Scratch made 1/12th scale '32 Ford
 

This is a project I finished in an Extended Studio class a few weeks ago. It was being displayed at an art show and I only just now got it back. We could basically make whatever we wanted with whatever materials we wanted, and I choose to make a scale model of a '32 Ford Roadster. I'm not sure on the exact scale, but it's somewhere between 1/18th and 1/12th.

It's actually not 100% finished (no headers, drive shaft, lights, etc.), but probably never will be :) Also, the wheels aren't on it because they didn't turn out too great, and the axle is mounted way too low. I built the chassis long before I had the rear axle made, and the rear crossmember is right in the way of where the axle needs to go, forcing me to just mount it lower (if I moved it foward or back it would misalign the wheels with the wheel wells). By the way, there is also a front axle with working suspension but it isn't pictured here.

-Body, engine, grill shell, and wheels I 3D modeled and "printed" on a 3D printer.
-Chassis, exhaust, and other misc. metal parts were crafted from aluminum strips and tubing.
-Seats were carved from styrofoam and covered with cloth, as was the interior walls.

I also collect and modify 1/18th scale diecast car models - maybe somebody here shares this hobby :)

http://www.toddfx.com/pics/vehicles/...rdcomplete.JPG
http://www.toddfx.com/pics/vehicles/...dcomplete3.JPG
http://www.toddfx.com/pics/vehicles/...dcomplete4.JPG


More pictures and some work in progress shots here:
http://www.toddfx.com/pics/vehicles/32ford/

how does the 3d printer work? I remember reading about a process that focussed laser light into a liquid polymer and selectively hardened it, but this looks like something else. Does it deposit layers of plastic on top of itself? are there limits to the shapes it can do?

dude. i hate you. that is freakin' awesome. you got some skills. how can i get one of those 3D printers? and can i hook it up to my head?

seriously, nice work. i encourage you to finish it.

Thanks guys. The 3D printer I have access to costs about 30 grand. And a 2 gallon bucket of the powder it uses costs 200 bucks. The printer works by building up very thin layers of powdered plaster, and sprays startch on each layer where ever the object needs to be solid, the same way a inkjet printer sprays ink where ever an image needs to be dark. Then when it's finished(takes about 2 hours for a 4'' tall object - the taller it is, the longer it takes), brush off the excess powder and you have your solid object.

I've "printed" off several other models as well. I'll post them later tonight (not at my normal computer right now). If you're interested in other information about the printer, the link in my first post goes to the website of the company, Z-Corp, who makes these printers.

Wow that's cool... Can I get a ride? :D