Are there any specific sources you scratchbuilders use to get line drawings which you base your projects on? Sorry if this is a stupid question. But I've alway been fascinated with scratchbuilding and the ability to build something, well... from scratch!

That is a good question! I tend to sketch what I am building and scan it in to my computer then, put it in Paint and redraw with the line tool.
I find if I am looking for an exsisting vehicles line plan, I'll ask here and somebody pop's up with it. I know Oshkosh (HEMTT and HET builders) has the drawings on their website. This is what I am using to convert my HEMTT into the HCRT as seen here.

I took the original line drawing from the Oshkosh site (provided by Matt ) and threw it on Paint and re-drew what needed to change.

I hope I've helped,
Cuhail

Usually if you do a yahoo or google search you will find something. However, in my searches, aircraft had the better results. It has been relatively hard to find AFV line drawings, especially of those that didn't have much prestege.

Yeah, I tried a search and I only got this one site that sells drawings for $2 each but through the mail. If you could pay with credit card and download the drawing right away that would have been easy!
I reall was just looking for simple things to try it out. I've always wished I could scratchbuild even a part of a vehicle. I'll keep looking. Thanks.
Cuhail... where in Illinois are you? I lived in Champagne-Urbana for a few years. Started going to the University of Illinois but couldn't keep up working and studying. But they were good days. I had a modeller friend(ex marine) from a small town called Monticello. His name was Richard Wangler. I wish I could find out where he's at!!

http://afvinteriors.hobbyvista.com/
Hisham- many of the profiles on this site begin with line drawings. If you find some you like, download them fast because the site is shutting down on 31 August!

-I have a question for you. In western societies, we address each other by our given name (in my case Robert) if familiar with eachother, or by our surname or patronymic(In my case Hamilton-my father's last name) if we're being formal. When we address you as 'Hisham' are we using the correct (informal) given name, or a more formal surname/clan/tribal/geographic identifier? Just curious, as I'd like to make you feel most comfortable & welcome...

Hey there Robert. Thanks a lot for wanting to make me feel comfortable. I have to sadly admit that ever since Sept. 11th, Westerner's opinion of Arabs has gone way down the drain! And Hisham is my first name(Like your name is Robert) and it is pronounced Hee-sham. Thank you again for taking the time to ask.
Why the %#$&% is the site shuting down? This is my only portal to modelling. I got nobody else to talk to about modelling. And will it be shutting down for a long time? Hope not.

OOOOOOOOOOOhhh!!! You're talking about afvinteriors shutting down.. I almost had a heart attack!!!

I tend to get line drawings from available publications or from people on the inside, Project Directors or managers who are willing to find unclassified information. Or if there is a specific project you are working on, just ask . There will likely be someone on this site who can provide or point you in the right direction. there are aso lots of commercially available publications. Finally there are some museums suh as the Tank Museum in Bivington that can provide drawings for a small fee.

Hisham --

You mentioned getting drawings for a $2 fee, so I assume you have found George Bradford's scale drawings. They are pretty good and well worth the money. Here's the addy for anyone who is interested: http://www.activevr.com/afv/1-35.html

Some sites also have scale drawings. If you're interested in Soviet WWII AFVs, for instance, there are many drawings on The Russian Battlefield: http://www.battlefield.ru/index.html

I get a lot of drawings from books and magazines. Hunnicutt's books have lots of nice 1/48th scale drawings (which become 1/35th when blown up 137% on a copier). Squadron "In Action" books also have lots of line drawings in various scales.

Hope this helps!

Hi there. Thanks for eveybody's help. And BOB.. That Russian Battlefield site ie real nice. Thanks.

I live way up in Lake County on the border of Wisconsin.

Not Round Lake :-)

Cuhail

Hello Hisham, if you could give me some details of what you are looking for I may have some that you are after. I have some german armor and some soviet. Let me know if you need anything. Cheers Kevin

Hey there.. To tell you the truth, I didn't really have anything in particular in mind. I've never scratchbuilt anything before and basically I was going to just look around and try to find an "easy" project that doesn't have curves and stuff.. just simple straight shapes. I'm looking for something that would be easy for a beginner to practice on, like cutting accurately, cementing 2 sides at a given angle and stuff like that. And thanks for your offer to help out.

Hisham, just pm me your email and I would be happy to send you them Cheers Kevin

if you go to features there are some drawings done by myself of the GMC-CCKW steel rear deck and also the #7 wrecker set that fitted to it (#49 & #52). All set out to fit the Tamiya GMC truck kit. These decks have no curves and may be what you would like.

Regards from Queensland Australia

Cliff aka MrRoo

MrRoo.. Yes, I think those are a couple of projects I could maybe try my hand at. Thanks a lot.

i would appreciate any and all aid in locating drawings for the m578, particulaly the cab and crane. seems i will have to build this and buy the hull as it is still available online or in stores.

thanks in advance,

reb

ps e mail or pm me the results if you please....