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Toy

Model Helicopter

I have been using Affinity Designer to draw the re-modeled plywood ‘copter, no problems at all although I am still finding my way around.  One tool it does not have is 3D view or the ability to move objects around all three planes.  This is a useful feature of Illustrator although it can be frustratingly difficult to use.  Still, as I don’t subscribe to Adobe products any longer I must find another way.

3D exploded model helicopter drawn in Illustrator and modified in Affinity Photo

There are some pretty good 3D apps around, Tinkercad is an on-line one that uses ‘primitives’, basic shapes which you can use to build up complex models; Mesh Mixer and Autodesk 123D are both free and powerful.  But sometimes it is just quicker and easier to sketch by hand and colour with watercolours.

So having completed the 2D drawing and checked until my eyes were sore for errors, I sent it to Cut & Burn, laser cutters in East Devon.