I like the idea of a competition. My drawing skills, even if I had access to a decent 3D drawing platform, are so poor that I certainly will not be competing. I think it would be good idea though if an example or explanation of what you mean by mimicking a real life object be presented to draw attention to this competition.

So, for instance, if we were to display this simple object:

We'd be looking for something like this:

or this:

Or, if you don't have any of this software, this:

When I had my 32-bit system, I used Alibre design to draw this as a first practice project - it is to scale, but that got lost in the export to .pdf, and it certainly isn't there in this (.jpg) screen snip.

Anyway, it was fun!

Nice cup!

Yes.

Please elaborate on "mimick" and "real life".

For example - do you want a functional, animated fire hydrant?

A working 1/2 ton C/M Chain Hoist?

If so, I'm probably going to sit those out. 5/16th's SAE left hand thread bolt and nut... yeah, that's my speed.

The objects could be anything, though we'd probably try to start with some easy ones. I myself only have limited experience with the programs, and I'm very certain members have prolonged exposure to it, since many use it for their jobs!

The "competition" is really more of a chance to test and practice with software, so if you wanted to go ahead and make the object fully functional, all the power to ya - I'll certainly be very impressed!

How about some spread sheets about something chemical. I would keep the field open for every speciality and not just be for the designers here!

http://cr4.globalspec.com/thread/78301/Thermal-Characterization-of-Coal-tar

Looks like a hands on request!

I win.

It's an auxiliary fuel filter, modelled with Inventor 2012 Pro.

Yeah, I love the idea even more for the opportunity to see what programs the contestants are using and the ideas they come up with!

This could be really fun. See, I did not even know about Inventor 2012. Once again I learn from CR4...

Buuuuuuuut.... do we all have to sign NDAs or will GlobalSpec want some Non-Competes or some other fun-killers first?

It'll just be for fun, no need to sign NDAs! Anything you don't want other people to see, you'd obviously refrain from posting. Otherwise, it'd be open game.

Also, I wouldn't think of it as strictly a competition. It'd be more like a little exhibition of peoples creativity and ingenuity in modeling different objects

Yes.

I'm in. The contest could brain stemulatin' too.

Steve O...who's yo daddy now??

Game on???.....aaannnd...game over!!

Wow that's cool....

I'm honored, and humbled. I'm not worthy, O Jedi Master.

Ummm, when do you have time for work?

Really?

I thought it was a syringe being shot into a beaker at first glance.

Have not done any serious drawing for a while, but this is more my kind of thing...freehand pencil

I like a little freehand as well. It might be a good idea to allow all forms of medium to be used, such as freehand (or MS Paint )

Do you happen to be such an artist, SolarEagle?

or etch-a-sketch

I did work as a portrait artist in the past, but my work is scattered throughout the population....My work has been with wood the last several years, and most recently have completed two strat type guitars, just as a project of interest....Basking in that latest accomplishment, I am now waiting for inspiration, searching for that motivating factor, that will bring the engine of creation to life once more....

Humble Tenderfoot Bow in Shame before Honor Council.

Contest Over Before Start.

Solar Eagle Master.

Next Idea Mizuti?

Yeah, that motivating factor . A Little Possible Competition? Real life has sort of made me reluctant to share willy nilly.

Just the beauty of her would be motivation enough. I am impressed, Ky.

Dude, that is seriously awesome stuff!

Mizuti, I like the idea. I'm in. ...hehe. ;-)

Nice! When do it starts?.-

I'm thinking next week on Thursday we'll do a trial run of this, and make it last a month similar to the newsletter challenge, so stay posted

I'll give it a shot if work doesn't interfere.

Hooker <-- heavy duty parametric cad user, currently Inventor 2012 Ultimate

Chris may give you a run for your money. There are some clever programs out there, so even a complete novice like me might play..... Yeah, go for it. What's the prize on offer ?

My respect? Ok, it's not too great, but there'll be prizes for the more holiday-esque challenges later on. Think of the first few as warm ups

This should be good!

erm...that would be nice, but you have clearly lost the plot and must ask other Trojans to help.

Now, and I'm being deliberately fasctious, even though I can't spell, most voted for answer is the winner. Said winner get's a CR4 mug/t-shirt. It could be funded by nominal entrance fee.

Clearly, I get a free mug for proposing this. It may come from Troy, but I don't want wood. Nothing but the best plastic will do.

Hey now, we don't use plastic. We use the finest Chinese ceramics available on the market! I'm pretty sure we'd never ask for money from you guys, it deters people from submitting all their ideas.

There's been some impressive "flexing of skills" here on this thread, but I want to enforce that even novice craftsmen are welcome to post a little something something, even if they are limited to using ASCII

The winner probably won't be based off of GA's since it can become biased (friends helping friends, ya pack of cheaters) but we'll probably have it so that the GA'd entries make it to some sort of vote where a winner can be proclaimed. It's all in the works, and the best way to figure out the kinks is to give it a test drive (only in this case, please don't "fix up a car" and try driving it without better testing, etc. etc.)

OK, I'm going to go sit in the corner and cry over my hollerithic cards..... And I thought you were one of the decent ones <flounces off to eat late night pisa, swig a can of beer, watch telly drivel and feel absolutely no pity whatsoever for horrid admin types !> Your only salvation is to look at my spelling and granma. Wiv practice, U2 can do this. Summat like that

ps. Brits are going to bash yer *** in terms of volume/quality. I'm only here to prove the exception to the rule. Holding coats for Del, ER, Mak etc etc etc is no easy task. You have a dime to phone home and tell all that you will no longer be pursuing a career in <anything> ?

Just teasing you

So...yesterday was Thurs. Is this competition still a go or did I scare everyone into submission?

Blog is all made and ready to go, check back Monday morning :D (I'm kind of really excited to see what you all do with it)

Blog?...I plead ignorance. I don't usually go to the blog sections in CR4 so... I looked and saw "Model Something". Is that the one you are referring to?

I absolutely am! Sunday night / Monday morning it'll arrive :)

Eyebrows will be raised if you win. Some of us lowbrow types will question it as well !

The first few are less about winning and more about showing what skills you may or may not have :D even if it was a real competition this first round, admins and mods wouldn't be able to win, it'd be way too biased (since we're all pretty much amazing)

Aw, c'mon, you should get the modesty cup . Some brilliant person once started a thread about CAD programs . This will be fun to follow, CR4 has more than a few good contenders .

Okay, if you two are gonna go at it again then...get a room.

There's only only so much "flouncing" I can take!

Quick follow-up:

Weekly blog series has been started here: http://cr4.globalspec.com/blogentry/20132/Model-Something-6-11-12