This technique of modeling ship hulls is more of a sculpting approach.
Experienced users can design hull forms with direct control point manipulation. This method is based on generating a single surface with rows and columns of control points. Start with a flat plate and sculpt the form by dragging and pulling control points.
Advantages:
- High quality single surface possible (depending on skills of user)
- A lot of control to adjust the surface
- Every imaginable surface is possible
Disadavantages:
- Control points have to be positioned in a grid of rows and columns. Therefore too many control points at places where little control is needed and often less control points at places where a lot of control is needed. For example the difference between a straight midship section and a more complex bow area. T-Splines modeling offers more functionality when this aspect is important
- Labour intensive to model the first hull
- It is more difficult to edit the hull shape later systematically than with the Rapid Hull Modeling Method.
The Orca3d plug-in offers a more easy way to model ship hulls with easy hull wizards and extra tools to manipulate the shape of the hull.
Important Rhino Commands:
- Move
- Rotate
- Scale 1d
- Shear
Options and tools:
- Project on
- Object Snap on/off
- Orthogonal on/off
- Smart track on
- Nudge option to move control points at predefined steps
See also this great instructional video of Brian James
