Paul,

Thanks for the advise with Rhino.  I was able to get most of the motor
motor frame modelled to within several millimeter of accuracy.  Length,
the important measurement is spot on.

I enter X,Y, and or Z coordinate for most of the work but I can't seem
to get it to work for the final 3/4  (19mm) pipes angling upwards and
outwards from the rear junction to the front face.
I need to draw in the lower cross bracing as well.

Now stumped.   I've accurately set points (checking the three views to
tweak and verify their position but when I try to run a regular line
between them, the line goes in a completely wrong direction.  On the
first set of angle pipes it worked but not on the opposite side.  I
mirrowed them and dragged  them into position.   Everything you see is
Boolean connected now.

Is there any way to select (highlight) the desired two points and then
command a line to go between them?

Attached is a JPEG of how far its come.

Oh yea I am using Version 4 for the Mac and being a trial program it is
buggy.  No one has reported this bug yet.

Doug in Japan

That is looking pretty good Doug. You need to triangulate those
first couple of bays.

You can choose two points out of plane in the perspective
view and snap a line between them.

Paul Lamar


Thanks Paul,


I tried that as well and it didn't work.  The first point is easy to
pick up because I highlight it first.  The second point has to hunted
for but usually the line is going now where near where I expect it to
go. Bug?

Diagonals: Yes you are correct.  The top one is in as you can see but I
can't get the lower one in yet either. The lower diagonal tube goes the
opposite way and has additional cross support 1/3rd along its length.
This causes the motor mount to  purposely fail to one side.   Saves the
occupants from having the engine on their heads.   In the five or so
major crash landings that have totalled Seawinds the engine mount has
performed its duty well.

The first accident straight into an rocky embankment on approach with the
prop going into beta mode caused an estimated 19g forward deceleration.
The mount held undamaged and the two pilots limped away and the plane
was rebuilt and is still flying today and you can see it at Oshkosh
every year.

Back to drawing.  I know I can weld a frame up faster but knowing Rhino
is a skill that will come in handy.  At least that is what I keep
telling myself:)

Doug in Japan


The sequence is:
place 2 points in top, side or front views.

Now here is the real 3D trick:
If necessary place both points in the same view
and go to another view to move it where you need it
in 3D with snap and ortho "on."

Now go into Perspective. Find the points.

choose curve>line>single line>tools>object snap>point

that gets the first one then

tools>object snap>point

and you are done.

The line will move around as you search for the point which is a bit
disconcerting but you will get used to that.


Erase the points when you are done to keep down confusion :)

Paul Lamar