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NorCal Bambi · 03-13-2010, 05:16 PM

Instruction #1:

Howdy All. I've been work with the computer program SketchUp. I've helped a couple of forum member with this program to design there restoration/renovation projects. Google SketchUp is the easiest 3D design program out there. You can see examples of what's possible with this program by clicking on two of my blogs below. My SketchUp blog and the Picasa site. You don't even have to have any experience to begin right away to design with this program. There tons of tutorials on line and on youtube to help you learn this program.
This thread will have the purpose to help you learn the program and to assist in solving any problems you may have.
If you are interested please do the following: Place a post on this thread stating you interest and send me a PM stating the same.
The program can be downloaded free from Google.
Let's design Don

JFerguson · 03-13-2010, 05:33 PM

Yay!!!! Okay how do I begin.

joelreh · 03-13-2010, 05:57 PM

Im an architecture student.....and i second the opinion that sketchup is the easiest out there...though unless you use the tutorials its simplicity can make it difficult to manipulate. Last year in a class I did a 3d model of a Road Chief and 30 hours in I regretted not using sketchup

NorCal Bambi · 03-13-2010, 06:03 PM

The first step is to download the program. Have you done this?
Next you will need to follow a few simple tutorial to get familiar with the basics of the program. Go to this site Go-2-School.
Go-2-School | Login
Google SketchUp
This second site is Googles introduction to SketchUp for Beginners.
create an account and look at the first lessons. I'll be giving move in a little while.
Thanks Don

NorCal Bambi · 03-13-2010, 06:05 PM

Thanks for you input. Would you be willing to watch this site. And add help when you have the time of feel like it. I'm familiar with what it take to be an Architecture student. No time to live.
Don

Quote:

Originally Posted by joelreh

Im an architecture student.....and i second the opinion that sketchup is the easiest out there...though unless you use the tutorials its simplicity can make it difficult to manipulate. Last year in a class I did a 3d model of a Road Chief and 30 hours in I regretted not using sketchup

JFerguson · 03-13-2010, 06:35 PM

Will have to wait till I am home....loading software on somebody elses machine....kind of a no no.

pbearsailor · 03-13-2010, 06:44 PM

OK, Don, I'm in.

I've been watching your work in SketchUp and have been so tempted to try to learn it, but just haven't done it. Now I will.

Thanks for doing this.

cheers,
steve

NorCal Bambi · 03-13-2010, 07:00 PM

Thanks for joining the group.
Don

Quote:

Originally Posted by pbearsailor

OK, Don, I'm in.

I've been watching your work in SketchUp and have been so tempted to try to learn it, but just haven't done it. Now I will.

Thanks for doing this.

cheers,
steve

NorCal Bambi · 03-13-2010, 07:12 PM

I've created the following sites to go along with this SketchUp Lesson thread.
Blog: Airstream Restoration Design
email: airstreamsketchup@gmail.com
youtube: YouTube - airstreamsketchup's Channel

Please feel free to look at these sites and use them during the learning of 3d designing your Airstream project.
Don

Prickly Pear · 03-13-2010, 08:52 PM

My 71 Overlander interior is next up after I complete an entertainment center.
The EC convinced me that I need to learn Sketchup. My full size 2-D drawings left too many details to the imagination. This may be my real opportunity.

Jim

Chikusho! · 03-13-2010, 09:37 PM

I'm currently working on a model and Don has been a lot of help. The program is fairly easy to learn but can get complicated. It all depends of what you want out of it.

The biggest problem I've had is crashing. I'm using a mac mini with Leopard and for some reason it will hang up. Just remember to back your files up frequently.

NorCal Bambi · 03-13-2010, 10:00 PM

Jim, Glad you can join in. If you haven't read all the post from the beginning, that's the first step. Download Google Sketchup and look and try the beginning tutorials I've listed. Just click on the sites and they should take you right to where you need to get started. Please don't hesitate to ask any questions. Any new program can be confusing in the beginning.
Don

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prickly Pear

My 71 Overlander interior is next up after I complete an entertainment center.
The EC convinced me that I need to learn Sketchup. My full size 2-D drawings left too many details to the imagination. This may be my real opportunity.

Jim

NorCal Bambi · 03-13-2010, 10:06 PM

Save, Save, Save. you have got that right. I would add another thing that I do. When I get to a certain point. I will save the model under a new name. Like Flying Cloud 2a. That way I feel a lot easier about experimenting. If I mess it up I can always go back to the model with the previous name. On the 55 Flying Cloud model I'm working on now I have 8 versions saved. The other thing that works well about this approach is if I total delete a part by mistake I can go back to an earlier save and copy the part I need.
Don

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chikusho!

I'm currently working on a model and Don has been a lot of help. The program is fairly easy to learn but can get complicated. It all depends of what you want out of it.

The biggest problem I've had is crashing. I'm using a mac mini with Leopard and for some reason it will hang up. Just remember to back your files up frequently.

CrzyCorpsman · 03-14-2010, 06:41 AM

Alright, I've downloaded and did the tutorials. Standing by for more instruction. I played with this program about a year back, but never really got the hang of it.

I'm going to be customizing the interior of my '75 Sovereign and this will help out tremendously!!