Newbie needs help!

[Rick Hendon]

Have just dowloaded DelftShip free and am in need of tutalage…anyone have time to help a complete neophyte?
Thanks tons!
Hendon

[Icare]

Welcome Hendon!

You can download the manual from the download page (the very same page you found the software on) . It’s pretty well made.

My suggestion to a newbie: Do not try do design immediately your model, but read the manual, download models from the database, play modifying them. And once you’ll master the tool you’ll be ready to draw your own ship.

Anyway, you’ll find help here on the forum.

Good luck! 😉
____________
Note: I ain’t the webmaster, but just a user such as you. :blush:
Our only master here (after God) is the Admin: Maarten.

[Rick Hendon]

Thanks so much, Icare! Will certainly download the manual if I can find it…I know, however, that I am going to learn best if I can sit down beside someone and get some one-on-one instruction. I am in Portland, Oregon…are you by any chance nearby?
Cheers,
Hendon

[Rick Hendon]

Icare, I got it…it’s in the bag. For some reason, this window did not open on my new PC were the DelftShip is downloaded, but no problems on my Mac. WOOHOOHOO!
Hendon

[Icare]

… I am going to learn best if I can sit down beside someone and get some one-on-one instruction. I am in Portland, Oregon…are you by any chance nearby?…

I’d be glad to come and show you how I use the software… provided you pay me the travel… I’m in France :whistle:

I really do think the best way to learn is to discover each command in the manual and immediately try it and play with it using an already made model.

The main points are to understand that:
-You’ll work a surface by modifying it.
– This surface can be divided on different layers (tracing papers, not layers of material!).
– Once your surface is splited (by removing junctioning panes) it will be impossible to reconnect the separated parts.

If you can understand these three points, you’ll be spared half of the potential problems. B)

[Fernando Cruz]

Hi I am new myself. I tried using some existing models but they are too developed… too many features… and I got confused.
I then created a very simple hull, like an Optimist hull but with a bow, a transom (obviously) and two stations. Just two stations and three points per station… a half model only, of course.
I entered the coordinates and there was some learning with the Add point feature.
Then I added surfaces. Edges do not form without surfaces. And learned about corner points. Then I saved it. This came in handy when I made some serious mistakes and decided to go back to the original shape just to restart.
Then I decided to split some edges to enhance the curvatures. Then split the grid… then remove the chine lines and round off the hull… gradually it all started to make sense.
And on and on until I felt I could “risk” a more complex hull. At which point I developed the hull that is now my avatar.
All along I used the manual AND the tutorial to get unstuck.
I still do not know it all but I feel I can do a pretty good sleek hull out of points.
I want now to try using lines drawings imported into DELFTship… that will be next.
I hope this helps. It is a pretty nifty tool, but remember, it does not correct all your design flaws by itself. Use Gauss and the zebra tool to clean up the fairing. Turn the model around a lot and play with changes to the different points coordinates. Go back to wireframe and turn the model around and move some points and go back to Gauss… see what happened. Often it is a neighboring point that is causing the shading (curvature) you do not want to see.
And you will get the hang of if. This tool looks more daunting than it really is.

[Rick Hendon]

Nando_Adios, everyone is being so gracious to me…thank you so much for your thoughtful reply. I think I may be at the point you mentioned…the available model is too developed; will try starting from scratch. Haven’t had a chance to sit down with it in two days, but I believe this software is going to make sense to me sooner rather than later. I so wish I could open DelftShip and talk to a knowledgeable user on the phone while I try to make my chicken scratches.

Thanks again!
Cheers,
Hendon

[Maarten]

Hi Icare, Thank you for helping new members- your input is always appreciated!
Just one observation on the side: You -can- reconnect separate parts, and we do it all the time. Simply select 4 (or 3, or 5) points (2 on each surface edge) and Add a surface. Do make sure the points can naturally hold a surface… The order in which the points are selected is important. It determines the normal direction, and if the points were not selected in a continuous (counter)clockwise direction, strange ‘hour glass’ shaped surfaces may be created…

[Fernando Cruz]

Hendon,
you are welcome. Regarding your idea of a phone call, where are you? I am in Lisbon, Portugal.
In the meantime I had another thought.
When you start entering points it is easy to lose them as they may go out of sight. If the keel of your “test model” is on the X axis, then use the front, back, side views, together with the zoom button that fits everything on the screen to keep track of your points. It is tempting to use the “perspective view” but it can create a confusing view of apparently randomly located points. Once you have all your points, rotate the image in perspective view and then start connecting faces. The comment about the clock/counterclockwise selection of points is important.
If you think a basic model can help, I will be glad to send you my “test dinghy” model that you can start with.
I was also rather frustrated when I started. I use Sketchup extensively and I had to do a mental shift to get the hang of DELFTship.

[Fernando Cruz]

Hi Hendon,

here is a small rowing boat I mentioned with plenty of opportunity for corrections and experimentation.
The original drawing is a flat bottom boat but I modified it a bit.
I hope this will get you venturing into DELFTship.
Have a great weekend.

Attachments:

• Smallrowingboat.jpg
• Smallrowingboatoffsets.xlsx
• Smallrowingboat.fbm

[Rick Hendon]

Nando, thanks again…I’m venturing, but not making much progress. Frustrating. Do you use SKYPE? I’m in Oregon/USA.

ARRRGGH!
Hendon

[Rick Hendon]

Forgot to say…nice little rowboat!
Cheers
Hendon

[Fernando Cruz]

Yep, I have Skype – nando.aidos
Let us set up a time to talk then.

[Rick Hendon]

Nando, how gracious of you! I could make just about any time tomorrow (and most weekends) available. Early or late, my local time…it doesn’t matter. Look forward to hearing from you.
Best regards,
Hendon

[Fernando Cruz]

OK, you are in Oregon, 8 hours diff.
How about 10:00AM your time. That will make it 18:00 for me 06:00PM.
It should work. You msg me on Skype then and either we will connect voice or video.
Will that work for you?
Let me know.
Take care.

[Rick Hendon]

Perfect! If you haven’t heard from me by 1810 it means I’m having trouble. My phone number is (503) 887-4305. Email is gonetothedogsinc@msn.com

Thanks tons, Nando!
Hendon

[Rick Hendon]

Nando, I’m sorry to be such a bother, but I’ve had no experience with SKYPE and don’t understand it any better than I understand DelftShip. Would you be so kind as to contact me?

Thank you very much!
Hendon

[Fernando Cruz]

I see. Skype is easy. I suggest when you have figured out Skype, send em a Skype message and we will connect.
Take care.

[Rick Hendon]

Nando, this is maddening! Having never used SKYPE before, I’m not certain how to try and contact you. Have entered nando_aidos as your SKYPE address and have tried repeatedly to make contact without success. I’m sorry to have taken up your time.
Hendon

[Rick Hendon]

Icare, got some advice re downloading and installing the offsets, drawing and developable image you sent me; thanks so much. I am still stuck at the very beginning of DelftShip commands and can’t yet seem to make sense of it sufficiently to make even the simplest hull, or to successfully manipulate one of the existing ones. But I AM DETERMINED to master this software! Would you be willing to talk to me on SKYPE? I’m in Portland Oregon USA. If so, please let me know when you’d like to try and connect…and at what number or email. Thank you so much!
Hendon

[Fernando Cruz]

Well, it does look like you are getting the right help from a pro. Keep the faith.

[Rick Hendon]

Nando, got the kinks worked out of my SKYPE system and so wanted to make contact with you on Sunday, but couldn’t make it happen . Do I need any contact info of y0urs other than nando_aidos to make SKYPE work.

Off to the mutts presently (I’m a dog trainer).. Website is gonetothedogsinc.com There’s a funny little video on the main page.
Cheers,
Hendon

[Fernando Cruz]

Ah, it is nando.aidos (with a dot, not an underscore) as I mentioned in my previous message.
The underscore is for the DELFTship account.

[Rick Hendon]

Ahhh; that will make a difference, I’ll bet! So, just nando.aidos with nothing after it? No NET or COM or ORG or whatever? You are a patient fellow to put up with my lack of acumen. I really appreciate you. Talk soon. When would you like me to try? (Local time your time)
Hendon

[Fernando Cruz]

That is it. Once in skype you start a conversation with nando.aidos
That is it. You can leave a message if I am not online.
My calendar is rather erratic and so I suggest you peek and we will eventually connect.
Just keep in mind I am 8 hours ahead of you.
Take care (of the mutts too)

[Rick Hendon]

Nando, I’ll try you tomorrow about 1600 your time.
Cheers,
Hendon

[Icare]

Icare, _{got some advice re downloading and installing the offsets, drawing and developable image you sent me; thanks so much. I am still stuck at the very beginning of DelftShip commands and can’t yet seem to make sense of it sufficiently to make even the simplest hull, or to successfully manipulate one of the existing ones. But I AM DETERMINED to master this software!} Would you be willing to talk to me on SKYPE? I’m in Portland Oregon USA. If so, please let me know when you’d like to try and connect…and at what number or email. Thank you so much!
Hendon

Sorry, man! I can’t use Skype (I surf on the Web from a library, not from home). Furthermore my spoken english is much too broken and I assume you woulnd’t understand me.
I’m used to say I can speak english but… the English (or Americain) can’t understand… :whistle:

Hold on, FS is not so hard to use. Could you at least generat a new hull (FS does it automaticaly when pressing the “NEW” button)? Then you can click and drag on the points or click on the points and type their new coordinates. This step is a child’s play, so if you’re already stuck… :pinch:

[Fernando Cruz]

OK.

[Rick Hendon]

Well, Icare, your written English is superb! Thanks very much for the jumpstart. I’ll report back to you if I ever get to the point of being proud of a design.

Very best to you!
Hendon

[Maarten]

Hi All,
I am happy that you found your help, an I am proud to have such an open community I am going to ask you to keep the person-to-person messages on a private channel. Thanks!

[Rick Hendon]

Sorry!

[Rick Hendon]

Nando, too frustrating..can’t make contact. Giving up.

[Author]

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