Learning

I have spent about an hour playing around with sketch up and have managed to create a fairly simple barn that is located on my wife's grandfather's farm. 

I have some photographs and drawings of this building and feel like it has turned out pretty good.  The next thing to do is figure out how to print out the different elevations in HO scale. 

These are the main two buildings that I am wanting to model.  The first is the ICRR/Pennsylvania passenger station that was located in Vandalia, IL. 

This is the station from before the IC tracks were torn up.  I'm not sure of the time period, but am assuming it is the 1950's.  This next picture is from the 80's.  Unfortunately, the station has burned down and now only the walls remain. 

This next picture is of the interlocking tower that was directly opposite of the station. 

I'll try to keep you posted of my progress and learning curve.

I'm learning too!

I too have been learning to use Sketchup.  It's a little different from other CAD programs I've used, and there are a few things I'm still trying to figure out, but It's impressive software.

Here's what I've been doodling.  It's a 30'x50' shop and model railroad building - my dream playhouse!  I've hidden the brick walls for clarity, and obviously there are a lot of things I haven't drawn yet.

I'm looking forward to seeing how you convert those photos to drawings, and also how you make 2D drawings for scratch building purposes. 

Impressive building

Hey Ken, that is an impressive building.  I'm hoping my skills catch up to yours.  I have only watched the first two demo videos.  I'm looking forward to learning more about it. 

Sketchup for Layout

Sketchup also has application in drawing benchwork for your layout room.  I dialed in the dimensions of the room.  I've been through six versions of benchwork layout.  The fact you are working on 3D allows you to view the benchwork from a variety of perspectives.  I haven't gotten to the point of actually laying in my track plan, other than the main line, but there is no reason I can't drill down to that level of detail when I'm ready.

Me too

I have also just started using sketchup for planning my next layout.  Looks like it would be a good series of articles for MRH. Or at least this thread could be a good venue for sharing how tos.

Cheers

Peter

DCFORBES

I'll bet you could kitbash that from a Downtown Deco kit.

Peter

One thing I've learned

If there's one thing I've learned which made a huge difference, it's to keep making things into groups.  For example, when I draw a wall and push/pull it out to have 3D thickness, I then hide everything else around it, select every part of the wall, and make a group.  That way when I draw something else next to the wall, The lines don't end up jumbles and cutting up the wall surface.

In the drawing above, there are several layers of groups.  For the stairs, I first drew a 2D stair stringer and pulled it out to 1 1/2" thick.  I then made that a group and copied it twice.  Next I drew a stair tread, hid the stringers, and made the tread a group.  Then I copied the tread object onto every step.  When done, I then selected all the treads and stringers, and made that whole thing a group.  I repeated the process with the outer treads and risers.  Each "board" is a group, and then the whole assembly is a group.  That makes it much easier to hide complete assemblied - select the stairs, or the floor, or the walls, windows, doors, slab, etc. and click "hide".

...

It's a fun program...my only disappointment is how Google sold it to Timble, meaning support will not remain free.  Don't upgrade to the latest version, if you have the last Google version!!  You lose functionality when you do unless you buy the program!

I have a more recent version of the last piece, but I've committed to another project that to the point of focusing on it alone, seeing as how I might actually get it down if I apply myself...Ha!!