Continuing my search I have come across the wall projection and recess tools. Again, like the curtain wall tool, SO close to being what I need yet still I can't get the desired results. So I started another project this weekend that is a group of small SFDs, early design phase so windows and doors will be moving around etc but I still need to produce detailed elevations to present to the client/designer. I am looking for a way to model and show the ext. finishes, in this case cement board panels and horizontal siding, in elevation in such a way that when I move windows around It will take minimal effort to reconfigure them i.e. window openings will follow my windows.
The wall projection tool IS SO CLOSE. so close. I extruded a profile of the horizontal siding, associated it with the wall and it looks great and windows cut through it no problem. BUT the wall projections seem to get bugged out when they approach the corners of the wall. Maybe I'm missing something? See attached screenshots. As a temporary fix I have put trim at the corners of the walls where the projections seem to bug out (see point B) and cut out and projected only the center portion of the panels on the upper floor (see point C). These are both outstanding issues though because the designer doesn't want corner trim and the cut through the panels shows up in hidden line render for the elevations. Also in plan view I am getting tons of visual bugs. Half the time when I go from 3D to plan view parts of walls or entire walls have vanished, although they will appear highlighted if I mouse over them, only to come back seemingly randomly after a few minutes (see point A). Very strange.
I'm sure there must be a better way to achieve this.