[AT] Somewhat OT: Google Sketch Up

[charlie hill]

Someone told me about this software a few days ago and I'm enjoying playing 
with it.  It's a free download for the basic version.
Supposedly this program will allow you build your own 3D graphic models or 
import CAD drawings and put a "skin" on them.  It will also allow you to 
import photos of structures and build 3D models from the photos.  If that's 
not enough it will allow you to load any model you build into Google Earth 
and place it on site in the Google Earth landscape.   From what I've been 
able to figure out so far it's pretty wild stuff and fairly easy to pick up.

http://sketchup.google.com/  The main program and the associated libraries 
are around 60 or 70 Meg if I remember right so if you don't have a high 
speed connection don't get too excited.

I'm about to get the basics down but I don't have the right kind of mouse so 
I'm having to figure out  some work arounds for some actions.

Tractor connection:  Suppose you see a barn just like you want for your 
tractors but you need it in a different size and you wonder how it will look 
on your land.  As I understand it you can take pictures of opposite corners 
of the barn, load them into Sketch Up, Build a 3D model of the barn, rescale 
it to your size needs, paint it the way you want it (including with 
translucent paint so you can see the inside) and place it on the picture of 
your site in google earth.  I think if someone was skilled enought they 
could do the same thing with the tractor too.

Download it guys and play with it,  PLEASE,  I need help figuring it all 
out.

Charlie