Building a Biplane in Full Colour

Thank you very much for all your help. I've e-mailed Shapeways asking them whether it will print correctly, and so hopefully I will have one in my hands pretty soon

Cheers. When you hear back from them, please post back here - I'm interested to learn what's happening.

I have received a reply which told me to go here
https://www.shapeways.com/tutorials/textured_models_with_sket chup_and_meshlab

Unfortunately this tutorial only deals with a single texture and then briefly mentions at the end that if you want more than one, you should use a VRML editor. I think I may just try and combine all my textures into one to make things simpler.

I tried exporting from AccuTrans 3D as an X3D file and got a slightly better result.
Now most of the textures are correct, but the planks on the top wing are incorrectly rotated and one of the wheels is the wrong texture.
https://www.shapeways.com/model/1174912/flan-s-mod-minecraft- biplane.html

I vaguely remember reading a post where (I think it was bartv) said that if you include multiple textures then the SW software will Boolean them together. I guess if this is the case then it is possible that the join operation does not actually match what is desired. Better if possible to create a single, correct, texture then the chances of confusion are minimised.

Finally, it looks right in both the snapshot and full 3D views! Thank you everyone so much for your help

I'm late, but here's a tutorial I wrote for combining textures in Sketchup(direct PDF download, my tutorial is in the middle of the magazine).

You could also combine them in Photoshop simply.

How'd you get it working?

I combined the textures myself and then did a lot of moving textures around in SketchUp.

Did you combine the textures in Sketchup or photo editing software?

In Paint.NET

Gotcha, thanks Looks good now!

The first prototype model is here



The struts are a little too thick for the holes, so I'll widen the holes a little in the next version.
Also, there were a few struts missing, so I think I'll add a few extra on the model (it's understandable that not all of them make it through production)

As for this prototype, I would like to try and assemble it, despite its flaws, so I was wondering what kind of glue works best with the full colour sandstone. Also, I think cutting open the holes more or thinning the struts might be quite difficult, so would just filling the holes with glue and sticking the struts on top work?

Only one week from ordering to you receiving the plane?!? That's awesome!

I know Stony advised ordering the parts separately, but I can't help but think it would save everybody involved so much work if it was assembled in Sketchup. Perhaps adding a couple diagonal braces would make it strong enough?

I guess I could try printing one in one piece, but there's only so many prototypes I can do before it starts getting a little too expensive for me.

Since this is a Minecraft style biplane, diagonal pieces might not quite look right, so I'd like to avoid them if possible

This is starting to look a little overkill, but would this work?

I don't see why not!

It was much slower this time, but I finally have the second (and quite possibly final) prototype!
It printed successfully and looks great, but it seems that in being packed up for transport it has received some marks from the bubble wrap.
Has anyone else had problems like this before?

That's a bit odd.. it looks like the model was placed into the bubble wrap when it was still wet, or.. the bubble wrap got VERY hot during shipment.

It may well have been still wet.
I ordered another model with it that was a set of about 20 little flat pieces each 2mm thick and quite a few of them were stuck together in the bag.

I sent a message to Shapeways about it and they are sending me a new biplane (they agreed that it was probably still wet when packaged)

But, given that the model was otherwise a success, I have put it up for sale and am starting on my next model.
However, the model I want to print contains a small open top box and several flat 2mm thick pieces alongside it, but whenever I upload it, the preview only shows the box. Why might this be?

https://www.shapeways.com/model/1226541/