Draw Your View
An original starts on paper, even if it's virtual
Inspiration is everywhere and fuels the passion of aeromodeling. Drive by a general-aviation airport sometime; you might be amazed by what types of aircraft you see. If you are inspired, take a photo or two. While flipping through an aviation book or magazine, you could see eye candy throughout.
Sometimes the inspiration to construct a model of a full-scale airplane is so original that no drawing, of any kind, exists. If you want to take on such a project, there's a way you can be sure to start off on the right foot: make a three-view drawing from a photograph.
Using a CAD program or a drawing board, trace the outline of the aircraft in the photo. Follow the illustrated steps below and you'll get the idea of the process that follows.
Overlay projection lines to find points 1 and 2. Draw a line from Point 1 to Point 2. From the center of that line, draw an arc below the airplane from Point 1 to Point 2 (or above the aircraft if your picture is a top view of the subject). Select an observer point on that arc and draw lines from the observer point to Points 1 and 2.
Draw projection lines from photo centerlines and edges to the line between Points 1 and 2. Then make projection lines from the observer point to the photo projection lines. Find a position for your three-view drawing on these projection lines that allows you to pick side-view dimensions from the traced image. From those typical points, generate the three-view.
Compare the drawings to the picture and to any other detail photos that were taken at the same time. Check lines and moments for accuracy; a photograph of the wing root will help determine the airfoil shape. Revise the three-view as needed to make it correct, and add callouts and specifications typical of a commercial illustration.
Now you have the beginnings of an Expert Scale project. From this point you can develop building plans for a chosen scale. A flat foam model would be fun with a wingspan of 18–32 inches. A full-body reproduction could have a .25-size glow engine and a 40-inch wingspan, or a Zenoah G-62 gas engine and an 86-inch wingspan. Your options are endless, so have fun!
By
- Ferrell Papic
- [email protected]
Step 1: Trace a photo of your favorite airplane
When you're at an airport or an air show, take photos from several angles, including the rear. Detail photographs will help you define the complex shapes later. A handy tool for draftsmen is a light table.
Step 2: Establish vanishing points 1 and 2
These vectors are aligned from the tail and the wingtips on both sides. For easy corrections, draw in pencil if working on paper—mistakes are much easier to fix in a drawing program.
Step 3: Draw a line from Point 1 to Point 2 and mark the center
From the center point of this line, draw an arc below Point 1 and Point 2. If working on paper, don't freehand this; a set of drafting tools including a compass, rulers, and drafting templates produces more professional work.
Step 4: Select an observer point on the arc
Draw lines from the observer point to Points 1 and 2. This spot represents where you stood when the picture was taken.
Step 5: Draw construction lines from the airplane outline
Project lines from the airplane outline to the line between Points 1 and 2 and to the observer point. Now the aircraft dimensions can be translated to the projection lines.
Step 6: Make a three-view drawing from a photo
This result can be considered a rough draft, but it's the start of a plan that will soon produce a construction drawing. Compare and revise as needed until the three-view is accurate.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
