so I posted a topic a few days ago with lots of plans for modellers, and after I looked through some tutorials on the forum, and thought; why not use one of my plans and give modelling a try myself? I downloaded a ship hull modeling program called delftship( the free version) from their website: http://www.delftship.net/delftship/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=31&Itemid=4&height=916&width=1400 and got started with the help of some tutorials(http://www.scribd.com/doc/39574398/Tutorial-01-Delft-Ship) and the manual on the delftship website. You only have to create a free account on their website to download the program. for me delftship seemed very intuitive and easy to learn, it only took a few hours to figure it out as i made the model! I could probably make a new hull in much less time. the program has 4 views, the 1th one is just a 3d view to look at the shape of your hull. for the other 3 you can import background images (plans) into, and form the stock hull to your plans. I chose the lilschooner plan from my ftp because it is small and simple, a good place to start. gave her the name 'sprightly' because i thought it was fitting(the real name for the schooner was some, long, hard to write and pronounce native american name). I think it looks pretty good so far,except for a little weird spot mid-bow. it might be a little high on the polycount, I have no idea how to measure that.
The free version of delftship does not allow you to model masts and fittings, so I need to export( not entirely sure on the right way to do this) the hull into another program, and i have downloaded maya 5.0 from the ftp and the latest version of blender too. does anyone have any suggestions on which one to use? I know I will eventually need to use maya, but I heard it was a very confusing program :?
Pics:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/64339105@N08/5853253817/in/set-72157626882284407
http://www.flickr.com/photos/64339105@N08/5853806204/in/set-72157626882284407/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/64339105@N08/5853806000/in/set-72157626882284407/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/64339105@N08/5853253389/in/set-72157626882284407/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/64339105@N08/5853253267/in/set-72157626882284407/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/64339105@N08/5853253175/in/set-72157626882284407/
Gallery
http://www.flickr.com/photos/64339105@N08/sets/
delftship Tutorial: http://www.scribd.com/doc/39574398/Tutorial-01-Delft-Ship

Pics:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/64339105@N08/5853253817/in/set-72157626882284407
http://www.flickr.com/photos/64339105@N08/5853806204/in/set-72157626882284407/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/64339105@N08/5853806000/in/set-72157626882284407/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/64339105@N08/5853253389/in/set-72157626882284407/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/64339105@N08/5853253267/in/set-72157626882284407/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/64339105@N08/5853253175/in/set-72157626882284407/
Gallery
http://www.flickr.com/photos/64339105@N08/sets/
delftship Tutorial: http://www.scribd.com/doc/39574398/Tutorial-01-Delft-Ship