12-10-2013, 07:01 AM
Gary, good idea to share this good old trick!
I use this technic quite often when I'm doing architectural survey with very little information on hand or no possibilities to visit the site myself. If done correctly, it can achieve quite precise results.
Standard materials can also give us relevant information: brick size is habitually standard, the same with clapboard and other things like window mullions, fascia, etc. Also, most building follow mathematical patterns. Most of the time, dimensions are increment of 2", 3", 4" and any combinaison of them. That is true for modern buildings, that is true for older ones too.
About the doors, most residential doors are 80", but for public buildings, most of the time they are 84". It may be tricky, just make sure you got the right size before starting the complete process.
I also found out even distorted pictures with too much perspective in them can be useful. It only means each sector of the picture will have it's own scale factor. Not the best, but may help to get some more clues.
The best thing is still to take pictures with little perspective, makes the process so much easier to figure out.
Personnaly, I like to draw my scale drawings in millimeter to save ardous conversion process and mistakes. Make things much easier when building the structure than using 1/64, 1/32 and other cryptic increment (don't misunderstand me, I prefer using feet-inch in 1/1). Good old 3.5mm = 1 feet is your friend!
Matt
I use this technic quite often when I'm doing architectural survey with very little information on hand or no possibilities to visit the site myself. If done correctly, it can achieve quite precise results.
Standard materials can also give us relevant information: brick size is habitually standard, the same with clapboard and other things like window mullions, fascia, etc. Also, most building follow mathematical patterns. Most of the time, dimensions are increment of 2", 3", 4" and any combinaison of them. That is true for modern buildings, that is true for older ones too.
About the doors, most residential doors are 80", but for public buildings, most of the time they are 84". It may be tricky, just make sure you got the right size before starting the complete process.
I also found out even distorted pictures with too much perspective in them can be useful. It only means each sector of the picture will have it's own scale factor. Not the best, but may help to get some more clues.
The best thing is still to take pictures with little perspective, makes the process so much easier to figure out.
Personnaly, I like to draw my scale drawings in millimeter to save ardous conversion process and mistakes. Make things much easier when building the structure than using 1/64, 1/32 and other cryptic increment (don't misunderstand me, I prefer using feet-inch in 1/1). Good old 3.5mm = 1 feet is your friend!
Matt
Proudly modelling Quebec Railway Light & Power Company since 1997.
Hedley-Junction Club Layout: http://www.hedley-junction.blogspot.com/
Erie 149th Street Harlem Station http://www.harlem-station.blogspot.com/
Hedley-Junction Club Layout: http://www.hedley-junction.blogspot.com/
Erie 149th Street Harlem Station http://www.harlem-station.blogspot.com/