The super-frigate USS Constitution laser-cut kit officially began construction today, with my first foray into the Alibre Design tutorials. I built a random collection of parts from the tutorials, whose use I have no idea other than teaching me how to use my new CAD software. The project has already run into its first major obstacle. I've got the CAD software, and I've got the plans. What I don't have is a clue how to put the two together. I've converted the plans to a .dxf format and imported them into alibre, but cannot move them from the drawing file into a sketch or other edit-able format. Does anybody who's used Alibre have a clue for me? If not, I'll have to dig up my references and re-draw the rib geometries using the same methods used by real shipbuilders in the Age of Sail. And that's going to take a lot longer.
I ran into the same problem, and read in my book, looked at tutorials, and then hit the Alibre forums. The forums yielded the below linked video: http://vzaar.com/videos/887357 It's filmed in real time, so I had to watch, pause, watch, and watch it again many times, but it explains (without words) how to trace a part of an image file, and render it into alibre and create a 3D parts from the tracing. VERY useful, it just took a little time
Success! mostly. Thanks to the video, and purchasing the hobbyist version of Alibre, I have imported the ribs and other parts and can now start cleaning them up and scaling them. For some reason Alibre decided that my midship cross-section should be 2" wide, and that's a wee bit smaller than it should be. But that's a problem for a later day. For now, I'm off to class. I've got a test on things that go sparky-sparky and spinney-spinney next week that I'd like to pass. Nikki, right now I have no idea how much the kit will cost to produce. It is at least as complex and large as the Bogue class escort carrier by RCENGR, and I'll ask the same guys who did his kit to make mine, once it's ready. Hopefully there will be lots of progress to report once I figure out the scaling issue and can move on to actually working on the parts.
3D boat design can be fun but there's a gotcha in importing someones frame drawings and tracing them. They may not produce a fair hull. It all depends on the accuracy of the source material. The usual method in CAD kit design is to model the hull and then design your internal structure from that. This insures a fair hull in the final product. Imported data is often used to build the initial hull model and then the CAD designer then refines the hull into a mathematically fair surface. Another benefit of this method is that once the hull is defined it's very easy to design frames and structure to go wherever you need it, thus you are not constrained to the frame placement from the original plans.
Was watching "the true story" series behind Hollywood films, and Master and Commander has just finished. Didn't realise just how cutting edge and pivotal the constitution was. If it wasn't for this ship (or atleast the southern live oak used in her construction) then the mighty US of A might still be a British colony, (or commonwealth, atleast) and who knows what else might have gone differently. But on a more serious (and on topic) note, its amazing just how more advanced the structural engineering was on her, considering other nations ships.
Question and It might be OT, But was that her (constitution) in that movie (Master and Commander)??? Nikki
No. They did base the Acheron's design on the Constitition as originally the enemy ship was supposed to be American, but they didn't want to offend Americans (go figure). Aubrey's ship can be seen here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rose_%28ship%29.
interesting. Well, Gascan and I are working on a sequel. It's called Master and Commander: The Far Side of the Pond
Shifting winds that barely amounted to a whisper and a cameraman of unknown quality... I haven't seen the footage yet, but I wouldn't expect a masterpiece. Just something good enough to keep us going on our frigates and xebecs and ships and such
Speaking of which... I've got a special treat for you guys! http://youtu.be/j8ZcxjiH8ys HMS Victory encounters the frigate USS Constitution in open waters near Charleston, SC. Captain My Brother is unprepared for the assault and attempts to retreat, leading Admiral Me on a long and harrowing chase. He will brave any danger to escape, even... the Far Side of the Pond... And then, later on... http://youtu.be/-wxbU0j-czg You stuck your WHAT? in WHERE!? USS Constitution gets a little too close to HMS Victory and gets her bowsprit stuck in Victory's spanker. To get out of trouble, she demonstrates a capability unique to square-riggers among all sail-powered ships: the ability to back up under sail power only; a difficult maneuver that was performed by the historical USS Constitution in battle, as well. -Carl
How far along are we? I am biting at the bit to at least get started on the hull of a constitution... I will be building a Trinidad build myself, but would love to help get a Group build going for the Constitution.
Found some old pics of when I was teaching the kids to sail...... During the day, the family pet decided to clean the boy's ears for him.... See dad! no more dirt!!!
I can live with the current stern rules for pen area, but I would like to see that area re-addressed some to protect that rudder, and to ease up on the difficulty in skinning that area...
