Do I need to 3D model this?

Hi, i don't have too much experince with CAD, i used to do a bit of drafting with an engineering firm (for a very short time!)

I'm wanting to draw up my car in 3D, so that i can see what it will look like when i add certain mods to it, like wheels, colours etc. I need to be able to edit/add to the image as time goes on.

I have drawn a few simple 3D objects in classic mode (autocad 2007) that worked out fine, but for this will classic mode be suitable? or am i going to have to use 3D modelling to get the end result?

Ideas and opinions greatly appreciated

Thanks a lot:)

Most gearheads use photoshop or a friend who does

To model a car in AutoCAD you need ALOT of patience and its not worth the effort for something simple like a color change or new wheels

I would have to agree with Pocket on this one. Modeling a car is not an easy thing to do, especially in Autocad. If all you want to do is try out different colors and wheels, I would definitely recommend a simpler alternative.

If you're interested in learning 3D, start out with simple models, learn all of the tools and techniques and work your way up to more complex and difficult projects.

google search 'photochopping'. you will need photoshop

I think you might be able to do it in SketchUp but AutoCAD would be an exercise in futility.

i have a car model in cad and it is very tough. i was modeling different front end concepts. If you have no 3d experience this is a gigantic undertaking! What car is it?

there is a forum called scratch made cars. http://www.smc.com i think. Most of those guys will use a program like 3d studio. This allows you to get a very general shape and use some of the modifiers for more detail. For instance if you had a car drawn that was very block like, you can use turbo smooth and it will increase the number of faces, acad cannot.

you can see in this shot all the facets on the body.

i was given this model and i modified it,

here is an idea of the resolution of the car body, and of the airdams i was modeling

Very very tough challenge to make a 3d model of a car.

as pocket has mentioned a lot of patience, but it will also involve a lot of skill. i have this model of a classic beetle, i only ended up modelling the wheels and some body surfaces,, lolz. I had no precise data on the measurements to draw out the body surfaces precisely so i abondoned it

here's the model i was basing it on w/c was made in 3d viz, and as you notice,,, its not easy

the bonnet on that looks too long

I was debating whether it was something more PT Cruiser until I spotted the classic shape of the bonnet

its the 1950 model, its hood is a little longer than the later models like the super beetle.

very dependable these bugs :D

ahhh, that explains it then

Ok thanks, so maybe not using autocad for this would be a good start?!

BUT! if i insisted on using it, to have loads of layers etc, then i would have to use 3d?

If you were to "insist" on using AutoCAD then be prepared to put in ALOT of hours work, and alot of "Why isn't this working?" questions race through your mind.

Its just my opinion but to get a general model of a car will be easier using surfaces instead of solids. If you just want the general shape of your car and no real detail it might not be so bad, but if you want detail, especially being a novice, you will have a lotLOT of time invested.

What car is it? Do you have a factory service manual? The reason i ask is because some FSMs have nice line drawings of their cars. One of my car manuals has some nice side, front, rear and top views. I scanned these images in and inserted them as raster image files. This allowed me to "trace" them in cad and have some reference to shape and scale. you can do the same thing with pictures but if they arent a true side view or top view things may look funny.