Technical Illustration

[Mark_Miller]

I recently did a kit review for Internet Modeler of a 1/8.7 scale Mercedes engine model.
Mercedes Engine article

I decided that it would be fun to generate a series of assembly illustrations using "traditional" methods.
The Illustrations are all Isometric projections done in Adobe Illustrator.
This is the sort of thing I do for a living - and after a while it began to seem less like fun and more like work.
So I got a little lazy and cut some corners.
but, I think they tell the story.

Anybody else out there do this sort of thing?
Mark


STEP 2
STEP 3
STEP 4
STEP 5


STEP 1

[Mark_Miller]

The methods I use to create these kinds of illustration are pretty simple.
You first generate plan views to scale and then you project them into the proper orientation.
The graphic below shows how to do this for an ISO.

The big attration of an Isometric projection is that all the angles are the same - which simplifies things a lot.
In the aircraft industry they seemed to like to use trimetric projections to make those elaberate skelatal views.
The basic idea is the same - but each "side" of the object is viewed from a different angle - which means you need to plot them all out using a different translation.
gets pretty complicated and I must confess that I have never done any work like this.
But, it does give you a more "realistic" looking drawing.

Mark

[Kosh]

Do we have illustrators who can do technical drawings without computers? I mean drawings like Clark, Millar did during WW 2 or drawings like published in e.g. Der Motorwagen (reprinted in WW1 Aero). IMHO computer drawings look bland. The best collection of tech drawings that I have seen is definitely the Junkers Jumo 211 parts handbook. Original Bristol Hercules handbook is also something that I have never seen even approached by computer stuff.

Kosh

[Mark_Miller]

Originally posted by Kosh@Jun 16 2004, 11:31 AM
[b]Do we have illustrators who can do technical drawings without computers? I mean drawings like Clark, Millar did during WW 2 or drawings like published in e.g. Der Motorwagen (reprinted in WW1 Aero). IMHO computer drawings look bland. The best collection of tech drawings that I have seen is definitely the Junkers Jumo 211 parts handbook. Original Bristol Hercules handbook is also something that I have never seen even approached by computer stuff.

Kosh

Hi kosh
Yeah, you have a point
tech illustration does tend to be pretty bland.
And some of the old hand drawn stuff had a little more personality.

But, you have to remeber that this is almost exclusivly a commercial enterprise.
As such, time is a key factor.
in fact, it is often the primary driver on a job.
and doing this stuff by hand takes far longer.
so - no I don't think you will find old style (pre-computer) tech illustration anywhere.

but, I still know how to do it
well I think I can remember.
and I'll bet i can find all the tools in the bottom of a box somewhere.

But, even this 2D vector stuff is kind of old fashioned anymore.
3D modeling has taken over just about everywhere.
and the whole tech Illustration proffesion is rapidly disappearing
mark

[Lufbery]

Mark,

I saw those images when I read your article at Internet Modeler and I thought they were part of the assembly instructions that come with the kit. They should be anyway!

Great stuff, and thanks for sharing.

Regards,

[Mark_Miller]

thanks Lufbery
FYI - the last 3 illustration weren't included in the Internet modeler article

Check this out:
Boat tutorial

amazing piece of work.
i must admit that i question the wisdom of doing this particular project in a 2D environment.
and then to do it in 2 point perspective which would take FAR longer than if you just did a trimetric projection.

but it is an impresive illustration.
Mark

[Mark_Miller]

This is off topic
but here is a more elaborate drawing I made recently for work


Same software and basic techiques as all the rest.
But I had to go off axis with the pivoting part to show the motion.
And they were looking for something prettier than usual

It's a breast biopsy device.
patient lays down on the table - breast hangs down through that hole and is imobilised by the compresion device
stereo x-ray locates the suspicious tissue and guides the needle to the target.
yeah, kind of gruesome - but it's better than a masectomy.
it's a good thing

still - airplanes are more fun to draw B)
Mark

[Lufbery]

Originally posted by Mark_Miller@Jun 16 2004, 12:12 PM
[b] thanks Lufbery
FYI - the last 3 illustration weren't included in the Internet modeler article

Check this out:
Boat tutorial

amazing piece of work.
i must admit that i question the wisdom of doing this particular project in a 2D environment.
and then to do it in 2 point perspective which would take FAR longer than if you just did a trimetric projection.

but it is an impresive illustration.
Mark

Whoa! That boat is awsome.

Hey, maybe you should do an airship for your next project. It'd be roughly the same scale.

Regards,