Your Prelim

You will be sitting a paper which is similar to the two past papers you took home over Christmas, therefore it is important that you look over these and practice any areas that you found difficult.  Try the drawings again for full marks, I have all the answers on tracing paper if you want to check your drawings.

Theory Topics:

• Colour theory - Primary, Secondary and Tertiary colours; harmony and contrast; moods and feelings colours give.
• CAD/DTP - All the GENERIC terms for different types of software, CAD commands and DTP features; different types of hardware: input and output devices; advantages and disadvantages (do not mention quicker unless stating quicker to produce multiple copies! And don't say cheaper.) Make sure that you answer the question asked i.e. advantages of computed modelling and advantages of using CAD to create architectural drawings are two different questions!
• British Standards - How to dimension: lengths, angles, radius, diameter; Line types: center, fold, outline, hidden detail, cutting plane; different drawings in a set for a new building: what you would see on each type of drawing and what scale would be appropriate.

 Drawing Topics:

For all drawing types: 

• Draw the crate first!  
• Keep construction light (and make sure you do it!) and keep your outlines darker but THIN so keep your pencils sharp.
• Remember that you have to be within a mm, so measure carefully.  You can also use your compass or bounce line to transfer sizes.
• Be aware of the time.  If you don't understand a drawing, leave it and come back to it after you have done the ones you definitely know how to do.

• Prisims/Cylinders - All shapes. Remember to number all the corners and use these to help you work out the drawing.  Use a bounce line to help transfer sizes because you can also follow the corner to the different view.  Remember your fold lines!
• Pyramids/Cones -  As above but remember that all your lines need to go towards the apex.  This means that the surface development will start as a circle. Every corner you draw on the bas line needs to go up to the apex.  Look at where the cut meets the corner and project this up to the plan and to the other elevation.  Always number your corners to make it easier to follow.
• Pictorials: Isometric, Planometric, Oblique - Take your time to ensure good measuring.  ALWAYS draw the crate first!  Then you have something to work inside and to measure from.  Remember that you will need a trammel and clockface construction for isometric circles.
• Assemblies/Sections - Take your time to ensure that you understand what the drawing is showing and how it pieces together. I would start with a complete view before trying to do the section view, or the view that requires using a compass to draw a circle.  Use a bounce line and LIGHT construction to plot out the section view before darkening in. Remember that hatching is only where you have cut through a material and not in the space and that this should be drawn at 45.