Sonex Images Available

[TexFlyBoy]

As I have begun to think more and more about paint schemes, I have looked around at some of the online tools for aiding in the layout and design. There are a couple of programs which implement CAD applications and MSPaint to create overlays for making the task easier. Knowing the limitations of MSPaint and not knowing much about CAD, I decided to draw my own "base aircraft" drawings using Adobe Illustrator which I do have experience using. This gives me a template for trying out various paint schemes as overlays within Illustrator.

I drew the Sonex profile in both a top view and a side views. These are hand drawn for the sole purpose of "trying on" paint schemes more easily. These drawings are not to scale and are not engineering drawings, nor should they be used as such. They are NOT part of my plans and are not copyright protected by any individual or entity.

If you would like a copy of my original vector images in .ai format for use in trying on your own paint schemes, just send me a PM with your email address.

Here are some small .png exports of my .ai files so you can see what I am talking about.

Side View

Sonex Side.png (10.14 KiB) Viewed 6829 times

Top View

Sonex Top.png (11.35 KiB) Viewed 6829 times

Below is an example of how I use the above drawings to test various paint schemes. In this example, all I have done is create a "Color Paint layer" above the white "base paint" layer and drawn my color flourishes on the "Color Paint layer". This leaves the original "base paint" layer untouched. If I later wanted to change to base paint color from white to another color, I can do so with just a few clicks of the mouse. Sure beats colored pencils!

Sample paint scheme

Sonex Paint1.png (16.52 KiB) Viewed 6829 times

Keep in mind that to be able to use these drawings as intended, you need to have the ability to use Adobe Illustrator or to be able to import the .ai files into your preferred illustration software such as Coreldraw or similar. Or I suppose you COULD just print out these little .png files and use colored pencils also.

It's not as fancy as a 3D CAD application, but hopefully this helps other builders struggling with their paint schemes.

Thanks,

Jim

[Mike53]

Thanks for the Adobe tool.Looks like a great product .Hopefully it's what I have been looking for.I have downloaded a free 30 day trial of Adobe illustrator to try it out.I'm proficient(barely) at google sketch up. Hope this isn't too different.
I may be asking you some techy questions soon ;)

[TexFlyBoy]

Hey Mike,

I will be happy to send you the .ai files so you'll have the layers. Just PM me with your email address.

Ill be happy to try to assist if you get stuck. Also, there are some great YouTube tutorials for beginning users of Illustrator.

Jim

[Mike53]

Thanks Jim.I'm going to take a look at Illustrator first and decide if I want to invest the time depending how intuitive it is.I caught on to Google sketch up because it was very intuitive from the get go and at 58 I need all the intuit's :? I can find
I am contemplating taking a Solid Works course at our community college this spring as this is a form of Cad that interests me the most.

[rizzz]

Here's my Red Bull sonex, I'm not sure though if Red Bull would allow us to paint a Sonex in their colors:

redbull2.jpg (50.26 KiB) Viewed 6733 times

[dhogue]

Starting to experiment with paint schemes for my 1X.
....Picture a desk covered with hand made drawings.

The last post here is a while ago.
I am posting to ask: Any 2016 suggestions for aircraft paint scheme applicable software tools?

Thanks,
Don

[fastj22]

Starting to experiment with paint schemes for my 1X.
....Picture a desk covered with hand made drawings.

The last post here is a while ago.
I am posting to ask: Any 2016 suggestions for aircraft paint scheme applicable software tools?

Thanks,
Don

My best advice is to print out a bunch of 3 views, and sit down with a box of colored pencils and have at it. When you are down to your 3 or 4 favorite designs, run them past all your family and friends. Ask for honest opinions. Then repeat.

Any painter can work with your drawings.

[Waiex 0194]

I found a program I like that is exactly what you're looking for.

http://airplanecolor.com/

This is my first post, I think I'm doing it right.

Larry Kelly

[mike20sm]

I'm far from painting, but I enjoyed this video. http://eaavideo.org/video.aspx?v=4559953140001

[NWade]

I've PM'ed the original poster, but it looks like he hasn't logged on to SonexBuilders.net for a couple of years.

Does anyone have these vector image files?

Thanks!

--Noel