Discussion: Designing new tools for modelling

[dazz192]

Hello everyone,
I'm Darryl and I come from down under (Austraila!),
I have been involved with models (mostly gunpla) for about 8 years now and continue to enjoy it every now and then.
However as of now I am currently in my final year of high school (final year before entering university, if i make it)
and i am doing "Design & Technology" as one of my subjects. As part of my course I am required to design a new innovative
product which is functionable, it also has to be accompanied by an 80 page portfolio about the designing and production of it.

As of now I believe it is my best interest to design an attachable laser guide except for an airbrush (similar to what you would see on a gun),
which would be able to give the user a rough outline of where they are painting. Now many of the older modellers would potentially
see this tool as 'useless' however I believe I would be aiming this product at those who are new to airbrushing and would like to be
able to enjoy the art a lot easier. I still have a bit of doubt as to what the accuracy will be with this laser sight however it is
not set in stone that I will follow through with this idea either.

So my question for the community is whether they have input as to what new tools they would like to see developed which would aid modellers
(does not have to be related to airbrushes, it can be anything really). And what functions or ideas they might like to see me implement in such a product.
Any and all comments are appreciated,

[Rayloke]

the laser pointer thingy, i think aint serve much purpose.

Ok maybe i m old school n i still believe somehow modeling though is pretty much craftsmanship, relate quite closely to art.

Just like u dont install robotic arms onto an artist brush so he can have more stable strokes, nor program onto a a pan turner to help the chef to stir fry.

Even for beginner, there is no point for installing this, as it will take away the learning chance for a beginner to truly feel that piece of equipment.

Besides that, a laser pointer, on an equipment which need sensitive light due to working with colors, the laser light, though not directly hit the eyes, will definitely be pretty harmful to eyes.

just my opinion.



As for suggestion for new tools, that isn't an easy question. basically we have pretty much what we could think off. Probably in terms of technology wise, u could work with ways to reduce cost. Eg a really affordable ultrasonic cutter, dummy proof 3D design software with a 3D printer that cost about your microwave etc

My bit of suggestion is: a thing that is soft enough to bend, yet hard enough to be a guide/ruler. Yes i m talking about dymo tape. If u can find a formula for the glue at the back to be long lasting, or tremendously reduce the price of producing the same thing now, many will be really happy.

[banzai]

On very very low psi and the paint valve open just a tiny bit, like when I'm spraying alclad... I "feel" where the spray is landing before I can visually gauge it. Someone not so accustomed to an airbrush would probably be advised to use a piece of paper to gauge where their spray is landing first.

This feel and instinct just came from just getting more familiar with an airbrush. I've found its kinda like using a pencil or a paintbrush, it just takes a little practice before you get the feel of it but once you do you don't really forget it. Hell I picked up an airbrush recently after years of not touching one and it took me about 1 day to re-acquire my old skills. In essence the airbrush isn't a complex mechanism and it doesn't take a whole lot of work to learn to use one. It sprays paint! That's kind of it really.

New tools? Hmm. I'd second Ray's idea of an affordable 3D printer that prints small objects with a high enough resolution. Current quality of 3D prints leaves much to be desired. Even on the 3D printed bandai prototypes, the finish needs a lot of clean up before it can be displayed. I can already model pretty much anything in 3D, within reason. If I had a good 3D printer I could start pumping out my own designs for option parts. I wouldn't be scratch-building quite as much when I lose parts I'd just re-fabricate them. Whole new options would open up for building and customizing kits in a variety of crazy ways. Hell with good enough 3D printers we just might end up buying designs and fabricating our own runners instead of buying kits.

These are some other ideas. (Just throwing these out there.)

An affordable printer/ink solution for printing waterslide decals that prints white ink. (Inkjets can't print white and Alps printers are going extinct.)

An easier way to transmit current to LEDs that doesn't require as many wires. Even better, no wires, Nikola Tesla style!

This one's waaay out there... A way to make effects parts look like REAL effects. I'm not a big fan of using transparent plastic parts to show beams of light or energy/laser wings... I'd rather they look as brilliant as they should be. That's a tall order though, I might as well ask you to invent a real lightsaber.

That's about all I can think of at the moment. Hope it helps.

[dazz192]

Rayloke
Yes i do suppose having such a device would take away the fun of the learning xD

As for the ultrasonic cutter I'm not exactly sure that would be in my technology expertise to create such a tool :/
I very much do like the idea of a better or reusable dymo tape.

banzai
I agree that for people that are accustomed to airbrushes you have the 'instinct' and you know where the paint comes out.
Not sure if i would be correct to say its similar to playing baseball, where at first you may not know the range of the bat but after a while the bat becomes an extension of your arm. You learn to know its ranges. Not exactly sure if I would be able to make custom inkjets or alps, but perhaps i could make a new device that does waterslide decals specifically...
I do like the beam saber light effect suggestion, but I dont think its got much of a 'practical' use, since my project will be marked by people,

Thanks for all the input so far guys! Keep em coming,