I am trying to build a few houses from scratch and was wondering what kind of software is out there, hopefully free, that can help me build to scale. Also if I can see what it would look like with bricks or siding, things like that.
FREE may not get you too much! I have used scale lumber from North Eastern(real wood) and Evergreen(plastic). There are several other companies out there making scratch building materials including brick/stone siding as well. And there are lots of windows/doors available!
Jim
[#welcome] Trngal
I’m not aware of any software for scratch building that is available like the kind used for track planing. Except for the soft stuff between the ears inside our head and using books and other resources to program it and our imagination to see what it looks like. In my opinion it’s easier than learning CAD programs.
Basically how we go about it is finding drawings with measurements from books, magazines, and the internet. Failing to find that, next option would be measuring the actual building if possible. Which it’s usually not. The next thing would be doing research to find any written information on the building you’re after. Sometimes you get lucky. If not, it’s educated guessing time, but you have to find as many photos as you can of the structure or rolling stock you want to model. Doors are a good reference point. Lets say you have a photo facing the front of a building. A door is a standard height, most of the time. From there, you can determine scale because you know the door is 80 inches high. So how many doors wide and high is the building? 80" times X. You do the same for judging the size and location of windows.
Now if someone comes up to you and says your building is not to scale, tell them to prove it. You see, if you did the research and know there is little or no info about the structure, they can’t prove #!+. And if they can, ask them where the #@!! were they when you started this project.
Ok, with that said, you need some basic tools. Measuring tools and working tools. The most important measuring tool is the Scale Ruler. The most important working tool is the [url="http://www.ares-server.com/Ares/Ares.asp?MerchantID=RET01229&Action=Catalog&Type=Product
Ditto the scale ruler. There is access to building plans locally thro arcives and such, or an architect friend, which I do. But, the scale ruler takes it down to size at a nominal price… Good luck.
Software?
You don’t need software. Get some foam core. Draw out a nicely proportioned house that looks the right size. Cut out the walls and the windows. On the sides take strips indx card and glue them up so it looks like clapboard siding. Glue in some Grandit Line windows. Use a piece of Heavy cardboard for a roof. and glue index card cut to look like shingles. and whalla. A house.
James
Thanks for the info. I guess I have to search through my print shop programs and find one that I can draw squares and rectangles on and hopefully it won’t come out crooked.[:)]
what you’re looking for is out there, but it ain’t gonna be free unless you’re in tight with an architect.
there are professional programs, designed for professionals, that come in at a professional price.
you may be able to find an earlier version for free, but they are usually worth less than they cost (usually written by a computer nerd unfamiliar with the subject and copying from an out of date textbook).
if you want to still go this route, call a few architects, and see what they are using.
scratchbuilding, by it’s nature, is making up something that never existed before, or is copied from something that did using pictures or a measuring tape. your skills of design and construction is what i would concentrate on to get started. good luck with that software. keep in mind there are things that are easier to draw than they are to build.
if you are not yet an accomplished scratchbuilder; i would recommend buying a kit and building it. then replace the sticks and build it again, only better. then build the whole thing again; only this time “do it right”, from the beginning, as you develop your design skills. after that, you will be a “player”, and be able to give out scratchbuilding advice yourself.
i love scrath building making my girlfriend a building right now.
The yellow shop on the right is a scratch built copy of a friends hair salon. He and his wife run it together. modeled their shop and took a photo of their sign made a decal of the sign and built it too.
For my first scratch build I made a simple ranch home out of hardboard. I got 30lb colored paper that cut in to srtips for the siding. Black 30lb paper for tar paper under the shingles. A scale ruler is a must.
Start small and simple, work up from there. Using a program for scratch building is probably more work than it’s worth. Not the way to go for a beginner. Making your first projects to complex will problably result in them either not getting done or not getting done to your satisfaction.
An outfit called fiddlers green has tons of buildings youcan down load or puchase a disk with maybe 200 or so buildings on it. They are primarily intended for card board construction but could easily be used to build upbuildings. You should be able to google them up easily.
If by houses you mean domestic architecture (single family dwellings) you might look in the magazine rack at the local supermarket. Seems to me that they always have paperbacks titled (Fill in the number) House Plans, which are chock full of floor plans and scale drawings. You will probably have to re-scale them, and will probably have to selectively compress them as well, but they are a good starting point. Add photos (your own, or any of the homeowner mags) and you’ll be covered for siding styles, window treatments and roof designs.
Unfortunately, they don’t help much for small industrial or business buildings.
Chuck
I just gave them a quick looking over. There is eneugh there to do a port scene, two several english buildings that can pass for new england. several new england towns and a selection of western buildings. There is eneugh here to do a full layout with two or three towns and a port. Plus More light houses than you will ever be able to use. I think I will use several on my layout.
James
In case you missed it, dean_1230 posted a link to what you may be looking for.
Gary beat me to it, not a lot of feedback yet on this thread for scaleing, but it may work for you.
http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=64260
John
I think that there might be some free downloadable CAD/CAM software out there. I think that a company called IMSI has some pretty low cost CAD software. There might even be some free trials on their website. I picked up their 2D CAD package at Dollar Tree fairly recently. AutoCAD or Inventor it’s not, but it could be made to work…
stan
Gappleg, great job of scratchbuilding. I also like the volcano rising up in the background.
Just kidding.
Google has a new free program up called Sketch Up. It might not be exactly what you’re looking for since it’s designed for real world uses, not miniature, but it appears that it would give you an idea as to what your buildings would look like.
Kevin
Thank you for all your suggestions. I downloaded the sketchup program and that was what I was looking for, now I won’t have a lopsided roof. All I need now is how to make shutters! [:D]