)
@ross macintosh said:
Yes, that is weird!
I wonder if it were developed in a less literal way could it still retain enough essence to suggest the idea without looking like it belongs in a theme park as a hotel concept. The section with the high clerestory windows looks good. The part that is hard to take seriously is the over-the-top truck look.
I don't understand why I have that reaction to it. I suppose we are trained to think in terms of designing tasteful things. Doing designs that are intentionally kitsch is rather foreign.
Regards, Ross
Ross, I wonder if you've traveled much around the lower 48- especially Texas, Alabama, or Tennessee?
I know people (with money) who would jump all over this concept!
My only problem is this- as much as I love those Corvettes, I think we need a few Mustangs in there too.. 
(Smiling Southern guy here)
Errr... HUH? 
Is it my Firefox browser, or something else? I don't see a link or an image!
Feelin' Soooo-left out! 
@robmoors said:
I hope this helps you out a little to clean up your mesh, if you got any questions please do ask them!
I have been diverted, but I come back to ask how you got those nice views of my hull sections. I'm thinking you must be using the section tool-- any comments that may get me up to speed? I have never used the section tool
(Meanwhile--- back to the manual...)
Not only are you guys great modelers, but your tutorials are beautiful!
robmoors says:
@unknownuser said:
I hope this helps you out a little to clean up your mesh, if you got any questions please do ask them!
Gracias! That tut will be a great help. However, I feel defensive about some of the "junk" you see in that model.. please see attached.
The eraser is really a serious tool that I had ignored.
It will be interesting to apply your method at the "pointy" end of the boat.
@krisidious said:
really it's never the size but the detail... the hull should be very much the same regardless of size...
Oh yes! If/when I get that hull done there should be enough detail work to keep me busy for a long time.
BTW- that is/was a 2-inch thick mahogany hull 65 ft long (I don't know if Katrina spared it- it was in Biloxi)
WOW- I want to thank all of you for taking time to help!
Sure gives me a lot to think about (uhuh- a good way to keep me off the forum for a while )
Confession: This runabout model is supposed to get me ready for the boat I spent my early years working on as a deckhand for my dad..
Maybe I better hold off on that 
Thanks for concerns ivica and robmoors...
HAHA! I'm so ignorant, I don't even know what Acad is (although I am classified as Acadian)!
I do have a small exposure to Strata3D (can't afford it), Blender (my PC can't handle it), Wings (don't like it).
Oh yeah- almost forgot.. I spent a lot of hours back on 2004-2005 "building" in Second Life. That is a whole 'nuther system!
Yeah, just using Sketchup for this model, and I know what a mess I made of the bottom of the boat. Part of my trouble is thinking too much of how the builders bent that plywood, and the other part is that I'm in way over my head. It's all about starting with those critical, unforgiving curves.
@unknownuser said:
Do you have 2 sections of the boat laying around?
Not sure what you mean by sections. Cross-section?
I'm putting a later version here.
HDhalfhull-0-4.skp
I made some progress with the eraser tool, but using transverse panels, maybe I can close up the "leaks".
Today I spent a whole lot of time messing with the portholes and the V-berth, just to avoid working with the bottom. I'm planning to put in some ribs to guide me, then rework the bottom using longitudal panels. Maybe I can get the stitching to work better that way.
I like to think that a boat could be modeled in CG faster than in the physical world, but I'm rethinking that.
Help and comments always appreciated.
Some photos and screen grabs here:
http://www.msnusers.com/HDfiles/shoebox.msnw?Page=1
A flakey 3D site I started a long time ago...
http://reg3d.tripod.com/3dpage.htm
Confession- I had so much trouble trying to develop this model without proper measurement, I began to just hang out on the forums instead of pushing myself. But- Weather got so bad down here, I stayed indoors and made new efforts.
My main accomplishment at this phase is getting the chine molding to almost resemble the real thing. Follow me tool is easy enough, but getting that bezier curve to accurately swing through all 3 axes brought me to my knees!
Also- following Nick's suggestions, the erase tool has some pretty cool tricks built into it.
The slanted transom is another beast that I have barely gained any control of, and looking ahead- I have to learn to put openings thru the hull for the port holes.
So, thanks again to Kris and Nick for the encouragement.
Nick, these are great tips... new territory for me.
Thanks a bunch.
Just lately I've made this model a bigger mess than it was! But I learned from it.
Looks like the basic truth about building almost anything definitely applies to this project: Start with a solid foundation, when using guides, they must be accurate. It's much harder to correct errors than to start with accuracy.
Problem is I don't have the precious measurements that would apply here. I have to do like my old grandpa when he built shrimp boats- "trust the trained eye".
Hopefully I'll put a better example on line, thanks to you guys in the forum.
@nick w said:
Reg,
A general tip for selective smoothing is to use the eraser tool ("E") and hold down the control key (on a PC, not sure if it's same on a mac) to soften the lines.
Sounded like you lost more definition than you wanted when you attempted to "smooth" some of the lines.
Then, if you have lines that you want to "un-soften", you can turn on hidden geometry (in the view menu) to see all of your contour lines. The softened or hidden lines will show up as different dashed line styles. To unsoften, use the erase tool again, but hold down Ctrl+Shift.
hope this helps.
cool project. looks like you're making progress and learning plenty along the way.
@unknownuser said:
oh... no ribs... is it plank wood construction? or fiberglass?
Neither- It's a common approach around here for plywood hulls- there are a few transverse elements to stiffen the hull, such as seats, bait wells (on fishing skiffs), bunks parts, etc. Under the floorboards are rib-like braces which stiffen the bottom and anchor the flooring. At the stern on the CarterCraft is a stout splashwell box which gives a lot of strength to that part of the hull. More stiffness is provided with longitudal stringers inside the bottom. My boat has at least 4 of these either side of the keel. When I draw these in, I'll be wa-a-y-y down the road in my modeling!
Thanks for the coaching -- I learn from every reply
Reg
Thanks Kris...
Sure is a pretty setup you sent!
I realize I was not using a rib-method in my first attempt. One problem is that the plywood construction doesn't use actual ribs. I think I'll need to do some calculations now, and make "working" ribs, to get the lines right.
I tried connecting a series of lines along the "chine-points" on your sample, and ran into problems. Seems the inferences code doesn't know what I'm trying to do.
Could this have something to do with my "lite" version of SU? I wonder if the Pro version has tricks I don't know about.
OH, if only I had better measurenemts! The boat is in a shed many miles from me now.
So I think I'll try a series of panels, one for each mold station, with points for connecting my curves, and see where I can go with that.
Okay- I'm ashamed to say how much time I've put into this project so far, but here's a start. Just trying to get a mirror image of the half hull drove me nuts!
I can see that my curves are not precise, and when I used smooth- I almost lost the hard chine that is a strong feature on this boat.
I'm prepared to take any C&C or just "get outta here!". Either way, this idea has a very long way to go.
