Bumper Development

[Jeff McGahey]

Hello All,

Over on Steve's claysculptors forum there is a debate about dragging in a bumper the right or wrong way.

It started with a posting in the Scale Model Competition Board of the forum, a question was asked by a young man in France about the right method to drag from a plan shape with a template, here is an extract from the posting.

I know it’s probably not really important for the current project, I simply want to know if there’s

a better way to drag the templates. I noticed the surfaces are different depending on your choice

between the 1st and 2nd way.
So when you have to develop the surface of a concept drawing what solution do you use ? How do you make your choice ? The first seems to be more “logic” because it’s more like reproducing sections, but that doesn’t mean the second one is not the right way in some cases…?

Seb

Steve answered Sebs question and recommended him go with option number two.

Yesterday there was a posting from MasterModeler who thinks that it was the wrong advice, I disagreed with him and posted my opinion, there are now three postings on the subject you can read them here:claysculptors.proboards26.com/index.cgi?board=Competition&action=display&thread=1098597199&page=6

The postings are at the bottom of the page.

This morning in the studio we discussed the question and are of the opinion that option two is the right way to go. What do you all think ? I would love to get your opinions on this subject.

[rats]

After your group discussion you have suggested option 2 to be right!
It is probably the best choice as a start as option 1 would leave you a very wooden looking bumper.
Option 1 would certainly have been the way bumpers were dragged in the seventies and early eighties on some of the wooden-blocky so called designs with metal bumpers (Buick/Chrysler/Ford). From an overview- planshape they look very stiff to say the least!
It should be remembered that every one has their own way of working, whether you have been in the business for 4 years or 25 years.
Also that dragging a surface or section is only the starting point to developing said surface or section.

Again this should make some good banter as we all have different ways of working, but my way is right of course!
Have a goodun!
Rats

[CLAYMAN]

If you’ve dragged a large upright around a Full size Truck Bumper you will soon find out what is the best looking ( # 2 ) Agreeing with Rats the #1 method would be very unbalanced giving a different section view at any angle, # 2 giving a flowing continual section.

One thing we have done on many projects is to create a second plan veiw template and install that in the top most portion of the section, this requires the drag template being pulled ( Always pull templates as you have more control over the amount of material moved, and after 30 years you have forearms like Arnie ) around the lower, or larger of the plan veiw templates then re-set the section template to the upper or smaller plan view.

Steve Austin needs to be complimented on his web site and the help he has given Students and novices on the art of Clay Modelling.

Great Stuff.

PS. What about getting some of the " Old Farts " involved with a Clay School, look to the future, ask yourself how many "Milled Computer Generated" models did not need the SKILLED Hands and eyes of a Clay Modeller.

[mastermodeler]

I appoligize for posting what I did, I now see that it was in the wrong forum & I didnt mean to cause any problems. I only wanted to try & help the newbie modelers.

My reasoning for dragging parallel to the platform, is only to maintain an accurate planview. In reproducing a production model that already has accurate info, it only makes sense to me to maintain accuracy to the drawing. If you change the angle of your drag you will be essentially changing the plan view by giving it more planview.

Naturally, whichever way you choose to drag the bumper (option 1 or option 2) you will eventually have to adjust above & below the hieght the planview was taken from, otherwise it will look like a board as mentioned, that's a given.

An easy way to see what Im talking about is on the section where you dragged radially (option 2), use a 90 angle up against your plan view template. If the angle doesnt touch the bumper, the planview is incorrect.

And then use the 90 on the section you dragged parallel to the platform (option 1)& it should be touching the bumper.

Once again, I personally dont feel that the goal of a drag is to make something that is continual or flowing, as mentioned. The soul purpose is to get a model started with an accurate section & planveiw....that's it.

Sorry if Im being a pain in the @ss, it's not intentional.