'32 Ford Roadster - Work in progress

[todd]

-warning: lots of pictures-

For a final project in the 'Extended Studio' class i'm taking, I thought it would be fun to make a scale replica of a '32 Ford Roadster.
I do a lot of 3D modeling. I'm fortunate to have free access to a 3D printer, so I'm able to print out anything I model. This printing machine is pretty amazing. It literally creates a tangable object from a 3D model you model on the computer. Go to the ZCorp website if you want more information about it.

I'll be using a bunch of differant materials for this, but so far both the engine and body were printed on the machine. I bent the chassis from brass tubing.

Heres a few 3D renders of what the (near) final product will look like. The wheels are just placeholders right now - I haven't modeled them yet.





And heres some photos of the real model so far.
In pieces, and some painted chrome:

All painted and put together: Lots of pulleys are missing - they didn't show up in the 3D printer for some reason. I'll have to re-print them or find something else to make them out of.



Mounted on the chassis:

With body:




-The body is a mess, I'll need to repaint it.
-The chassis is only primed right now, it will be painted to have (hopefully) a brushed-metal look, similar to the firewall.
-3D printed objects are a real bitch to paint. I don't think the printer was designed to print objects to have a smooth finish. Lots of sanding was required, and most of it is still far from smooth
-I'm going to try to include every major part that a '32 Ford would have. Full suspension, exhaust, interior, etc.

Let me know what you think of it so far. I'll post my progress here.
I don't want to 3D model all of it, so if you have any ideas of what I could use for any random parts, i'm all ears

Anybody else do any 3D modeling? I'd love to see your work.

[LeviticusMky]

Jeezus, I wish I had access to a printer like that...

Nerd modeling heaven... Robots, Guns, everything...

Reminds me of the days of my youth when I actually had time to sit in my room for hours toiling over a model with metallica in the background...

This thread makes me want to take up modeling again...

[exizldelfuego]

Wow, that's pretty excellent. My school has a 3D printer, but noone in the arts department knows how to utilize it. I was asked by a hopeful drawing prof if I knew anything about 3D modeling because he was hoping to get something happening with it. Unfortunately, I don't.

I don't suppose you have any close up pictures of the raw objects freshly printed, do you? As in unpainted, sanded down and such. I'm curious.

[thed00t]

Hey man, that's pretty bad ass. I did a similar class, but I made a city block. I never painted what we lathed out on the printers tho. I should!

[1slOwCD8]

So far, so good. It looks pretty bad ass, cant wait to see it finished. Make sure to keep us updated on you progress.

[pimpercrobian]

the part connecting the top/bottom of the tires and side walls of the tires arent as smooth as they should be. not sure if that will be fixed or not so i was just pointing that out.

other then that looks pretty damn good. cant wait to see the final.

[doodlebird]

is that printer anything like the one they used in Weird Science?

[flstf]

Looks like a lot of fun. That printer is one of the neatest things I've seen in a while. I wonder if you can use different powders and binders to get different effects.

[panic]

Nice what technique you using spline, box, planes? Finish that sucker up and get some nice materials