Thread: making a pattern need help

Hi Hornpout, Just read your message with keen interest.
I enjoy making Wooden Model-Toy Trucks set to 1:20 scale so they appear realistic.
I don't use any Computer Program either,- simply work off the actual Truck Sales Brochures, and / or photos. Draw everything up to the actual project size of 1:20 ; 1:15 scale, etc., then everything is relatively easy-to make as ALL templates are actual size.
Also design and make realistic Tractors, Farm Implements, Motor vehicles,etc.
Will add some photos for you to have a look at.
( If any other Woodie is looking for something different to make, simply ask. )

Roger

hi Roger great looking models i have what they called a pantograph but sometimes its hard to get the right ratio i guess we are going to keep the old method il put some of my projects

Have you tried

The-Blueprints.com - The largest free blueprint collection on the Internet (thanks to the forum member who mentioned this site a few weeks ago)

or

google-sketchup-component-library - Google 3D Warehouse Search

Hi Hornpout. Just had a look at your handiwork,- WOW,- You sure put in some hours on those models to get them so realistic in appearance. That alone is a great credit to yourself.
The majority of my wooden Model-Toys these days I simply varnish to bring out the wood grain, but occasionally I paint one to a customer's order,- providing they don't mind paying me the extra Dollars to do so. Fortunately most people like the wood grain effect. Got a photo here somewhere of a Pantech I did for a client some years ago,- The customer, , " ONLY," asked one with a Bushell's Tea Ad on each side. Did the painting with an Airbrush, and Acrylics from memory,- but even then it was a, " Pain in the Butt, " to get the artwork accurate. The customer was a Grandmother, and the receiver;- , a, FOUR year old boy !! " From memory, I charged the grandmother a good $400. for the, " Model-Toy," set to, 1:20 scale, with a Mack Superliner at the front,- and she didn't even, " bat a eyelid at the price. " I hope the youngster looked after the gift his Granny bought for him, as never heard from the Granny, or the grandson again.

*** Thanks for the link to the, Blueprints.com site. had a quick look over it. Sure has heaps of Model-Toy Potential,- but the chances are that what ONE is seeking, and what is available are two entirely different things !!!

*** Hornpout, one for you mate,- How about we , " Put our heads together a bit, and help each other with designing realistic Model-toys, as I am sure there's other woodies out there who most probably wish they could do likewise instead of driving themselves batty, trying to set-up a realistic workable design on their computer ??.
From what I have seen of CAD programs,- they are excellent for square, or boxy things, such as houses, buildings, Furniture, real vehicles, and such like, but when it comes down to smaller scales of 1:20 / 1;25, etc., and curvy,or rounded corners, and where accuracy counts, then a standard CAD program can be a bit of a problem.
( Correct me IF I am wrong. ) My neighbour across the street from me is a Builder, and I have seen him using CAD to draw up home additions, even saw him one day using CAD to design a 3 pl Grader to go behind his old Massey 35 tractor,- but like I said,- it's all BIG Stuff,- not realistic Model-toys.
Over to you,
Roger

Firstly where on earth do you live ?
Secondly, to do some Truck Model-Toy designwork for you, ( and anyone else ), require the following,-
Nice clear Front-on and side on photos,- one of front, one of the rear, and one of each side. Approximate length, and width of the Truck you wish to make a Model-Toy of., as, ( especially ), the older type trucks were all sorts of widths, & lengths, not a standard width like most modern trucks are.
I always set my artwork to, 1:20 scale, so everything will be actual size for you to work from. Also include the paper templates, parts list, and detailed instructions.
*** Also, " road-test," each individual pattern, or design in my own workshop to, ( hopefully ), iron out any bugs, or mistakes in dimensions, etc.
Cost ?? Well that depends on whether You allow me to add the plan to my Toy Plans collection for sale to other woodies, or whether you want to keep the plan/s all to yourself . Anyway we can always do a bit of, " Wheeling, & Dealing," amongst ourselves
Roger

CAD is scale-independent.

Draw it life size, specify 5mm rounded corners on something, and at 1/12 scale you'll get 0.41mm rounded corners.

Example from Autocad:

Hi Master Splinter,

I know a little bit about CAD, - just enough to steer clear of the program as simply DON'T have the patience, & temperment to sit for," yonks," in front of a computer screen, guiding the mouse in my hand to get the stupid computer program to do what I want it to do.
Alright for those who ENJOY working in front of a computer screen,- but not for me;- would rather use some A3 size paper on the table, plus a ruler, pencil, & pens, and work from an actual photo, or two, or from the tecnical Drawings in a Sales Brochure,- which I find heaps more enjoyable, and rewarding too.

Success ratio,- CAD program,- ZERO.

Hand-Drawn on A3 size paper,- average of 75% first time round, then I take the rough project out into my workshop to try it out, make alterations, etc., then once the prototype has been constructed, I then tidy-up the Master copy, Use computer to type up the instructions, parts list, etc. then put it all together as the master copy, which i then Photocopy and sell the plan to whoever wishes to buy a copy to make that particular Toy, etc., for themselves,
Yes,- I know that most people have difficulty drawing a," Straight Line," let alone working out a Toy Plan, so they do it the easy way and use their computer to do it for them,- just happens that I prefer to be different, or perhaps I might have more artistic talent than others,-.( who knows ?? ).
** Got an order here for a Kenworth K125 series Cab-over, with Aerodyne Sleeper, super-cab style, to draw-up in 1:20 scale for a client who says he cannot find anything anywhere on the net that is even close !!! Same client also seeks a Drop-Deck Trailer, and a Road-Train Dolly Plan,- which he also cannot find anywhere on the net.
This for me is, ' good fun," as I enjoy the challenge
Hornpout will know exactly what I mean.
Roger

Hornpout,- for you,- Could be of interest,- depending on where you live;-

A Friend sent me an interesting Australian Publication some months ago, titled;-
" Vintage Commercials Down Under. " Price, $6.
Contains 30 pages of interesting info about Commercial Vehicles here in Australia, with heaps of photos too. Magazine is published quarterly by Down Under Publishing,
Jimboomba, Qld. 4280 Ph. ( 07 ) 5547 7484 / mob. 0402 460 576.

Another useful Australian Magazine is, Restored Cars,- that quite often has a Restored truck feature item, and occasionally even a Restored Old Tractor.

Plough Book Sales, also have heaps of useful info on old Machinery, Trucks, Tractors, etc., including specy info, photos, etc.

Was going to send you a PM, but couldn't work out," How.?? " so did it this way.

Roger

thanks all you guys you have some great information we will keep intouch one idea to another is worth allot i been busy for a while doing some projects for my wife in the house can`t wait to get back to my scale model hoby i just tried something the other night work out perfect i took a truck picture from the computer and donloaded it in my pictures folder then i open the folder so the picture was on the screen then i brought the image up to where it looked big enough to where it look good then i took a clear sheet of thin plastic and put it on my screen and took tracing paper and trace out the cab and it made a full size patern work out well for me find some of the old trucks in 20s 30s and 40s easy to make the new ones have allot of details on them get`s complicated again thanks