Spex84

I'm kind of amazed at how both Toyota and Chevy have now both adopted the same "tech" styling that Ford was doing in 2010 and earlier. RAM still stands apart in their form language, for better or worse. So here's my annual sneak peek doodle of what these trucks will look like in another couple years:

Wow! That's spectacular so far! Nice design work, I can't wait to see further results.

I love 'em both! The chop on the blue Hudson is spectacular, and I love the way the taillights hang out the back. Killer work!

For Shapeways, I honestly have better luck just using Google, sometimes Google Image Search, to find items. For instance, searching for the items I sell myself, I can find them using Shapways search if I know exactly what I'm searching for...but if I don't put in the exact title of the product, I have to do some digging to get there. In contrast, if I plug the same search terms into Google, they pop up immediately. That might be because my Google experience has been streamlined by their algorithms to find the things I typically search for...so your mileage may vary!

You have my attention!!

Haha, that's nuts. I love the screwdriver stuffed in the trunk latch hole.

One way is to just google what you want, and check out the "Image" results, instead of using Shapeways' search function. It can be faster to navigate too--I find Shapeways to be kind of slow to load. *edit* whoops, Ace already mentioned that approach. Well, I'll back it up then, haha.

Many older kits lack any indication of spark plug locations, but a quick Google search can sort that out. If it's tricky to see the plug locations in photos of built and installed engines, you can always look for photos of just the heads (ie search "392 Hemi heads) and compare to the kit pieces.

Winner, winner, chicken dinner!! Thanks to all who responded with leads! That's them, all right. I never would have guessed Mustang.

I dig it! Windshield needs a healthy chop

Well this is interesting. I had thought those scoops must be Eldon/Doyusha...but in further comparison, I'm just not seeing it! The scoops on Greg's model appear to be rounded in back, whereas the Eldon parts are V'd. The Eldon scoops have a beveled edge that is constant in width around the perimeter, whereas Greg's scoops feature a bevel that flattens towards the back, much like the 1:1 Cal Custom 40-40! Thanks for the additional angles showing the profile of those scoops more clearly, Greg. I think maybe we have not gotten to the bottom of this yet! *Edit* Or maybe I'm second-guessing myself too much. Still...I'd like to think that maybe there's another cool kit out there that I haven't heard of yet that features these scoops. IMHO any perceived aggression on this thread has stemmed from a misreading of tone, which can be difficult to convey in text. If possible, I would like the discussion going forward to be solely about awesome air scoops that look like Cal Custom 40-40s...and their kit sources.

I love this so far! It's like an extra svelte version of the Polynesian by Valley Custom. I second the idea of chrome steel wheels with bullets, or Revell Merc chrome reverse....or even some nice wire wheels if they could be found.

Well there's an endorsement if I ever heard one If I wasn't on board before (and I was!), then those lower front shock mounts would have convinced me. Darn nice work! I once bent up some F1 truck-style front shock mounts for a hot rod project, then considered how fiddly they'd be to securely mount, and decided against it. After seeing this, I'm wondering if I should try again. Very inspiring stuff!

Digging this project so far! That chrome sure is dramatic, wow. And fast-dry to boot. I like it!

Funny, I assumed Doyusha Invader from the start, as it was the ONLY kit I was aware of that had 40-40 scoops...but all the photos I could find of it were too small to make any conclusions, and they appeared to lack the "V" shape of the front openings of the scoops on Greg's model. So I couldn't say for sure. Looks like Greg's were modified to be more accurate to the 1:1 item...now that I look more closely, I can see that the unbuilt version in that original photo has not been modified and has a blunt front, just like the Doyusha scoops. I think we can call this one wrapped up for now, thanks for your help.

Love that Titian Red '40, Tim! What a quintessential 50s color. The machined air cleaners are very sharp.

Christian, you know me now. Greg was being helpful to me in starting this thread. The "obvious" comment was not directed at you in the first place. I appreciate the feedback of members who recalled various different air scoops that are similar but not what I was looking for. The title of the thread clearly states "Cal Custom 40-40", which is the official name of the 1:1 scoop in question, as pictured in Steve Milberry's post and Greg's "to clear this up" post. If you have the parts in front of you, on the tree with other parts that will indicate which kit they were found in, I'd appreciate a photograph.

Awesome. I'm glad to see those cars being used, like they should be, making people's lives better. And I'm actually surprised to see things like '56 Fords and '55 Chevys. Makes me wonder how many still survive over there! Last year I watched a short video about the Royal Enfield motorcycle and the repair shops in India...guys welding in bare feet, squatting on dirt floors...able to fix absolutely anything. And then some stunning shots of a pinstriper knocking out perfect double stripes around the perimeter of a freshly painted ellipsoid gas tank. Amazing work.

Whoa, spectacular! I love that fade paint job, and the hardtop is unique. Very nicely turned out, looks good on those Sovereigns.

I don't know Autodesk Inventor, but I assume it's CAD-like (parametric modeling, NURBS, etc). In general, I suggest breaking it down into manageable chunks. The bulk of a stock 911 bumper could probably be made with a Loft operation or Sweep 2 rails (or whatever the equivalent is with your software); anything that builds a 3D surface by smoothly building a surface across a series of cross-section curves, with the edges guided by a second pair of curves. Put a blueprint or non-distorted photo on a flat plane in the viewport to act as a guide if possible. Draw out all the curves as if making a wire-mesh of the part, and those curves will help immensely when defining surfaces. Just about any car design has more complicated things going on with it than most people would initially notice. Sharing a photo or drawing of what you're trying to create might help too!

Fantastic stuff, guys! I love that old AMT '40. Not so keen on the Revell '40 but it's full of excellent parts...building one right now that will end up (hopefully) looking a lot like Greg's blue rendition. Which leads me to say...dang! Greg, I think that's the first time I've ever seen someone scratchbuild realistic hollow Cal Custom 40-40 scoops! Or did they come from a kit?? If so, which one? I ask because I recently 3D modeled some of those scoops and put them on Shapeways; I thought it was criminal that such a distinctive 60's part seemed to be unavailable in kit form. I also drew up a concept for what a finished '40 could look like using the parts, and then boop! your '40 suddenly shows up like magic.

I actually like the thing! With that awkward, boxy styling and massive aspect, I could have sworn it was soviet.

Love it So creative, and visually striking. Some say "Star Wars", but really it's "Fifth Element". "You have...1 point left on your license" The red was a good choice, well done!

Jeez, tough crowd! Seriously though, some of those are truly bad (Lookin' at you, Model King!) The beetle doesn't bother me; it's unexciting, but that's all. I save "bad" for boxes with mangled perspective, illustrated people who are too big or too small with oddly-shaped faces, photos of built models with wheels sticking out of the tires or hilariously obvious retouching...I can't remember which kit it is now, but one of my kits has an instruction sheet where a part was missing, so it was drawn back in freehand with shaky lines that don't match the original diagram in the least. Done! Ship it! lol.

That is hilarious. I Love Exciting Violent Automobile! And I love that it's a Mustang, considering all the 'stang cars-and-coffee crash memes that have been swirling around lately.