Topic: Distributing Plans (Read 12125 times)

dodgy geezer · « **on:** July 25, 2009, 09:33:02 am »

What is the usual way to distribute model boat plans? I'm looking to put some on my EeZeBILT web site, and at the moment I just have scans of the die-cut parts, which are on .pdfs and have to be cut and joined.

I draw using the Vellum DrawingBoard software package, and write onto wood directly with a flat-bed plotter but I don't find many people using .vlm files. What does everyone use? More importantly, is there a standard that is generally accepted for distributing CAD files on this site?

w3bby · « **Reply #1 on:** July 25, 2009, 10:48:46 am »

Plans that I have used and downloaded from the web or had sent to me by others have been offered both as .pdf and .dxf. Everyone can open a pdf, print and use, for those that use CAD then dxf although it may be that dwg might be preferable.

dodgy geezer · « **Reply #2 on:** July 25, 2009, 12:16:47 pm »

I'm not used to .dwg files. I've just tried to generate one using Solidworks, and got a .dwg file and a .vbi file with metadata in. Do I need to make both of these available?

Martin (Admin) · « **Reply #3 on:** July 25, 2009, 12:41:06 pm »

What plans are we talking about?
We need to be careful here so as not to infringing anyone copyright.

Martin - Forum Admin.

dodgy geezer · « **Reply #4 on:** July 25, 2009, 01:47:36 pm »

I've been drawing plans for my EeZeBILT web site. Did you know that the EeZeBILT boats were introduced 50 years ago last Christmas?

I was thinking of celebrating their birthday by challenging people to make some new designs, in the same style as the old range, but updated a bit for brushless motors and radio. I have one I've just done....

Perhaps I should put them out under the GNU Public licence...?

kiwi · « **Reply #5 on:** July 25, 2009, 07:40:29 pm »

Hi,
DXF is the general across the board CAD file exchange format. If you want to make it available to as many as possible, then most CAD programs can open these.
If its just so people can print off and build, then draw in whatever program you are happy with and generate a set of pdf's directly. (You may have to scale them down to A3 size) and people can then plot them at whatever size they want at their local print shop.
There are free pdf readers available on the net, and also various free pdf generating programs, besides Adobe.
PDF is the standard way now of sharing files and still keeping ownership of the original data. People can print, but not alter or reuse in another program, even rotate 3D images.
This is how we do it at work, and how I distribute my own drawings.
Have attached an example of an A1 size drawing generated as an A3 (half size) PDF and can be printed at whatever scale is required.
Hope this helps.
Have followed your EeZeBILT thread, and web-site with much interest, and will send you a scan of the back cover off Model Boats December 1974, which is the KeilKraft EezeBILT advert, as soon as I can get my scanner back into operation.
cheers
vnkiwi

Circlip · « **Reply #6 on:** July 25, 2009, 08:15:30 pm »

Most people have an A4 printer DG, Did You manage to reprint the scan for that "Other"design?? Overlapping A4's might be a good idea. What was the largest E-Z? and how did they get them into such a small box? Some might want to tote a DWG. to a specialised copyshop, The old Epson suits me Sir.

Regards Ian.

Proteus · « **Reply #7 on:** July 25, 2009, 08:18:18 pm »

as the boats are so small and you want to get as many people to build them just scan full size .jpg and people can print them out on there inkjet no problem then stick them together. no extra programs to frighten people of

Proteus

dodgy geezer · « **Reply #8 on:** July 25, 2009, 10:04:37 pm »

"...as the boats are so small and you want to get as many people to build them just scan full size.."

Aha!! But I have PLANS..!!! (cackles madly and strokes white cat...)

I wanted to present plans easily for non-specialists, and develop additions to the EeZeBILT range. Staying within the Large box size (18" x 3" x 1.5"") I have just designed a reasonable 20" RAF Fire Tender. Or at least I think it's reasonable! It will probably need some extra reinforcing somewhere - we'll see when I get round to making it.

It looks like outputting as A3 .PDFs is the way to go - pity the largest length that does is 16.5", rather than 18"... Still, give me a little time and I'll put something on the web. In the meantime, here is a picture to whet your appetites...

Colin Bishop · « **Reply #9 on:** July 25, 2009, 10:28:18 pm »

If you are expecting people to be able to print them out then most folk only have A4 size printers......

Colin

Proteus · « **Reply #10 on:** July 25, 2009, 10:31:06 pm »

whats wrong with 3 A4 stuck together then anyone can do it,

Proteus

dodgy geezer · « **Reply #11 on:** July 25, 2009, 10:55:14 pm »

"..If you are expecting people to be able to print them out then most folk only have A4 size printers....."

Yup. I had hoped to pass out a few sets of plans to the assembled multitude so they could check that they worked, but this forum won't let me send .PDFs. I wonder why - you'd think that accurate drawings were quite important to a model-making discussion...

If you ask a printer to print a PDF at 100% the drivers will usually split it into lots of pages for you. I could do two sheets of 18"x3" on two sheets of A4, joined in the middle. At the moment I have all the sheets on one big PDF. And there's the instructions to write...

Proteus · « **Reply #12 on:** July 25, 2009, 11:10:53 pm »

if you have a fireboat plan try the http://modelfireboats.com/ I am shore Stepen will help you out.

Proteus

Proteus · « **Reply #13 on:** July 25, 2009, 11:17:39 pm »

I spotted this Group, look like it is new and just starting

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AerokitsVeron/

Proteus

dodgy geezer · « **Reply #14 on:** July 25, 2009, 11:35:05 pm »

"I spotted this Group, look like it is new and just starting"

Yup - looks interesting. I thought there was a KK boat group on Yahoo and applied to them before, but heard nothing...

"if you have a fireboat plan try the http://modelfireboats.com/ I am shore Stepen will help you out."

Ah, but I want other little eezebilts. I want a trawler, an offshore powerboat, an Edwardian steam launch, and a Pilot boat.... So I will have to get it right for all of them.....

dodgy geezer · « **Reply #15 on:** July 26, 2009, 12:12:20 am »

Well, that was a fight, but I think I have an answer.

You can get 18" on two A$ sheets stuck together (as someone pointed out to me much earlier!). So I have to split each wood strip plan into two bits, and put them on two A4 PDFs as an a and b sheet. It seems to work, but it involves me swapping between Vellum and Solidworks for each print - fume, fume....each one has to be cut in a sensible place to join...

Martin (Admin) · « **Reply #16 on:** July 26, 2009, 01:16:26 am »

The forum software won't allow .pdf files so they could be hosted on your site and links on here
or you can email to me and I'll host them on Mayhem if you don't have the capacity.

I do think to make it easy for everyone thought that there should be a choice of 1 single sheet pdf or a series
of sheets in A$ size as other on here have done.

Martin.

tigertiger · « **Reply #17 on:** July 26, 2009, 02:58:32 am »

I think pdf files can do be saved as larger sizes (A3, A2, etc.).
People could then take these down to the copyshop for printing or, as Martin suggest, set the printer to poster and print multiple A4 sheets.

The advantage of CAD files is vector lines do not get fatter when enlarging.
The disadvantage is that most hobbyists do not have CAD programmes to view or print files.

Perhaps the compromise is to save the files as both pdf and CAD. That way, if somebody wants to they can download the pdf to view it and then download the CAD file and take it to the copyshop.
The downsides for you are a little more work, and more server space.

dodgy geezer · « **Reply #18 on:** July 26, 2009, 09:12:48 am »

@Martin "The forum software won't allow .pdf files so they could be hosted on your site and links on here
or you can email to me and I'll host them on Mayhem if you don't have the capacity.

I do think to make it easy for everyone thought that there should be a choice of 1 single sheet pdf or a series
of sheets in A$ size as other on here have done."

Thanks very much for the offer, Martin. I can see why people come here - everyone is very helpful!
I can stick them on my machine, at last initially - there's bound to be lots of modifications. And I wouldn't want you to lower the tone of Mayhem with a load of crappy sketches! At the moment I have 1/16 balsa unsupported for 6" in places, and I bet that will need something doing to it.... but I have always designed by looking a finished model rather than a set of lines on a screen...:(

I was going to offer a single dxf or multiple 1 sheet pdfs - perhaps you're right about a single pdf as well....

@tigertiger "The disadvantage is that most hobbyists do not have CAD programmes to view or print files."

Google do a free version of 'Sketchup'. Siemens do a free version of 'Solid Edge'. There's a free 'Progecad'. There are any number of Open Source packages around (if you like fighting with code!) - qcad, freecad, brl-cad, A9cad, Hy-cad, AvoCADo...There must be no end of free viewers and printers....

das boot · « **Reply #19 on:** July 26, 2009, 09:33:14 am »

Google do a free version of 'Sketchup'. Siemens do a free version of 'Solid Edge'. There's a free 'Progecad'. There are any number of Open Source packages around (if you like fighting with code!) - qcad, freecad, brl-cad, A9cad, Hy-cad, AvoCADo...There must be no end of free viewers and printers....

WILL YOU LOT TALK ENGLISH!!!!!!

Rich

tigertiger · « **Reply #20 on:** July 26, 2009, 09:38:09 am »

Quote from: dodgy geezer on July 26, 2009, 09:12:48 am

@tigertiger "The disadvantage is that most hobbyists do not have CAD programmes to view or print files."

Google do a free version of 'Sketchup'. Siemens do a free version of 'Solid Edge'. There's a free 'Progecad'. There are any number of Open Source packages around (if you like fighting with code!) - qcad, freecad, brl-cad, A9cad, Hy-cad, AvoCADo...There must be no end of free viewers and printers....

Perhaps I should rephrase this.
Most of us don't have CAD because we don't use it often enough to justify the time in learning it.

There has been a lot of discussion on here before with people wanting to share CAD files and/or wanting to learn CAD.

The main conclusion of all these discussion is that for most of us hobbyists it is not worth going through the steep learning curve for the small amount of use we would get. CAD programs and the tutorials require a lot of knowledge of jargon, specific to design software.
Even though there are many free progs out there, sketch up perhaps being the simplest to understand, most of us give up very quickly, because of the steep learning curve. Like I said, it is not because it is rocket science, or that we are lazy. We just don't see the value in investing so much time, for something most of us will hardly ever use.

That does not mean that none of us use it. It is just that the overwhelming majority don't.

dodgy geezer · « **Reply #21 on:** July 26, 2009, 10:57:33 am »

@Rich "WILL YOU LOT TALK ENGLISH!!!!!! "

Oops - I stand (or rather sit) corrected! I wonder...should we do an EeZeBILT submarine to make up for it......? Then I could also do a corvette...

I also find 3dCad programs hard to master. But 2dCad packages are very simple - much like Paint. So long as you don't mind staying on a flat plane, I find mine easier than using a pencil and paper....

But yes, I will put these out as:

1 - DXF
2 - Full page PDF -A2
3 - a series of A4 PDFs with aligning marks

That seems to be the consensus....

dodgy geezer · « **Reply #22 on:** July 26, 2009, 01:08:14 pm »

OK - I've put up the 50+ RAF Crash Tender plan on the http://modelboats.hobby-site.com site. All reports on errors/omissions/dodgy HTML gratefully received....

maninthestreet · « **Reply #23 on:** July 26, 2009, 08:06:54 pm »

Great site Geezer! I had a go at making the Terrier when I was a kid, but made a complete hash of it.
At the old Ascot model show a few years ago, I bought 2 Triton kits, and 1 Terrier kit, all umade in mint condition. I havent got around to making them yet.

tigertiger · « **Reply #24 on:** July 26, 2009, 10:23:53 pm »

Quote from: maninthestreet on July 26, 2009, 08:06:54 pm

Great site Geezer! I had a go at making the Terrier when I was a kid, but made a complete hash of it.
At the old Ascot model show a few years ago, I bought 2 Triton kits, and 1 Terrier kit, all umade in mint condition. I havent got around to making them yet.

They are probably worth more unmade.
Just a thought.

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Author Topic: Distributing Plans (Read 12125 times)

kiwi

Proteus

Proteus

Proteus

Proteus

das boot