Path Cut? Hollow? Shear?

If you don't know what all these terms mean, consider taking a building class.
I recently dropped in on an ASL class called "Building Rustic Covered Wagons" taught by Sunn Thunders. The students were spread out around the instructor, who gave them easy to follow step-by-step directions:

Sunn Thunders: Change the SIZE of this box to X=4.5, Y=2.5, and Z=0.2. Lower this piece into the bottom of the sideboards to form the floor of the bed.
Look for the BUILDING BLOCK TYPE under the right side of the Object tab in the Build window. Change the BUILDING BLOCK TYPE to CYLINDER using the pop-up menu.
Next, HOLLOW this cylinder to 95 to make it as thin as possible.
Now for some fancy magic...
We are going to reshape this cylinder further by cutting part of it away.
Look for the PATH CUT under the right side of the Object tab in the Build window. Change the PATH CUT to B=0.15 and E=0.85. Watch how a portion of the cylinder gets cut away.
Look for the TOP SHEAR under the right side of the Object tab in the Build window. Change the TOP SHEAR as follows: X=0.5. Watch as one side of the cylinder gets pulled off center.

I watched as plywood boxes became covered wagons all around the building area. Its fascinating to realize that YOU have the power to create just about anything. Take a class—learn some new skills.
Sunn Thunders teaches for the Academy of Second Learning (ASL), but there are plenty of classes around.

by Isolde Flamand