Choosing a scale for a model building?

[d.boathJ7ZHY]

Hey

Whilst I am working on the lamp cover for this theatre and the help in that thread has been fantastic (cover 3D prints perfectly now btw 😋 ) there is another project I have in mind. I'm hoping to print/build a scale model of the entire theatre. If I can pull it off, it'll be displayed in a cabinet in the foyer and I hope to make it a semi/cross section model so the internals can be seen. I do have access to the plans from the state archives (They are interstate and so waiting for copies, hopefully once Covid eases a bit in that state), and I do have a photo of the frontage from the 1930's (linked below). While I await plans, (and I do recognise this task will take quite some time!.... that's what a hobby is for right?), I'd like to begin developing my planning and learning aspect.

My initial thoughts are to import the frontage as a canvas (like I did with the lamp cover in my other thread), and then draw/construct over it, extrude elements etc. Here's my initial question: If the front of the building in real life is say 15m across (I need to find the exact measurement), what do I scale the imported image to? Whatever scale I choose, will need to be consistent throughout the entire print/model process.  Or do I scale the canvas picture up to 15m as best I can and then scale the entire model down once done?

Or do I pick an arbitrary number and say "okay, I want the front of the final model to be 'x' (say 1m across)", draw a sketch line and scale the photo to that? Which would then determined my scale, no matter how odd. I'm not too concerned with being bound by modelling scales of H0 etc. Or do I need for ease of other things (like buying figures/cars)

If I do that, once I obtain the drawings (which will be in feet/inches due to the time period it was built), I'll just need to apply the scale I've chosen.

Some sections on the photo seem complex to my novice skills at the moment (the hourglass frills at the top etc), but the rest I can see clear lines/boxes and curves. So plan to start there and hone my skills. The rest of the building internally is fairly boxy, with the large performance space a tiered curve of seating.

**image uploaded as medium so you aren't bombarded with huge imagery.

Image circa 1939:

1939

Image circa 1957:

[davebYYPCU]

Scale is your choice, bearing in mind the scale of the motor vehicle, you intend to draw or buy, figures as you say, and the print bed dimension (minor).

Your right, scale the canvass to whatever, then the canvass is "traced" so size is less important, once the first decision was made.  You can work in Fusion in inches or metric, so one more decision, stick to it. 

Break a big project down to smaller parts and build as you go.  Mirrors and patterns, will make easy work of the 1st and 2nd floor windows and columns, etc.

Yell out is your stuck.

[d.boathJ7ZHY]

Yes, interesting thoughts. I have a Prusa MK3s so anything I design will need to be sectioned and joined. The front will be a facade, and even other elements of the overall building don't need to be 3D printed. Can be made from corflute or foam etc.

I hope i can keep this thread open as a running/progress type thing.

Thanks!

[laughingcreek]

Since your getting building plans with dims, I would work full scale, it will be easier than having to convert to something else on the fly.  use the pic as a canvas or not.  A picture like this isn't going to line up perfectly with everything, I suspect you'll find it's just a bunch of noise in the back ground and turn it off anyway.  If the plans that come have good elevation drawings those will work better as they will be orthographic.

The important thing will be to determine how much your will eventually scale it down now.  Also determine what your printing limitations are for things like wall thickness, and how small of a detail will actually show up in a printed model with out washing out.  Take those limitations and scale them up to what they will be in your full scale model and make sure you don't build smaller than those values.  You'll have to make choices and trade offs as to how much detail you want to show in the final.  that's part of the art of scale modeling, figuring out what conveys the meaning.  a window mullion may have to be modeled a little wider in the model to keep it from disappearing when scaled down for instance.

while your waiting for the plans, I would also start small and make a few models.  make a 1 room, one story house with a door and a window.  move on to 2 stories with multiple rooms.  start figuring out how to organize your models before you undertake the theater.  you'll save time over getting into the middle of it and having to either struggle against your model structure or spend time changing it (or just starting over).  

[TheCADWhisperer]

Assuming that you are going to 3D print this - a lot of fine detail may be lost in scaling down to print.

Normally I would model to 1:1 scale and then scale the model after-the-fact.  But you might need to exaggerate some details that you do not want to loose in the print.

In general, I have not been very impressed with 3D prints of buildings.  (An ornate building like this might still have enough detail after scaling to be interesting.)

Takes a lot of artistic post-processing to bring out the details.

[Intuos5]

You could start to think of the details you want to convey in the 3D print and what this implies for the overall size of the model. One thing to keep in mind is if you won't be able to see the fines detail, you don't need to model it. I would personally model this on 1:1 scale, because if you have plans/ elevations, you can more easily type in the dimensions and avoid making calculation mistakes. You can always scale the model afterwards (as last feature in the timeline).