AutoCAD Version of the Gray Lady

[Birdog]

A few weeks ago I was asked to post some images of my version of Matt Jefferies' Gray Lady: the Enterprise.

My version is modeled and render in AutoCAD 2004 with a few shapes modeled in 2008 since it offers commands not found before ver 2007. Those shapes are the deck 2-3 super structure and the interconnecting dorsal. Everything else I did in '04.

The hull markings are my own unique solution to the problem. I make a very thin shell version of the hull and then extruded the markings through that shell and took just the overlapping volumes(intersect command) and then removed that from the original hull(subtract) so in essence the markings are etched into the hull.

The hull is for the most part hollow with real windows and a few white light sources inside to allow the windows to glow like the studio model.

I am using the very fine Sinclair drawings as my source and am sticking nearly 100% to them deviating only where necessary to take a series of two dimensional images into the third.

I intend to use these components as a base to model all of Franz Joesph's designs and do some comparison shots of the family. I also want to use them to do a few personal ideas and then compare those to more well know designs.

Without further ado here is the secondary hull in finished form.

[abaldwin360]

Very nice so far! I am using the Sinclair drawings for my 3D Studio model as well, but I'm changing things as I see fit. HAHA!

Can't wait to see the rest!

[Birdog]

I'm in the process of working on the Primary hull now. I need to integrate the super structure and then add the markings. Then it's onto finishing up the interdorsal before I can integrate the hulls together.

[Saquist]

Beautiful...absolutely...

[Birdog]

Saquist wrote:

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Beautiful...absolutely...

You really think so? It's nothing compared to some of the other projects going on around these parts. But thanks for the praise.

[Captain Robert April]

I've gotta learn how to do this...

[Birdog]

Captain Robert April wrote:

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I've gotta learn how to do this...

Unless you have access to a $5k seat of AutoCAD you can't learn how to do this^ but you could learn how to do something similar with a free or much cheaper piece of software. In my opinion some of the output of those are better than what I can put out.

I'm constrained by inexperience and the fact that vanilla AutoCAD is not actually a 3D program but is the finest 2D drafting package in the world. They have given it some pretty good capabilities in the past decade but that's still not it's forte. I'm also using a six year old version that lacks some commands that everyone else on the forum would take for granted so I have to use '08 at work to make some parts and then bring them home to integrate into my model.

I hope to have the Primary Hull done tonight. I'm cutting windows right now and then will etch the markings. I also started on the nacelles last night so will have something to show for that soon.

[AnyStar]

great work so far, cat wait to see more!

[Bernard Guignard]

Very nicely done

[wjaspers]

birdog wrote:

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My version is modeled and render in AutoCAD 2004 with a few shapes modeled in 2008 since it offers commands not found before ver 2007. Those shapes are the deck 2-3 super structure and the interconnecting dorsal. Everything else I did in '04.

You can do those shapes perfectly with Autocad 2004.


Nice model

[Birdog]

wjaspers wrote:

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You can do those shapes perfectly with Autocad 2004.


Nice model

The ones I can't do with '04 are the bridge superstructure and the interdorsal. Those are lofted shapes. What you see above was completely done in '04.

[wjaspers]

Here is a picture how to do it in AutoCad 2004:

Extrude the topview (red), extrude the side view (cyan). Intersect those two to get the green solid. Then fillet the top lines to get the bleu solid.

Ofcourse the loft command is a fine tool, but not always needed to do things.

[Birdog]

wjaspers wrote:

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Here is a picture how to do it in AutoCad 2004:

Extrude the topview (red), extrude the side view (cyan). Intersect those two to get the green solid. Then fillet the top lines to get the bleu solid.

Ofcourse the loft command is a fine tool, but not always needed to do things.

I don't know why I didn't think of that. I use that exact technique at work only with 3 intersecting parts at once. That looks better than what I lofted because my lofted part gave me fits getting the proper profile. I think I'll try that tomorrow night because that looks better than mine.

Update: I didn't get the windows done today so I'm going to try and get that tomorrow. I'll try and get some pics up tomorrow.

[JJohnson]

Hey, in case you were wondering about the color of the original Enterprise, here's Doug Drexler's article about it. It could be helpful for you.


James

[Birdog]

JJohnson wrote:

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Hey, in case you were wondering about the color of the original Enterprise, here's Doug Drexler's article about it. It could be helpful for you.


James

That's handy. I'll have to check my model tonight.