A guy from a local rc club contacted me. He owns a cheap chinese cnc router (3018 something, dont know the exact model)
I sent him 2 aircraft models and my Maserati Merak SS.
I think he used Fusion360 to automatically unwind the model, so it can be projected onto a flat surface. That is pretty similar to the texture mapping i used for these models, except that the texture mapping isnt accurate as long as i don?t manipulate the mapping manually to get rid of distortions (vertical and horizontal)
This method would be only useful for papercut models.
1st attempts were a mess, because the models are made of different sections ( for the damage model in game, so that individual parts can get damaged or/and destroyed).
This means i have to glue all these parts back together into 1 mesh, no big deal.
It turns out you do not need very high detailed 3d models (except if you want to 3d print them) and low poly game models work fine for such stuff.
All the surface details need to be hand crafted anyway
P.S.: We ran some tests with Pepakura Designer, which is an app for unfolding 3d data for papercut models.
Some conclusions from these tests
3d model needs to be simple, avoiding details, which can be handcrafted later on the model, helps the app to cut the model into meaningful pieces.
for more boxy cars like my Maserati it works well and might be an option to construct without creating a cage like i want to do for my Simca.
This i an example of a texture layout and the app does nearly the same with the 3d model.
This could mean there is no need for an excessive cage like i i plan to do.
Interesting to see how many approaches to 1 end result are existing. I am also amazed by the curiosity and open mind of people in the modeller scene, usually i had to deal with competition and people keeping their secrets in the industry.
This is such a refreshing and motivating experience.