November 2010 65
Draw Your View
An original starts on paper,
even if it’s virtual
by Ferrell Papic
INSPIRATION IS everywhere that 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 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. Read on to learn how.
Using a CAD program or a drawing board, trace the outline of the
aircraft in the photo. That’s Step 1. Follow the illustrated steps
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 the arc drawn. Draw lines from the
observer point to points 1 and 2.
Draw projection lines from photo centerlines and edges to the
line from Point 1 to Point 2. Make projection lines from the
observer point to the photo projection lines.
Find a position for your three-view drawing on the projection
lines that will allow you to pick side-view dimensions from the
traced image. Then generate the three-view from the typical
points, as shown in the diagram.
Compare the drawings to the picture and perhaps other detail
photos that were taken at the same time. Compare the 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. Add
callouts and specifications that are 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 given 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! MA
Ferrell Papic
[email protected]
See if your three-view drawing skills match those demonstrated in the Northrop Gamma plans available in this issue! The Ellsworth Polar
Star sits in the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. Lincoln Ellsworth and his pilot flew it thousands of miles, only to land 25 miles
short of their goal in Antarctica. Paul Spreiregen photo.
Illustrations by the author
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
wi l l help you def ine the complex
shapes later. A handy tool for
draftsmen is a light table.
1
Step 2: Establish vanishing
points 1 and 2. These vector
from the tail and wingtip on
both sides. For easy corrections, draw
in penci l i f working from paper.
Mistakes are much easier to fix in a
drawing program.
2
Step 3: Draw a l ine from
Point 1 to Point 2 at the
center point of this l ine.
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 makes professional work.
3
66 MODEL AVIATION
Step 4: Select an observer
point on the arc and then
draw lines from it to points 1
and 2. This spot is where you
remember standing at the time the
picture was taken.
4
Step 5: Draw construction
l ines from the airplane
outline to the line and the
observer point. Now the aircraft
dimensions can be translated.
5
Make a three-view drawing
from a photo. This result can
be considered more of a
rough draft, but it’s the start of a plan
that soon will produce a construction
drawing.
6
November 2010 67
Edition: Model Aviation - 2010/11
Page Numbers: 65,66,67
Edition: Model Aviation - 2010/11
Page Numbers: 65,66,67
November 2010 65
Draw Your View
An original starts on paper,
even if it’s virtual
by Ferrell Papic
INSPIRATION IS everywhere that 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 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. Read on to learn how.
Using a CAD program or a drawing board, trace the outline of the
aircraft in the photo. That’s Step 1. Follow the illustrated steps
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 the arc drawn. Draw lines from the
observer point to points 1 and 2.
Draw projection lines from photo centerlines and edges to the
line from Point 1 to Point 2. Make projection lines from the
observer point to the photo projection lines.
Find a position for your three-view drawing on the projection
lines that will allow you to pick side-view dimensions from the
traced image. Then generate the three-view from the typical
points, as shown in the diagram.
Compare the drawings to the picture and perhaps other detail
photos that were taken at the same time. Compare the 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. Add
callouts and specifications that are 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 given 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! MA
Ferrell Papic
[email protected]
See if your three-view drawing skills match those demonstrated in the Northrop Gamma plans available in this issue! The Ellsworth Polar
Star sits in the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. Lincoln Ellsworth and his pilot flew it thousands of miles, only to land 25 miles
short of their goal in Antarctica. Paul Spreiregen photo.
Illustrations by the author
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
wi l l help you def ine the complex
shapes later. A handy tool for
draftsmen is a light table.
1
Step 2: Establish vanishing
points 1 and 2. These vector
from the tail and wingtip on
both sides. For easy corrections, draw
in penci l i f working from paper.
Mistakes are much easier to fix in a
drawing program.
2
Step 3: Draw a l ine from
Point 1 to Point 2 at the
center point of this l ine.
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 makes professional work.
3
66 MODEL AVIATION
Step 4: Select an observer
point on the arc and then
draw lines from it to points 1
and 2. This spot is where you
remember standing at the time the
picture was taken.
4
Step 5: Draw construction
l ines from the airplane
outline to the line and the
observer point. Now the aircraft
dimensions can be translated.
5
Make a three-view drawing
from a photo. This result can
be considered more of a
rough draft, but it’s the start of a plan
that soon will produce a construction
drawing.
6
November 2010 67
Edition: Model Aviation - 2010/11
Page Numbers: 65,66,67
November 2010 65
Draw Your View
An original starts on paper,
even if it’s virtual
by Ferrell Papic
INSPIRATION IS everywhere that 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 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. Read on to learn how.
Using a CAD program or a drawing board, trace the outline of the
aircraft in the photo. That’s Step 1. Follow the illustrated steps
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 the arc drawn. Draw lines from the
observer point to points 1 and 2.
Draw projection lines from photo centerlines and edges to the
line from Point 1 to Point 2. Make projection lines from the
observer point to the photo projection lines.
Find a position for your three-view drawing on the projection
lines that will allow you to pick side-view dimensions from the
traced image. Then generate the three-view from the typical
points, as shown in the diagram.
Compare the drawings to the picture and perhaps other detail
photos that were taken at the same time. Compare the 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. Add
callouts and specifications that are 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 given 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! MA
Ferrell Papic
[email protected]
See if your three-view drawing skills match those demonstrated in the Northrop Gamma plans available in this issue! The Ellsworth Polar
Star sits in the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. Lincoln Ellsworth and his pilot flew it thousands of miles, only to land 25 miles
short of their goal in Antarctica. Paul Spreiregen photo.
Illustrations by the author
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
wi l l help you def ine the complex
shapes later. A handy tool for
draftsmen is a light table.
1
Step 2: Establish vanishing
points 1 and 2. These vector
from the tail and wingtip on
both sides. For easy corrections, draw
in penci l i f working from paper.
Mistakes are much easier to fix in a
drawing program.
2
Step 3: Draw a l ine from
Point 1 to Point 2 at the
center point of this l ine.
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 makes professional work.
3
66 MODEL AVIATION
Step 4: Select an observer
point on the arc and then
draw lines from it to points 1
and 2. This spot is where you
remember standing at the time the
picture was taken.
4
Step 5: Draw construction
l ines from the airplane
outline to the line and the
observer point. Now the aircraft
dimensions can be translated.
5
Make a three-view drawing
from a photo. This result can
be considered more of a
rough draft, but it’s the start of a plan
that soon will produce a construction
drawing.
6
November 2010 67
