GrandpaMcGurk

Harry...good question. I'll cover the advantages and the draw backs soon, we don't want to be comparing apples to oranges so let's just compare them side by side as we go along. Hopefully we can all learn something as we mess with this stuff.

Here's a few pics of the parts I'll be dealing with first, I used large photos so that you can see the texture and detail in the parts. Note that bolt holes are printed into the pieces......there are corresponding holes in the part it mates to. For you guys that are going to detail to the max...these holes can be drilled out and metal hardware added. No need to index......the holes line up pecfectly from part to part. Also notice the bracing the desingers have added to strengthen and stabilize the part during printing. TDR's design team is incredible!

Hi gang, TDR asked me if I would run some of these new products through the ringer, I was a little reluctant at first because I'm one the group behind TDR, but when the other partners said "call it like you see it" I agreed. Let's get started with understanding that these are not injected molded or cast parts. They are printed pieces....yeah, when I first got involved with this technology I scratched my head and went, huh? All that said, I'd like to invite any of you to ask questions..offer comments or just shoot the breeze about this stuff. What I'm trying to do with this thread is to give any of you that want to know what you are paying for, a place to ask questions before you try something that is brand new to many of us. These are the pieces in the XK engine kit, there are 44 total. This version has the Weber style carbs....Stock carbs will be available soon for the purists. This will be a custom build so I'm cool with the side drafts. I'm thinking about adding a turbo just for giggles...not sure yet.

Thanks for the post Rick........I'm sure there will be a lot of guys appreciating it.

Tim, how about sticking a pic of your 1/12th scale Quad Al in here.........I'm sure there going to be some WILD builds around this engine.

Gregg....I have the same problem finding MCM at the news stands here in Florida. Occasionally when I wander out of the forest to the "Big City" I'll find one. Could you maybe put a "stickey" subscription card in forum somewhere? That way us rural hermits could print it out & drop it in the mail.

These are (sneak peek) in progress pics (not yet complete)..........there is no substitute for cubic inches, right?

The tech just keeps getting better & better CB, the TDR gang is all over this stuff like stink on on a skunk. I'm older than dirt and it takes a lot to get me excited, like most of you guys I grew weary of wishing for this or that hoping that the big $$$$$$$$$$$$ manufacturers would respond to what modelers really wanted. Well buddy, buckle your seat belt.........the TDR "Big Al" engine will be ready for production soon. It's a monster, 12 cylinders and close to 2,000 h.p. Stay tuned........you'll get a sneek peek here at Model Cars Magazine forum in a few.

My favorite wrench is called a "speed wrench" ........ it's a short handled 5lb. hammer with an attitude. I guess I've been living in the Ocala National Forest too long, many years ago when I first moved to this "rural" area a local guy asked me if I knew why ducks had flat feet. I answered "no". He replied "it's so they can stamp out forest fires". Okay, I was a bit confused..........he imediatley came back with "do you know why elephants have flat feet"? Again, I had no answer. He grinned and said "that's so they can stamp out flaming ducks".

CB.......I'll rattle Tim's cage and see if he'll post some stuff and links for you to check out. Rick's out of town right now but I give them a heads up. Hang tight......

Harry, this is new technology for most of us. Will it replace injection molding?.....not any time soon. Resin is resin, injection molding ditto, each has it's own set of pluses and minuses. We really can't compare apples to oranges. Like MF says....it is what it is. I can say however, as the technology advances & prices come down.....who knows. There are already "desk top" units ( still a bit pricey) so there is a lot of potential. I know of one company that introduces metal into the hopper and fires it at 1400 degrees.....zap, metal parts or masters for casting. The equipment is becoming more affordale and some amazing things are being done. For instance, the inside and outside of an object can be printed at one time. Hollow objects don't have to be done in pieces or open at the ends. If you notice, Tim has added structural webbing to the inside the of the XK engine block to add strength and stability, that's unique to this process. Try that with resin. There's much more to say, but I'll leave all that to the TDR design team......all that pixel twisting and 'puter lingo hurts my head.

Harry....that's what your feet are for . I don't do much in 1/25th but this is what I use for my stuff & some of the blades are downright tiny. Being it comes with 144 blades (24 each of 6 different sizes) it's a lot of bang for the buck. BTW...ModelExpo is right here in Florida and I've done biz with them for years...great people and servirce. http://www.modelexpo-online.com/product.asp?ITEMNO=JS162TC

Perfect Tim .......that's exactly what I had in mind. I have a few more bells & whistles to fab up for the engine and I'll be starting a scratch built chassis. Along with the trans I'll also be needing a 9" pumpkin. This brings up an interesting point, there's no shortage of these 1/6th metal block engines out there and there are reasonably priced. I would image that if someone wanted something a bit different as a display engine, just about any of the parts for the TDR 1/8th 426 would be pretty close to plug & play on these R/M or Testors 1/6th versions. If I ever do another, I think I'll see if I can talk you into giving the 1/8th 426 intake manifold & fuel injection set-up a growth pill. Those tall injection tubes would look sweet in 1/6th..........I'm having some fun now..... it gives me a whole new sandbox to play in. Got a pic of the fuelie set-up handy that you could pop in here to show the guys what I'm yapping about?

Hang on I'll go measure them......... By the time I get the blower belt on the engine without trans.........approx. 5" long, 6" tall w/o scoop & 4 1/2 wide. The body without tires (just sitting flat on the bottom.......25" long, 9" tall & 10 1/2" wide. It's a big puppy, huh?

Yes this example is 1/8th. They can be printed in any scale. The texture however remains the same whether 1/12th or 1/4....it doesn't change. The cost goes up considerably as the parts get bigger and if they don't fit in the equipments working window, they have to be done in sections.

Here's a pic of the (44 piece) 1/8th scale TDR XK engine kit...... Below is a close-up of the block to show the surface texture....in the case of engine blocks etc. this can work to your advantage as cast iron blocks aren't baby butt smooth anyway. However, with valve covers etc, the surface will have to be finish smoothed before paint & detailing. That's just the nature of the beast. There are no bubbles or hidden voids as these parts are not resin cast. The quarter is for size comparison.

Hey fellow modelers, the TDR gang asked me to put some of their products together for pics etc. This pixel twisting, RP method of producing parts is new to most of us older than dirt guys so hopefully I can pass on some of what I've learned (and still learning) working with this material from a builders point of view. I'll be posting my screw-ups as well in an effort to save you guys some grief & coin.......I'll make the mistakes on my dime so you don't have to. As some of you know, I'm one of the TDR group but I call 'em like I see 'em so please feel free to ask questions or make comments as I go along. I'll be starting with the TDR XK and Offy engines. The XK just showed up in the mail.........TDR gets a gold star for packing, I hate it when I receive merchandise that has been broken during shipping due to poor packaging. As you can see in the pics.........the parts are bubble wrapped to the max.

Here's one of my W.I.P. doodles, it's too big to fit in my scanner so I had to take a pic....it's titled " Don't need no helmet!"

Hey there Rick ol' buddy......as you know, I have a TDR Offy here and the newly introduced TDR XK engine just came in today's mail. Would you mind if I tossed my build of the TDR Offy in with your thread. It would make it easier for the members that are checking out this RP stuff to locate for build tips, etc?

C. Hearse.....funny, but I like it. I'll grab a Hot wheels Willys, paint it, stick an antenna on it and scratch build a 1/6th controller. What a hoot.....the 1/6th car, 1/6th pedal car & 1/6th R/C car. Anybody know where I can get one small enough to put on the dash and say it's a scale model of the 1/6th scale car? LOL

Nick......do you want the measurements for the Hemi or the Willys? Both?

I use quite a lot of their air brush paint for full size murals, art work etc. For what it's worth I've always thinned them with plain old tap water......be aware, it can make them a bit more transparent depending on much you thin it.

Hey Nicholas, outrageous? Nah, that comes latter. I had to grin when you mentioned it was about the size of a tire for this thing. I bought a 1/25th kit.....here's where it gets funny, I'm going to paint it to match the big mutha' after coverting it into a 1/6th scale pedal car.

Rick.......you using the "hand shaker" as pictured in the CAD illustration or are you opting for the auto trans?

Harry......you playin' on a Mac or PC?