The plan for the model is to actually recreate it using PVC foamed board at a 1/25 scale. Because some of the pieces are somewhat complex and I want the model to be as similar as possible I want to essentially create a cut list that I’ll be able to print on some A4 and then spray mount onto the board so that I can cut it out all really accurately.
Now before you say anything I looked into a few cut list extensions but they don’t do what I want since they won’t allow me to set a scale. I suppose I could scale down the model but even then the extensions seem to be used more for simple shapes. Ideally I’d like to be able to print each individual group on the sheet. What would be the fastest and most efficient way to do this?
I don’t think you need a cut list. That’s a table of dimensions used to cut out the parts. Instead, you need to use something to lay out the parts of your model flat so they can be printed to scale. Look at unfolding extensions like Flattery. If you have created the model with the idea of laying the elements out flat, you could do this easily without an extension. If you make components for each part you’d cut from the foam board and arrange the axes the same way, you can simply pull copies of the components out into the model and place them side by side.
Perfect, I hadn’t even thought of that! I’ll definitely look into it - would you then suggest I bring those individual pieces into LayOut and print them from there or can it just as easily be done in SketchUp? (My experience in Layout isn’t great… haha)
If you are using SketchUp Pro, LayOut would make the whole job much easier. You can layout the panels in SketchUp and create a scene or scenes showing them (camera set to Parallel Projection) and then set the viewports in LayOut to the appropriate scale before exporting to PDF. Print the PDF full size and you’re all set.
The beauty of this is that you can create a model at full scale if you wish and then set the scale for the viewports as appropriate. I’ve done a similar thing for card stock models for our N-scale model railroad… Start with a full size model of a building, unfold it so it’s flat and then in LayOut, set the scale of the viewport to match the scale. I could just as easily create the paper pattern for any other model scale I want.
Probably you just need some appropriate education in using it properly.
Thanks for the reply! I’ve actually realised I won’t even need to flatten the pieces which is great since all I need is the face of each individual piece. I should just be able to set the camera to Parallel Projection and forget about the rest.
Do you know if there’s a plugin that can drop all of the individual pieces into LayOut and set them flat or will I need to do that?
I think you don’t have a proper understanding of how LayOut works with SketchUp. You create scenes in SketchUp that show the model as you want to see it in the document. Then you send to LayOut and create viewports that show the scenes. No plugin needed.
Example:
This is a scene from a SketchUp model of a small table.
