US-SteamNavy

To help the scanner maintain tracking when scanning a large smooth surface (a half-hull over three feet, for example), I distribute little traffic cones at 1- to 2-foot intervals around the target object.  If you lose tracking and imperfectly regain it, the active color image will show double cone tops -- you need to redo that scan.

When taking 3D scans, I have found a free online viewer (http://www.viewstl.com/) to provide a quick and easily manipulated rendering of the stl-format scan file.  You must have an active internet connection to use this viewer. 

Thank you all for your suggestions. I will pass them on .

I have been asked to recommend a general work on ship models and their history, and it stopped me cold. Now, you'd think that there are general books on every subject, but most on ship models are either:
 
1) technical builder's guides, or
2) photo-rich treatments of museum collections. 
 
I'm asking you all for recommendations for my friend, by posting the question "Best general book on ship models?" on this forum. I hope to have a vetted short list in several days.
 
For now, I suggested he spend under $5 (including shipping) for a paperback edition of:
Historic Ship Models (Paperback) by Wolfram ZuMondfeld
 
This translation of the German original has way too much "how to" for him, but I recall that it includes a good review of the relationships between ships and ship models for as far back as Egypt. 
 
How about it? Do you have any other recommended general books?

I have been asked to recommend a general work on ship models and their history, and it stopped me cold. Now, you'd think that there are general books on every subject, but most on ship models are either:
 
1) technical builder's guides, or
2) photo-rich treatments of museum collections. 
 
I'm asking you all for recommendations for my friend, by posting the question "Best general book on ship models?" on this forum. I hope to have a vetted short list in several days.
 
For now, I suggested he spend under $5 (including shipping) for a paperback edition of:
Historic Ship Models (Paperback) by Wolfram ZuMondfeld
 
This translation of the German original has way too much "how to" for him, but I recall that it includes a good review of the relationships between ships and ship models for as far back as Egypt. 
 
How about it? Do you have any other recommended general books?

I have been asked to recommend a general work on ship models and their history, and it stopped me cold. Now, you'd think that there are general books on every subject, but most on ship models are either:
 
1) technical builder's guides, or
2) photo-rich treatments of museum collections. 
 
I'm asking you all for recommendations for my friend, by posting the question "Best general book on ship models?" on this forum. I hope to have a vetted short list in several days.
 
For now, I suggested he spend under $5 (including shipping) for a paperback edition of:
Historic Ship Models (Paperback) by Wolfram ZuMondfeld
 
This translation of the German original has way too much "how to" for him, but I recall that it includes a good review of the relationships between ships and ship models for as far back as Egypt. 
 
How about it? Do you have any other recommended general books?

To help the scanner maintain tracking when scanning a large smooth surface (a half-hull over three feet, for example), I distribute little traffic cones at 1- to 2-foot intervals around the target object.  If you lose tracking and imperfectly regain it, the active color image will show double cone tops -- you need to redo that scan.

When taking 3D scans, I have found a free online viewer (http://www.viewstl.com/) to provide a quick and easily manipulated rendering of the stl-format scan file.  You must have an active internet connection to use this viewer. 

When taking 3D scans, I have found a free online viewer (http://www.viewstl.com/) to provide a quick and easily manipulated rendering of the stl-format scan file.  You must have an active internet connection to use this viewer. 

To help the scanner maintain tracking when scanning a large smooth surface (a half-hull over three feet, for example), I distribute little traffic cones at 1- to 2-foot intervals around the target object.  If you lose tracking and imperfectly regain it, the active color image will show double cone tops -- you need to redo that scan.

To help the scanner maintain tracking when scanning a large smooth surface (a half-hull over three feet, for example), I distribute little traffic cones at 1- to 2-foot intervals around the target object.  If you lose tracking and imperfectly regain it, the active color image will show double cone tops -- you need to redo that scan.

When taking 3D scans, I have found a free online viewer (http://www.viewstl.com/) to provide a quick and easily manipulated rendering of the stl-format scan file.  You must have an active internet connection to use this viewer. 

BACKGROUND
 
I became interested in scanning half-hull models as an aside from my research on a particular ship, SS Meteor (1864).
I have a long-standing interest in the fast screw cruisers of the 1860s, including the Delano/Isherwood and Lenthall/Isherwood designs, and the privately-designed competitors: the USS Idaho by Steers/Dickerson, and Dennison Lawlor's SS Meteor. My interest also extends to British and French commerce-raiding and pursuit cruisers of that era: HMS Inconstant and related classes, and the four French-built Confederate raiders that became BAP América, BAP Unión, SMS Augusta, and SMS Victoria.  I recently obtained a scan of the HMS Inconstant plan from The National Maritime Museum. The screw clipper Meteor (1864) was a smaller version of USS Idaho, but she had Scotish engines that delivered her promised speed. She was built by a Boston consortium to pursue Confederate commerce raiders, but was delivered too late for that purpose. The ship's trials showed her to be the fastest screw steamer in America, until the Navy tested its Isherwood-engined cruisers two years later. Despite attempts to use her in a commercial venture, the ship was really only suitable as a commerce raider, or for pursuing them.   RESULTS OF TESTING THE TWO GENERATIONS OF SENSE HAND-HELD SCANNERS   I have recently been successful in scanning a private half-hull of the USS Wampanoag, and the model of SS Meteor at the Portsmouth (NH) Athenaeum.  In late September I will scan the larger Meteor model at the Smithsonian Institution.  From these scans I will prepare traditional body, half-breadth, and sheer plans using SolidWorks.  Below are my recommendations for anyone seeking to use a Sense scanner to scan half-hull models.   TECH MEMO:   To Recap: For best results in scanning half-hulls, I have settled upon the generation 1 Sense3D scanner, paired with a Surface Pro 2 tablet (with the faster i5-4300U processor, and 4 to 8 GB RAM) running Windows 8.1. Both these devices can now only be obtained used or refurbished, and often the Pro 2 requires an operating system reset to Win8.1 from Win10.  However, the gen1 scanner has 3x3x3 meter capability and full user control of settings, vs. 2x2x2 meters and a too-friendly (impaired) interface with the generation 2 Sense2 scanner (retail: $360-400).  Out of the box, you can distinguish the two generations of scanner thus: The second generation "Sense2" has and "Intel inside" logo on the base label; the original (prefered) "Sense3D" does not.   The good news is that Cubify has become part of 3DSystems, and the formerly non-existent support for the Sense scanner has been replaced by exemplary 24-hour support. Software for both generations of Sense scanners (as well as the Apple variant) is found at: Www.3dsystems.com/shop/support/sense/videos  [Apple users -- note that at $80 the retail price for the scanner for your OS is roughly 20 percent the cost of the Windows scanner. Go figure...]   The older (gen1) scanner can be found for $200-350 on ebay -- usually in new condition, due to an initial frustration effect.  The Surface Pro 2 with 4300U quad processor has a nominal speed of 1.9 GHz, but ranges up to 2.6 or 2.9 GHz. That is plenty to drive the scanner, which the box says requires 2 GHz and 4 GB.    I CANNOT RECOMMEND the 4200U SP2 (1.6 GHz and up), so shop carefully.  Expect to pay $300-350 for a 4300U SP2 on ebay (you may get a stylus included), or just go to Newegg and spend $330: https://www.neweggbusiness.com/product/product.aspx?item=9b-34-735-142   In either case, you will need a $35-50 Surface Pro 2 stylus, because the sensor software is MUCH easier to use with one.    A mount to join the SP2 and scanner can be 3D-printed from the design at: http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:237449 OR you can contact me for my redesign of that mount (as a print file, or an actual mount).    

To help the scanner maintain tracking when scanning a large smooth surface (a half-hull over three feet, for example), I distribute little traffic cones at 1- to 2-foot intervals around the target object.  If you lose tracking and imperfectly regain it, the active color image will show double cone tops -- you need to redo that scan.

To help the scanner maintain tracking when scanning a large smooth surface (a half-hull over three feet, for example), I distribute little traffic cones at 1- to 2-foot intervals around the target object.  If you lose tracking and imperfectly regain it, the active color image will show double cone tops -- you need to redo that scan.

When taking 3D scans, I have found a free online viewer (http://www.viewstl.com/) to provide a quick and easily manipulated rendering of the stl-format scan file.  You must have an active internet connection to use this viewer. 

BACKGROUND
 
I became interested in scanning half-hull models as an aside from my research on a particular ship, SS Meteor (1864).
I have a long-standing interest in the fast screw cruisers of the 1860s, including the Delano/Isherwood and Lenthall/Isherwood designs, and the privately-designed competitors: the USS Idaho by Steers/Dickerson, and Dennison Lawlor's SS Meteor. My interest also extends to British and French commerce-raiding and pursuit cruisers of that era: HMS Inconstant and related classes, and the four French-built Confederate raiders that became BAP América, BAP Unión, SMS Augusta, and SMS Victoria.  I recently obtained a scan of the HMS Inconstant plan from The National Maritime Museum. The screw clipper Meteor (1864) was a smaller version of USS Idaho, but she had Scotish engines that delivered her promised speed. She was built by a Boston consortium to pursue Confederate commerce raiders, but was delivered too late for that purpose. The ship's trials showed her to be the fastest screw steamer in America, until the Navy tested its Isherwood-engined cruisers two years later. Despite attempts to use her in a commercial venture, the ship was really only suitable as a commerce raider, or for pursuing them.   RESULTS OF TESTING THE TWO GENERATIONS OF SENSE HAND-HELD SCANNERS   I have recently been successful in scanning a private half-hull of the USS Wampanoag, and the model of SS Meteor at the Portsmouth (NH) Athenaeum.  In late September I will scan the larger Meteor model at the Smithsonian Institution.  From these scans I will prepare traditional body, half-breadth, and sheer plans using SolidWorks.  Below are my recommendations for anyone seeking to use a Sense scanner to scan half-hull models.   TECH MEMO:   To Recap: For best results in scanning half-hulls, I have settled upon the generation 1 Sense3D scanner, paired with a Surface Pro 2 tablet (with the faster i5-4300U processor, and 4 to 8 GB RAM) running Windows 8.1. Both these devices can now only be obtained used or refurbished, and often the Pro 2 requires an operating system reset to Win8.1 from Win10.  However, the gen1 scanner has 3x3x3 meter capability and full user control of settings, vs. 2x2x2 meters and a too-friendly (impaired) interface with the generation 2 Sense2 scanner (retail: $360-400).  Out of the box, you can distinguish the two generations of scanner thus: The second generation "Sense2" has and "Intel inside" logo on the base label; the original (prefered) "Sense3D" does not.   The good news is that Cubify has become part of 3DSystems, and the formerly non-existent support for the Sense scanner has been replaced by exemplary 24-hour support. Software for both generations of Sense scanners (as well as the Apple variant) is found at: Www.3dsystems.com/shop/support/sense/videos  [Apple users -- note that at $80 the retail price for the scanner for your OS is roughly 20 percent the cost of the Windows scanner. Go figure...]   The older (gen1) scanner can be found for $200-350 on ebay -- usually in new condition, due to an initial frustration effect.  The Surface Pro 2 with 4300U quad processor has a nominal speed of 1.9 GHz, but ranges up to 2.6 or 2.9 GHz. That is plenty to drive the scanner, which the box says requires 2 GHz and 4 GB.    I CANNOT RECOMMEND the 4200U SP2 (1.6 GHz and up), so shop carefully.  Expect to pay $300-350 for a 4300U SP2 on ebay (you may get a stylus included), or just go to Newegg and spend $330: https://www.neweggbusiness.com/product/product.aspx?item=9b-34-735-142   In either case, you will need a $35-50 Surface Pro 2 stylus, because the sensor software is MUCH easier to use with one.    A mount to join the SP2 and scanner can be 3D-printed from the design at: http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:237449 OR you can contact me for my redesign of that mount (as a print file, or an actual mount).    

BACKGROUND
 
I became interested in scanning half-hull models as an aside from my research on a particular ship, SS Meteor (1864).
I have a long-standing interest in the fast screw cruisers of the 1860s, including the Delano/Isherwood and Lenthall/Isherwood designs, and the privately-designed competitors: the USS Idaho by Steers/Dickerson, and Dennison Lawlor's SS Meteor. My interest also extends to British and French commerce-raiding and pursuit cruisers of that era: HMS Inconstant and related classes, and the four French-built Confederate raiders that became BAP América, BAP Unión, SMS Augusta, and SMS Victoria.  I recently obtained a scan of the HMS Inconstant plan from The National Maritime Museum. The screw clipper Meteor (1864) was a smaller version of USS Idaho, but she had Scotish engines that delivered her promised speed. She was built by a Boston consortium to pursue Confederate commerce raiders, but was delivered too late for that purpose. The ship's trials showed her to be the fastest screw steamer in America, until the Navy tested its Isherwood-engined cruisers two years later. Despite attempts to use her in a commercial venture, the ship was really only suitable as a commerce raider, or for pursuing them.   RESULTS OF TESTING THE TWO GENERATIONS OF SENSE HAND-HELD SCANNERS   I have recently been successful in scanning a private half-hull of the USS Wampanoag, and the model of SS Meteor at the Portsmouth (NH) Athenaeum.  In late September I will scan the larger Meteor model at the Smithsonian Institution.  From these scans I will prepare traditional body, half-breadth, and sheer plans using SolidWorks.  Below are my recommendations for anyone seeking to use a Sense scanner to scan half-hull models.   TECH MEMO:   To Recap: For best results in scanning half-hulls, I have settled upon the generation 1 Sense3D scanner, paired with a Surface Pro 2 tablet (with the faster i5-4300U processor, and 4 to 8 GB RAM) running Windows 8.1. Both these devices can now only be obtained used or refurbished, and often the Pro 2 requires an operating system reset to Win8.1 from Win10.  However, the gen1 scanner has 3x3x3 meter capability and full user control of settings, vs. 2x2x2 meters and a too-friendly (impaired) interface with the generation 2 Sense2 scanner (retail: $360-400).  Out of the box, you can distinguish the two generations of scanner thus: The second generation "Sense2" has and "Intel inside" logo on the base label; the original (prefered) "Sense3D" does not.   The good news is that Cubify has become part of 3DSystems, and the formerly non-existent support for the Sense scanner has been replaced by exemplary 24-hour support. Software for both generations of Sense scanners (as well as the Apple variant) is found at: Www.3dsystems.com/shop/support/sense/videos  [Apple users -- note that at $80 the retail price for the scanner for your OS is roughly 20 percent the cost of the Windows scanner. Go figure...]   The older (gen1) scanner can be found for $200-350 on ebay -- usually in new condition, due to an initial frustration effect.  The Surface Pro 2 with 4300U quad processor has a nominal speed of 1.9 GHz, but ranges up to 2.6 or 2.9 GHz. That is plenty to drive the scanner, which the box says requires 2 GHz and 4 GB.    I CANNOT RECOMMEND the 4200U SP2 (1.6 GHz and up), so shop carefully.  Expect to pay $300-350 for a 4300U SP2 on ebay (you may get a stylus included), or just go to Newegg and spend $330: https://www.neweggbusiness.com/product/product.aspx?item=9b-34-735-142   In either case, you will need a $35-50 Surface Pro 2 stylus, because the sensor software is MUCH easier to use with one.    A mount to join the SP2 and scanner can be 3D-printed from the design at: http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:237449 OR you can contact me for my redesign of that mount (as a print file, or an actual mount).    

After having my article on 3D printing published in the NRG Journal last summer, I was pleased to see some actual parts show up in the Spring 2015 issue.
 
Hubert Mallet's article on an RNLI lifeboat includes a pair of engines which are 3D printed. And I think this is an excellent example of using the best tool (or process) for the job. The engines are "modern" mechanical items that lend themselves to modern modeling techniques. On the other hand, I would usually avoid 3D printing a part which simply needs, nay, demands, to be shaped from wood. And Mssr. Mallet has done the right thing here by shaping his model's wood hull from ... wood.
 
Nicely done, Hubert...

Hello Jinyang
Great work.
When you have finished modeling, it would be great to make a movie like I did almost 10 years ago.

Congratulations.
Bernard

I am new to the forum and went through this whole posting at once. I am amazed!  I am hoping to learn to do similar 3D modeling using SolidWorks but my ships would be 1860s steamers.  Yours is a really astounding effort!

Three John Adams 1799 plans do survive, enough for a complete reconstruction. Chapelle missed them.
 
1. Original body lines, pre 1829: National Archives, presumably (published in Charleston's Maritime Heritage, Coker.)
 
2. Out board profile, which includes partial inboard profile, partial waterlines (or are they diagonal projections?), as designed, 1/4" scale
Peabody Museum, Fox Papers. Note twenty-four broadside ports, but with no bridle port. The latter was added, along with a five feet extension of keel in Charleston. Not labeled as JA in Fox Papers.
 
3. Half-breadth of Decks, all, with stowage, 1/8th scale, as converted to a corvette, circa 1807, Fox papers. Position of projected stern chase ports indicate an original six window design, with ports in the two and five windows, with the others planked over. All they did was remove the spar deck in 1807-08. Shows length, mast and gunport position as built. (Labeled as "Decks Chesapeake" in Fox Papers, by some long dead, blind, crack-smoking staff volunteer!!)
 
I forgot one!
 
4. There is an inboard profile plan from the 1850s showing her final configuration. I've seen it, but I don't have a copy, from the NA, that shows ten ports aside - down from the 1829 rebuild's twelve - a full projecting stem-post, and a sketch of her bust figurehead.

I am new to the forum and went through this whole posting at once. I am amazed!  I am hoping to learn to do similar 3D modeling using SolidWorks but my ships would be 1860s steamers.  Yours is a really astounding effort!