3D Printing for Model Cars

[PFJN2]

Hi,

The other day I stumbled across a site on the internet that had a bunch of 3D STL files for a lot of different cars for printing (Home - 3D Printable Shop). While many of the files are only for the body of different cars, many others contain separate parts that can be printed out for things like the doors, headlights, interior cabin and windows, etc.

I’ve long been a fan of many of the small cars that were built post WWII like the Fiat 500, Renault 4CV, Austin Mini, and the like and for a long time I’ve wanted to build a model of the Fiat 126, but it didn’t look like anyone had done a injection plastic model of it.

So, I was able to buy a copy of that car off this site and I have started printing it. I still have a ways to go, but so far I think it is coming out well. As suchThe first picture below shows all the STL parts supplied for the version of the file that I bought, and the second image shows what I have printed out so far (in Red plastic) next to a copy of a Heller Renault 4CV body for comparison.

If I am understanding correctly the STL files are dimensioned in centimeters for the full scale car, so to convert to a 1/24 scale print out in millimeters I mulitplied by 10 and divided by 24. Size wise the overall car looks fairly close in size to the Renault model. [:)]

Pat

[keavdog]

This looks like a fun project!

[PFJN2]

Hi,

Thanks. I managed to print out all the parts. For some reason I had a little trouble with the tires and doors, but it all worked out in the end. Next I will need to do a little sanding and cleaning before I try to assemble anything. The model came with shapes for the windows that I am going to try and use as blanks for vacuforming. Also, there appears to be a small gap behind the back seats and the car body, that I may have to scratchbuild a part for, so that the back window doesn’t look straight down to where the engine would normally be.

Pat