Modeling a Complex Structure - Google SketchUp Workshop: Modeling, Visualizing, and Illustrating - page 214

bow was constructed in two stages, starting with the Beak and constrained
to the lower working plane, then up to the position of the Pawn strut (first
arc), then toward the upper part of the Swim Fin (second arc), and finishing
with the end of the arc constrained to the upper working plane (you should
see the On Surface tooltip). Again, care has to be taken with the paths of these
two arcs to avoid any kinks in the middle. Once the path was complete, a
circle was extruded along it using the Follow Me tool to complete the bow.
Stage 8: Modeling the Lower Part of the Glass Canopy
Objective : To model the main glazing using the Push/Pull tool and
working planes.
Data : Model obtained in the previous stage.
Tool : SketchUp Pro.
A working plane was constructed (yes, another one) for the panes of the lower
part of the central glass canopy, bounded by the two girders on either side
of it (the white and pink girders in Fig. 12.6). The axes were aligned with the
central web of the main bow truss girder, and the working plane was drawn
and rotated into place, scaling it as required so that it fits between the two
main girders. The position of this working plane was determined by the bend
on the main bow truss girder and the Shark Fin protrusion on top of the other
main girder (see Figs. 12.6 and 12.11). The angle of the working plane was
judged by eye, using the photographic material already collected.
FiG 12.10 The working plane used for the construction of the canopy profile: The profile is drawn on the working plane.
The canopy profile was now drawn on the grouped, locked working plane.
The curve of the canopy profile was eyeballed from the photographs and a
closed surface was created, since in the next step we would need to use the
Push/Pull tool. The lower part of the canopy is composed of five panes, so
the correct value was arrived at by dividing the length of the lower part of
the main bow truss girder by five. The canopy profile was Push/Pulled by this
amount to create the first pane.