sjordan2

I think Harry and you have made an excellent case for the reality of what's available today, and I have made such a case going back a few years. Is it particularly accessible or useful to today's average home builder? Not yet.

Actually, it's egg-shaped, but that's not the issue. How many people on this forum, most of whom represent typical builders who do little or no scratch building, are going to spring for a 3D printer in the next 20 years? I can't even afford an iPad, and my flip phone is too old for texting. I still think that 3D printing is going to be the province of pro and semi-pro vendors for a very long time, regardless of the rare modeler on this forum who can make it happen now. And it will take some expensive investments to print out anything larger than the usual 1/25 parts desired today - but there are major facilities that can make that happen with hugely expensive equipment. Certainly, it's going to happen eventually, but I don't see it as something the typical home builder will get into or use for a very long time - no more than getting into your own resin casting. It takes some pretty good smarts to do it, too, and I doubt we have many members who, just like me, are up to it.

I had a '66 stepnose 1600 GT Sprint Veloce back in the early 70s, low mileage. Beautiful handling, well-balanced, incredibly unreliable and expensive to maintain. Regular valve jobs and water pump replacements, with shaky synchronizers - and I'd had Alfas before. The twin Webers could never stay tuned properly for very long, and the "self lubricating" bushings froze up the front suspension at about 25,000 miles. I knew it was time to think about a replacement when the outside door handle snapped off in my hand and the turn signal lever cracked off. Masochist that I am, I bought a couple of more Alfas over the next ten years; much more fun to drive than my godfather's (not mob : P ) Ferrari 330 GT 2+2, which I used a lot. I had similar problems with all 4 Alfas - '59 Giulietta Super Spider Veloce, '71 1750 Spider Veloce, and - the only one I bought new - a '77 Alfetta GT, which was the worst of the bunch. I thought I'd get a break when I bought an '84 Porsche 944, which turned out to be even worse than the Alfas.

Maybe even more satisfying, since you can look at the subject online from every conceivable angle, and study every possible detail?

Casey - are you celebrating the 25th anniversary of "The Princess Bride?"

This seems like the most likely scenario to me, at least for several years to come. Much like resin design and casting, 3D printing will probably flower as a growing cottage industry for vendors offering their services in many areas, from software development to made-to-order printing in the desired scale.

Perhaps more upscale California and Connecticut buyers, etc., will be more green-friendly. Just a thought.

I agree on all points. The amount of effort that goes into a build cannot be judged and can't be grounds for reward, and I don't see anyone saying otherwise. But the the extra effort that is expended can result (though not always) in a superior piece of work. It's about going the extra mile to create a special finished product.

fittenfinish,fitfish,gefiltefish. Whew.

In general theory, I agree with you - if the end result is the same, what does it matter? But it seems to me that the idea of 3D printing or scratchbuilding or aftermarket is to produce something that is either better or different than what's in the kit, or not included. (So the apples-to-apples comparison is more like apples to oranges .) It's not putting in more effort to be equal, it's putting in the effort to be better.

I can hardly wait to see the responses to the thread title.

Here's a progress report on a scratchbuilt 1/8 Lola T-70 Spyder, using a variety of custom 3D printed components. http://www.scalemoto...0-spyder-2.html

Why isn't it falling down?

You can't sell that. I just bought it on eBay.

Set the coffeepot for tonight's 1:30 am broadcast. I'm setting my recorder. PS: If you didn't see Speed's coverage of the 2012 Monterey Reunion this morning, featuring races between prewar, postwar and somewhat more recent race car legends, plus a lot of Shelby Cobra coverage, it's worth a view at tonight's repeat at 8 pm Eastern.

If it's the NBC Sports Network on cable, probably a good chance. But hopefully they'll replay F1 races from Asia at a better time than just live at 1:30 a.m., such as tonight's Korean Grand Prix - Speed replay will be at 2:30 pm Eastern on Sunday.

Pretty awesome. But I don't understand why the builder would go to such lengths and overlook such obvious flaws as the poor headlight rings and the seams on the seats and dash. Otherwise, it looks like the real thing.

There are a number of diecasts and other models of it, and there's a $75 1:48 kit by Planet Models. All are very pricey - this desktop model is $250. 1:48 kit here: http://www.1001modelkits.com/aircraft-model-kits-1-48/27688-bugatti-100-racer-1-48-planet-models-aircraft-model-kit-21748.html

Is the pinstripe paint or tape?

Place your cursor over the balloon and it asks if you want to "Mark Forum as Read?" I have no idea why it's needed, but if you click on it, it fades back. I just go to individual topics, which have faded dots and titles if there are no new posts since I last visited. The balloon on the subforum will stay faded until something new is posted since your last visit, so I guess it alerts you of a new topic or response in the forum when it's dark blue again. Clicking on the balloon also fades back ALL titles in the subforum, even ones you haven't looked out, so I don't quite get the point.

You've got to be kidding. Rust on this classic would be a sacrilege, and not at all what Geoff can do with his wonderful skills.

Outstanding work. Great craftsmanship, artistry and attention to detail. Kind of a bummer on the right front wheel not sitting properly, though. What body paint did you use?

Pactra had paints that Testors didn't have, but I found them to be more watery and harder to apply in the bottle version. I don't miss them.

Speaking of wheels, I think this body cries out for simple, dish-style wheels, either steel with hubcaps or full disc style, like the XK 120.

Wouldn't it have to be one of the colors shown on the first post in this thread? Perhaps the silver gray? Certainly not green. http://www.modelcars...opic=64596&st=0