Hmm, I read what you all say here and I too must agree with most that has been written.
As author of the Dutch guide to working with MLCad (binarybricks.nl) and the Official LPub Online Manual (lpub.binarybricks.nl) I tell what I know and what I can. There are complete tutorials there on how to create a digital model and turn it into decent instructions.
Being involved in LDraw since 1997 and still using MLCad as main editor, I have insufficient knowledge to write a manual on say LDCad. Which is my weaknesses on that part I guess.
I think the documentation Roland has written on the LDCad website pretty much covers working with it.
Still the learning curve is high and personally I am uncomfortable with it (due to my years of MLCad history).
Starting with LDD and really being able to create a model with it took me a few years too for that same reason.
I never worked with SR3D because I did not and still do not own a machine with the right specs (graphics card) to get it running. And since the development of SR3D sadly stopped (correct me if I am wrong) with the passing of its author, I think we need to focus on either MLCad or LDCad to get new users enthousiast for "our" great system of tools.
Neither did I ever work with Leocad, Mecabricks, etc.
What I did do and still doing is present LDraw to the public, both adults (AFOL or not) and children at LEGOWORLD in the Netherlands (in Zwolle and now Utrecht). I did this over 10 years now got many souls interested in LDraw and know many people who are still working it. I offer help to anyone who has questions. Still mainly MLCad / LPub related only though.
Perhaps we need to present and demonstrate more LDraw and related tools on other LEGOWORLDS and conventions like Brickcon and Brickworld like I do in the Netherlands.
Really showing people what they can do with it, makes it more understandable then just telling about it on a website and showing them the awesome models we create.
I'd like to go to any other convention anywhere (looking for sponsors :-) and do what I do in the Netherlands.
Meanwhile I hope I somehow get more interested in LDCad and go write about that and I'll keep working on the LPub(3D) manual.
I still think LDraw is pretty much alive. "All" we need to do is get more people to work with it.
As author of the Dutch guide to working with MLCad (binarybricks.nl) and the Official LPub Online Manual (lpub.binarybricks.nl) I tell what I know and what I can. There are complete tutorials there on how to create a digital model and turn it into decent instructions.
Being involved in LDraw since 1997 and still using MLCad as main editor, I have insufficient knowledge to write a manual on say LDCad. Which is my weaknesses on that part I guess.
I think the documentation Roland has written on the LDCad website pretty much covers working with it.
Still the learning curve is high and personally I am uncomfortable with it (due to my years of MLCad history).
Starting with LDD and really being able to create a model with it took me a few years too for that same reason.
I never worked with SR3D because I did not and still do not own a machine with the right specs (graphics card) to get it running. And since the development of SR3D sadly stopped (correct me if I am wrong) with the passing of its author, I think we need to focus on either MLCad or LDCad to get new users enthousiast for "our" great system of tools.
Neither did I ever work with Leocad, Mecabricks, etc.
What I did do and still doing is present LDraw to the public, both adults (AFOL or not) and children at LEGOWORLD in the Netherlands (in Zwolle and now Utrecht). I did this over 10 years now got many souls interested in LDraw and know many people who are still working it. I offer help to anyone who has questions. Still mainly MLCad / LPub related only though.
Perhaps we need to present and demonstrate more LDraw and related tools on other LEGOWORLDS and conventions like Brickcon and Brickworld like I do in the Netherlands.
Really showing people what they can do with it, makes it more understandable then just telling about it on a website and showing them the awesome models we create.
I'd like to go to any other convention anywhere (looking for sponsors :-) and do what I do in the Netherlands.
Meanwhile I hope I somehow get more interested in LDCad and go write about that and I'll keep working on the LPub(3D) manual.
I still think LDraw is pretty much alive. "All" we need to do is get more people to work with it.
Jaco van der Molen
lpub.binarybricks.nl
lpub.binarybricks.nl