Greetings from mbhdesign (Michael)

mbhdesign

New Member
Hello all and Happy New Year!

I just wanted to introduce myself as a new member to the forum and I'm very glad to have discovered it.

I'm a professional graphic designer, based in Washington, DC, and have been an avid fan of paper modelling since I was 10 years old – back in 1980. I started with HO scale paper houses (the "Cut & Assemble" series by Edmund V. Gillon, Jr.) and then discovered the amazing "World At Your Feet" series – by Alan Rose – in the early 80s. I built the Hindenburg, the Empire State Building and the Titanic from those great books.

After years of making paper models, learning the basic and some advanced techniques and tips, I began to try to design my own paper models. I was – and am still – deeply in awe of some of the details and techniques that paper model designers use to create compound and complex curves. I continue to learn from many masters of this art and enjoy every new discovery I make in this hobby.

Glad to have discovered this forum as a place to learn, share and exchange paper modelling techniques.
Thanks for the opportunity to join!

Michael (aka: mbhdesign)
 

zathros

*****SENIOR ADMINISTRATOR*****
Staff member
Administrator
Moderator
Welcome to the forum. This is a great place to share, and learn. We do so freely. That is why you will not see anything for sale in the posts. The models in our database are free of charge and we have links to 1000's more. This forum is active and welcoming. Do you work with any 3D type of software? I use Rhino3D primarily. That is because I also design and make things for other people and their projects, and these are usually aluminum, steel, or some other metal.

Welcome to Zealot. We have a "Renders and Illustrations" ( http://zealot.com/forums/renders-and-illustrations.662/ ) section where you can post works you have done. You don't have to worry about people expecting a model out of something you have been toying with. We have some brilliant people posting their work there. Feel free to post what you wish. Make sure you have checked out our "Rules and Policies". :)
 

Rhaven Blaack

!!!THE MAN BEHIND THE CURTAIN!!!
Staff member
Administrator
Moderator
Hello Michael,

Welcome to Zealot. You have come to the right place for designing (and learning how to design). We have many members here who are designers (some of whom work (or have worked) in the movie industry) and that use many different styles of designing (everything from (old school) pencil, ruler, and paper to different design programs). So you should be able to find a style (and technique) that will suit you well.

If you have any photos of the models that you have built already, please post them (WE LOVE SEEING PHOTOS).

If you have any questions, comments, concerns, need help or advice, please feel free to ask and we will do what we can to help you (or at least point you in the right direction).

Once again, welcome aboard. I hope that you will enjoy yourself here.

I am looking forward to seeing your work.
 

mbhdesign

New Member
Welcome to the forum. This is a great place to share, and learn. We do so freely. That is why you will not see anything for sale in the posts. The models in our database are free of charge and we have links to 1000's more. This forum is active and welcoming. Do you work with any 3D type of software? I use Rhino3D primarily. That is because I also design and make things for other people and their projects, and these are usually aluminum, steel, or some other metal.

Welcome to Zealot. We have a "Renders and Illustrations" ( http://zealot.com/forums/renders-and-illustrations.662/ ) section where you can post works you have done. You don't have to worry about people expecting a model out of something you have been toying with. We have some brilliant people posting their work there. Feel free to post what you wish. Make sure you have checked out our "Rules and Policies". :)

Hi Zathros,

Thanks for your welcome!

Yes, I like to "tinker" with Hexagon and DAZ Studio and have built some models (.obj with textures) for free distribution on ShareCG.com (my portfolio page can be seen here). I also have access to Strata 3D CX 7 and Blender, though the interface complexity of those programs is still beyond me. I've been working on a number of sci-fi themed models, purely for fun and to get a better handle on constructing more complex shapes and objects that retain realism at scale. I'll post some "work-in-progress" pics in the appropriate places in the forum.

I work on a Mac platform, so I haven't been able to work with Pepakura. All my paper model concepts are mapped out "old school" and drawn in Illustrator CS6.

I've read the "Rules and Policies" for posting and using Zealot. All very straightforward and some good doses of common sense in there. One of the reasons I chose to join Zealot is its non-commercial policy – I already have a job, this is my hobby. :)
I also believe that sharing freely promotes a better atmosphere of knowledge and community.

Now, I'll have to dust off some old projects and see where I can take them from here.

Thanks!
mbhdesign
 

zathros

*****SENIOR ADMINISTRATOR*****
Staff member
Administrator
Moderator
You are better skipping Pepakura. You can't draw a circle with Pepakura. It is good for making figures though. I don't know if you own a P.C., but if that is at all possible, you will find much more software that is compatible for Paper modeling, and is free. You can download Beta Rhino3D for Macs, as it is under development, and is free, for now. Normally it is around $1000 dollars. I am doing a tutorial on how to make a simple "Sharpie style sailboat'. I have been using Rhino since version 2.0. I think Rhino blows Autocad away. I can do things in Rhino that would be impossible, or take forever in Autocad. Rhino3D has forced Autocad to shape up. Link below for Rhino. Like I said, it's free, and they have a very active forum for it. It's also far more intuitive than Blender. Blender should be free, it's so lacking.:)

https://www.rhino3d.com/mac


zathros
Administrator
 

mbhdesign

New Member
Hello Michael,

Welcome to Zealot. You have come to the right place for designing (and learning how to design). We have many members here who are designers (some of whom work (or have worked) in the movie industry) and that use many different styles of designing (everything from (old school) pencil, ruler, and paper to different design programs). So you should be able to find a style (and technique) that will suit you well.

If you have any photos of the models that you have built already, please post them (WE LOVE SEEING PHOTOS).

If you have any questions, comments, concerns, need help or advice, please feel free to ask and we will do what we can to help you (or at least point you in the right direction).

Once again, welcome aboard. I hope that you will enjoy yourself here.

I am looking forward to seeing your work.

Hi Rhaven,

Thanks for your welcome!
I'm digging through many of my "in development" files to see if I have anything far enough along to share.

I just uploaded a set of pattern templates I created a few years ago for the stock and grip of the "E-33 Blaster" from Star Wars (Boba Fett's weapon of choice). I think I found the appropriate place for them, but please let me know if I need to move them. Hopefully, they can be of use to someone here.
They can be found here: http://www.zealot.com/resources/e-33-blaster-stock-and-grip-templates-1-1-scale.1470/

Thanks again!
mbhdesign
 

mbhdesign

New Member
You are better skipping Pepakura. You can't draw a circle with Pepakura. It is good for making figures though. I don't know if you own a P.C., but if that is at all possible, you will find much more software that is compatible for Paper modeling, and is free. You can download Beta Rhino3D for Macs, as it is under development, and is free, for now. Normally it is around $1000 dollars. I am doing a tutorial on how to make a simple "Sharpie style sailboat'. I have been using Rhino since version 2.0. I think Rhino blows Autocad away. I can do things in Rhino that would be impossible, or take forever in Autocad. Rhino3D has forced Autocad to shape up. Link below for Rhino. Like I said, it's free, and they have a very active forum for it. It's also far more intuitive than Blender. Blender should be free, it's so lacking.:)

https://www.rhino3d.com/mac


zathros
Administrator

Thanks! I will definitely look into Rhino3D as another tool for my toolbox.
I agree with you about Blender – after spending hours trying to learn its less-than-intuitive interface, I realized I was spending far more time learning that tool than designing and building models.. ha!

I will eagerly look for your sailboat tutorial when it's ready.

Thanks!
mbhdesign
 
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