Computer Aided Design....

[Craigog]

Evening,
This might be a really noobie question, but as thats what i am its pretty fitting.
I've been reading alot online that many modelers use CAD software to convert the scale drawings you can get from various sources to get the exact measurements for the scale version of the tank.
But i need to know how exactly you get it onto the CAD software, to get all these measurements, looking how it supposed to look.
Any kind of tutorial vids or people who have experience with this?

Thanks for reading

[jonger]

I have used CAD to scale a picture to 1/16 scale by taking a known dimension on the tank, drawing a line in CAD that length at 1/16 scale, then adjusting the picture size so it matches. Wheel centre's are the ones I usually use.
The picture is then at 1/16 scale and can be printed out and measurements taken, or in my case I traced the outline of the panels I wanted then printed them out to use as patterns to cut new panels at the correct scale.

CAD is a useful tool but does take a bit of time to learn, you need to learn to use the layers properly with the picture on one layer and the outline tracing on other layers then you can switch the layers off and on to just show the bit you want to print off, I use it at work so have access to it all the time.
That's a brief run down of how I use it, hope it helps.

[Craigog]

Yeah thats really helpful thanks
Can you recommend any particular CAD software thats worked well for you?

[jonger]

Hi Craigog
At work I use Auto-Cad Lt currently on the 2013 version but that's very expensive, there are a number of free versions available on the net, one I have tried is this one http://www.cadstd.com/ this free version will let you try out CAD before you commit to buying a full version.

[Craigog]

Brilliant, thanks very much