Leo64

I'm hoping someone might be able to help me find a 3D file I use to have. Several years back I found a 3D file for a cartoon VW Surf Truck and Mini Bike on Thingiverse, but unfortunately I had a problem with my old laptop harddrive and ended up losing a bunch of files. I have tried doing searches online several times, but so far I've only been able to find a modified version that was turned into a bank and didn't have the mini bike. I've attached a pic I was able to find online of the original file. The bottom of the main body said Appleman Design on it. I found another version on Tinkercad and downloaded it, but it doesn't include the tires and wheels or mini bike in it. The bank version I found on Thingiverse has different looking tires and wheels also. I'm hoping I can find a copy of the original files, so I can print it to build. I tried printing it when I first got the files, but had problems with some parts, so I'd like to be able to finish it. Thanks. Steve A.

In case you didn't know, Ron has been slowly moving his parts on to the Cults3D website. You can check what he has added to his page here: https://cults3d.com/en/users/rolsen01/3d-models Ron makes some really nice parts, you just have to be careful because when he first started design parts he made them at 1/8th scale, but then he decided to do them at 1/12th scale, so some of the parts are still at the 1/8th scale. So you may have to scale them differently if you are wanting to print at like 1/25th scale. But again, they are great parts. Steve A.

Greg Wann use to offer a resin cast version of the kit, but I don't know if he still does. Steve A.

That came out really wicked. Was the grill in the kit or was it modified or 3D printed?

I don't know of any particular 3D printer offering those wheels, but there is a guy on Cults3D website offering the files designed for Tamiya kits. I've bought several files from this seller and the parts have been really nice for what I bought: https://cults3d.com/en/3d-model/various/bmw-throwing-stars-oem-wheel-17-18-19-inch-1-24-model I know on the Cults3D website, when you buy a file and go to download it, they list a couple of websites that offer printing services. Steve A.

I'm planning on being there for the show, will be at a table in the swap meet with my friend Curt Raitz. Curt will have his Truwire wire wheels and I'm sure some kits. I'll be there with some of my custom decals, some kits and maybe a few 3D printed things. Looking forward to being there for the show and meeting everyone and seeing some great models as usual. Can't wait to see Danno and the other hosts also. Steve A.

I don't know much about truck wheels like those, but if you know someone with a 3D printer there are some 3D files out there of 2 hole wheels that aren't too bad of a price: https://cults3d.com/en/3d-model/various/1-25-2-hole-wheels-for-semi-truck https://cults3d.com/en/3d-model/game/diecast-2-hole-front-wheel-of-vintage-school-bus-scale-1-25 https://cults3d.com/en/3d-model/game/diecast-2-hole-rear-double-wheel-of-vintage-school-bus-scale-1-25 Steve A.

The new AMT Dodge Charger Police kit has a new style light bar in it if you are looking for one from a kit. Steve A.

Finescale.com has a forum on its website and has a section for cars. I don't think they moved all the old Scale Auto forums over to it, but you can try looking there. Kalmbach Publishing was recently sold to Firecrown (I believe it is called) and they've updated the Finescale forum. Steve A.

I found these 3D ones on the website Cults3D: https://cults3d.com/en/3d-model/various/pickup-truck-towing-mirrors-pack-1 If you have someone that can print them for you. If you don't, let me know if I can help. Steve A.

I tried to PM you, but it says you're not accepting messages. Anyways, I wanted to let you know if you are interested in getting one of the decal sheets I did of this car to correct the problems you had, just let me know. I know you might just be done with it, but if I can help just let me know. Steve A.

Now a days that seems to be the going price with a lot of places, especially eBay. I've seen some really high prices for shipping on eBay, like $25.00 for a regular size kit. Occasionally you might find a good deal, but for most of the kits I've bought the cost with shipping has been about $45+. If the kit hasn't been out for a few years, then most sellers think it is a collectors item demanding a higher price, supply and demand I guess. I shipped a large flat box Tamiya kit from AZ to CA in an oversized box with signature and it was just under $18.00, so I don't really get the really high shipping prices, but if they are a business I can see the added cost of boxes, packing material and such adding to the cost. I think it is because of all the fees eBay is charging, and Paypal if you are using them too. Sometimes if you do an internet search you might get lucky and find a small shop somewhere that has it for a good price and decent shipping cost. Another is if you have a model or toy show nearby that has a swap meet, that will save on the shipping. I don't think I have one of those kits in my stash to trade, the last one I remember I had I did as a Give Away build for the NNL West quite a few years ago. I decided to be different and build it as a sleeper car and painted it Olive Drab, so the Battle Ship Gay might not be so bad. Steve A.

Very nice job on the build. Sorry to hear about the problems with the decals. I do like the gold effect in the lettering on the door they did. I did some research on the real car when I made up the decals I did, and I can see some things they they got wrong. The finished model does look nice though. Steve A.

Chuck has an image in his list of decals with how to order his decals, and he lists an email address and phone number for ordering, and payment he likes to use. Attached is a pic of those instructions. That should help you if you want to get them. Steve A.

On Facebook there is a group called Chuck's Vintage Drag Racing Decals, and he lists 3 of Don's cars that he does decals for, the first is a '73 Pinto, a '72 Cuda & a '73 Duster. I don't see a Roadrunner listed, but if you join the group you can contact him and ask about it. Steve A.

That turned out really nice. 3D stuff like this is fun to find the files for and print up to build. Steve A.

Sometimes the problem with some of the websites like Cults3D is what the person that designed the file called it. If you do a search for say "Hemi Headers" you may not get many results, but if you do a generic search for like "Exhaust Manifold" you might get a whole bunch to look through. If you ever need help with finding something, just let me know. John Teresi has asked me if I could find several things he wanted for some of his builds, and I was able to find them or something close that would work. Steve A.

If you have someone that can 3D print them for you, I found these on the Cults3D website that are close: https://cults3d.com/en/3d-model/various/4in1-sport-exhaust-for-ford-flathead-ardun-version Steve A.

You might want to check out evandesigns.com, they list working police led lights. Here is a link: https://evandesigns.com/collections/diecast-police-lights-siren?srsltid=AfmBOoqK4naWF29xaS_mT2VflFwVrcQqgbeV_kfbcM6kHRCv5vgIbWmb They say they do 1:18th scale down to 1/87th, but I don't see 1/25th scale specifically listed, so you may have to contact them to ask. I seem to remember seeing another place that offered working lights, but can't remember who it was right now. I'll have to look around and see if I can find them. Steve A.

I didn't see this posted on here, so I figured I would pass on the info. I received the Jan/Feb issue of Finescale Modeler Magazine, and almost the entire issue is articles about weathering. I've attached a pic showing the table of content that shows all the articles. Most of the articles use military models for the examples, but sometimes these kind of articles can be used on auto & truck models, and for those doing figures it might help with those also. Steve A.

I read the original post twice myself, and I thought it said free also. Steve A.

I sent you a PM regarding this. Steve A.

That came out really nice. I recently found someone on the Cults3D website selling the files to do the short and long tail version of that car. I bought the files and printed both versions out, now I just have to find the time to build them. I hope they turn out as nice as yours. Steve A.

I have a 3D resin printer and have printed parts for some modeling friends, and it is possible to be sent file(s) to print out, but the part you said about shipping it for free would be a sticking point. Also, there would be the cost of printing the part(s). There is the cost of the resin or the filament, depending on how they are printed, and the cost of shipping could add up depending on the size of the shipping method. I've shipped small parts in padded envelopes and that can cost almost $5.00 depending on where it is shipped and that is just in the continental US. If it is a complete kit with body, chassis, interior and engine shipping can cost about $8-$10. The cost for material to print parts can get pricey also depending on the number of parts and the number of prints it would take. A single print job of lets say a 1/25th scale engine could be a couple of dollars up to $10 depending on if the engine is multiple parts. I have the files set up to print a 1/25th scale Uncertain-T kit and it takes 5 print jobs to produce 2 full kits, and the resin cost is around $40. I know that some sites that sell files like Cults3D when you buy a file or files does list a couple of websites that you can contact to have them printed for you. I have not looked into them, so I don't know what they charge for this service. Steve A.

If you don't have any luck finding some, there is a free 3D file of an RC Monster Truck tire on Thingiverse that could be sized to maybe work. Here is a link to the file: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2299980 Steve A.