3d graphics package for ship modelling

iplogger1

I've received a request via a friend to source a PC desktop system
for a chap who takes 2d engineering drawings (elevations I guess)
of ships and seacraft and he also photographs the craft when docked
in port and he has managed so far (on paper) to build scaled
models of those ships. He wants to try doing this all on a PC.
He's seen a machine with a decent spec (Intel core duo/2GB RAM/
250GB 7500RPM SATA HDD, nVidia 4500, 2x firewire, 17" flat screen, 7xusb,
internal card reader.. blah..)

Now.. the important bit is I need to tell him what 3d visualisation
/modelling software he ought to get to take in his scanned drawings
and side elevation photos to reconstruct a proportional model of
the ships/crafts.

He has a bit of learning curve to climb. He is retired and hasn't worked
with PCs since the late 80s/early 90s.

Will Maya, AutoCAD be suitable for what he needs to do?
I'm not well up on 3d graphics. What I know (and understand) is
limited to Photoshop CS and photo imaging.

Any pointers on the sort of packages he should be considering to
allow him build up 3d ship models ?

--ipl

8T8

Not really my area of expertise but I would assume CAD being the one to go for as well. Maybe some one else can verify that or try contacting Autodesk sales they may point you in the right direction seeing as they own Maya, CAD & 3DSMax now.

Or you could try asking in the Autodesk forums.

The PC is up to the job judging from the specifications.

CADVantage Ltd.

Best but not the cheapest way to do it is full version Autocad.

Ive dealth with yaght design in the past.

He can just work from the bulk heads and build a 3D skeleton apply the hull and work from there in as much detail as his pc can handle.

www.cadvantage.ie

christophicus

IS the nVidia 4500 an fx quadro?

GUIGuy

I'd recommend either Rhino or SolidThinking.

The products avaialble on the 3d market are for the most quite tailored to their niches. AutoCad is very expensive for what it is... essentially an electronic drafting board. It does 3d but not as well as other apps. 3dsMax & Maya are more fluid & in general are for rendering, animation & games. Rhino & Solidthinking are half way houses... CAD accurate but designed from the start for 3d. You can download a 30 working demo of Rhino at www.Rhino3d.com .
A major question is what is he going to do with the 3d models. If he is a only making making pretty pictures (not engineering drawings) then some cheaper package like Hexagon or Silo would be more appropriate.

Blowfish

christophicus wrote:

IS the nVidia 4500 an fx quadro?

Yes.

GUIGuy wrote:

If he is a only making making pretty pictures (not engineering drawings) then some cheaper package like Hexagon or Silo would be more appropriate.

If thats what he wants to do, I'd say go for Blender, its the best completely free one out there (Maya personal leaves watermarks)

H3LLg0d

Thos products are way/way overpriced

3ds max and Maya

Though if you search hard enough ,you will find the full versions of both, availible for download for free;)

Blender is free yes but i'v personally never liked it , it looks and feels like something the programmer made for himself


A program which i'v been using for the last few months and personally love it is

Swift 3d
http://www.erain.com/

Its a lot more, user - friendly and can produce some great models and animations with a small bit of learning