Please help me draw this stupid thing

[clockwork]

I want to draw up my cab plans in some sort of CAD or 2D modeling program. I've tried several that I've read about in these forums and elsewhere, and so far all I've done is learned two things:

1. I suck at CAD.
2. I really suck at CAD.

Can anyone give me some tips or point out a nice tutorial? I just want to 2D model it.

[sfrascella]

If all you want is 2D plans try graph paper and a ruler. Not trying to be a smarta$$, just seems easier to me. Good luck!

[fjl]

I've been using 3D Studio Max. It's great cause it lets you see any place you can run into problems. Architectural wise. Like I've seen that I need to make the back open more so I can fit the monitor. How big it will actually be. Exactly how the controller will fit and a lot of other stuff. What's cool is that I can easily change things.

check out what I have done so far... 

[Flip_Willie]

   I would agree with sfrascella.  Using graph paper and a pencil seems like the easiest method.

   But if you really want to create it digitally, Adobe Illustrator is a great for 2D drawings. (Much simpler than AutoCAD or 3Ds Max, in my opinion anyway).

   If you want to try and learn CAD, just do a Google search for "AutoCAD tutorials".  First site I found pertaining to AutoCad: http://www.ncsu.edu/project/graphicscourse/gc/acadtut/acadtut2000/acadtut-home.html

   Hope this helps.

Just as it is,
Flip Willie

   

[clockwork]

I've already drawn it up on graph paper. I'd like to make it digital, without having to do an ugly scan. Nice looking model, fjl. Thanks for the pointers, Flip. I'll try out Illustrator and check the tutorial.

[MaMeNnO]

You might wanna look at A9CAD http://www.a9tech.com/. The free version is pretty good.

[clockwork]

Thanks! That program is awesome. I was easily able to setup my scale and draw and outline. I couldn't do that with any of the other free or commercial demo tools I used. It does have some quirks, but for free I can get used to them. I may even end up buying it. It's only $30.

Do you know if there's a way to add measurement lines or do I just have to draw them manually? For example, I want to add something like: <----- 30" -----> and be able to dynamically update it if I stretch or shrink lines.

[Tailgunner]

I do all mine in Rhino3d, but if A9cad is working for you stick with it. AFAIK you'll end up re-doing your dimensions when you scale or move stuff. Quite often I use the dimensions as "rulers" so I move stuff to specific places.

I did this one yesterday after seeing a pic of a Missle Command cockpit cab, I've never even seen a real one before so some of it is guesstimation. I still haven't figured out where they put the monitor, I'm guessing it was reflected on a mirror.

[clockwork]

Looks nice, Tailgunner. I think I didn't try Rhino3d because it said the save is disabled in the trial. I did figure out how to draw the dimensions in A9CAD. It looks like I will have to redo them if I make changes. There doesn't seem to be anything that tells it to anchor to an element.

[Havok]

I still haven't figured out where they put the monitor, I'm guessing it was reflected on a mirror.

Yup - the monitor is located almost above your head, and reflected via an angled mirror. Check out this site, lots of pictures of the cab, especially check out the "guts" part:

http://thelittons.net/homearcade/Missile/

[Tailgunner]

Actually the save function in the Rhino demo expires after 25 saves, but if A9cad is working for you I'd stick with it. Rhino is 'spensive, my upgrade to the forthcoming version 4 will run at least $300. On the plus side I can feed stuff modeled in Rhino into a CAM plugin and make parts with it.

@Havok: cool, thanks for the link. I figured it had to be up there considering the overall size of the cab, and how big the marquee is. 

[clockwork]

Rhino is 'spensive, my upgrade to the forthcoming version 4 will run at least $300.

Yikes! Yeah, for my meager needs I guess I'll stick with A9. Thanks for the feedback.

[Sensei]

My personal favorite is SketchUp.

It's easier to learn that those traditional CAD programs and great for doing arcade cab designs.  It has made designing cabs (and other projects) much easier.

Check out sketchup.google.com (free from Google)

Just my $0.02 worth.
Good Luck