Tamiya 1/12 Ford GT40 with 3D Printing

[StrangerBandFan]

Hi all, thought I'd share my project to show what can be done in 3D printed parts. I'm blessed with 3D AutoCAD at home. I'm building a Tamiya 1/12 Ford GT40. My concept is building the car as I personally would instead of trying to accurately portray the #2 car the model is based on.

Bear with me, this is the first model I've built since I was in middle school and I'm in my late 50's now. Feel free to offer me advise!

I use Shapeway to do all of my 3D printing. I've received a couple parts so far, and I'm learning about the various materials they offer. Check out their site for all the cool stuff they already offer. Anything from hubcaps to complete engines. Check out TDR Innovations for engine stuff, Tim's got a great variety. I just bought a complete Ford 427 side oiler engine from him. Their parts are pricy though. If you can design them yourself, it's very cheap to get them printed. The rear louver in the pics below cost $5 plus $5 shipping!

Here's some pics of what I have so far. Have a great holiday season.

 

 

[StrangerBandFan]

One more thing, if you're looking on Shapeway and see parts listed at a certain scale (1/12, 1/24...), don't be discouraged, they can be printed at almost ANY scale that fits inside the 3D printer. All you have to do is send a message to the Designer who's selling it (you can do that on the page for the product you're interested in) and ask if they'd scale it up or down for you. It's very simple for them to do and most are willing to do it for free.

[Len Woodruff]

Wow!. Nice project.

[Mark IV]

Do you mean the "Trumpeter" GT40 Mk II? I am unaware of Taymia doing a GT.

[StrangerBandFan]

Hi Mark IV, yes the Trumpeter #2 car.

[StrangerBandFan]

Here's the pipe and hose clamps I designed. I'll 3D print them in 3 parts, the mounting base and lower saddle as one piece, the middle saddle and the caps. Then I can glue the lower part, put the hoses in, add the middle if needed, more hoses and then the cap. The red things are placeholders for real aluminum rivets or bolt heads from Model Factory Hiro.

[Ace-Garageguy]

Fine looking CAD work, really great to see somebody who knows how to use this technology so well. Unlimited potential, fascinating project.

Do you have access to a real GT40 to get your dimensions for all the little details?

Edited December 17, 2016 by Ace-Garageguy

[StrangerBandFan]

Hi Ace, thanks for your kind words. For the parts I'm making, I pull up pics on the computer screen of the stuff I want to draw and use a scale to get dimensions, then scale it down to what I think it should be. For example, all of the tanks, oil filter and dry sump pump are based on Peterson Oil products, the fuel stuff is Aeromotive, AN fittings are measured from what I bought from RB Motion. I designed the pipe clamps and honeycomb floor structure myself.

For the existing parts, I just take careful measurements of the actual model, CAD it, print it on paper, cut it out, see how it fits, and adjust as necessary.

 

I'll take a look at some of your work this weekend. Thanks!

[StrangerBandFan]

Here's my progress today, added AN fittings, some braided hoses and the fuel cell plates.

[67impalabuild]

That's awesome, your giving me some ideas for the 3d printed impala. Will you be making molds of these parts?

Good on you man. I can't wait til I can start my project.

[Mopeyguy]

Phenomenal stuff.

[StrangerBandFan]

Thanks for the kind words, guys. Glad I can be of some inspiration.  I'm not planning on making molds at this point in time.

I got my top louver in yesterday. Here's some pics:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited December 18, 2016 by StrangerBandFan

[StrangerBandFan]

Getting some work done on the rear suspension. All rod linkage will be from RB Motion. Everything else will be 3D printed.

The tunnel through the honeycomb beam is perfectly tapered to the arc of the trailing rod. Had to walk away from the computer a few times out of frustration before I finally got it right!

Hope everyone has a great holiday season.

 

 

[geetee66]

This has got to be the future of the hobby!

I'm amazed at how sharp and clean the 3D printed parts are.

Fascinating thread. I'll be back for more. 

[Funkychiken]

Wow, that will test your patience, but will be worth it in the end... Good luck!

[superbike-shaun]

Wow!!!   I am at a loss,your project looks very,promising,also as you are aware of this page,,there is a sizing chart for different things,model building wise,just go to the DRAG Race page,and the Moderators have been so kind as to pin these,at the begining,fo our enjoyment,,,,shaun

[StrangerBandFan]

Thanks, geetee66, Funkychicken and superbike-shaun for your encouraging comments and direction to the sizing chart! Glad I'm inspiring people. Even though most people don't have AutoCad 3D at home like me, there's a TON of stuff out there you can buy, although pretty pricy.

Got my engine in last weekend. Ford 427 side-oiler with quad Weber carbs and ZF transaxle. Bought from TDR Innovations, he sells his stuff through Shapeway but has his own site for viewing and has a bunch of cool stuff, very detailed and accurate down to the mounting bosses for the engine mounts! Tim is a great guy to work with, willing to go the extra mile to get you the correct size parts you need.

I've got it temp glued with white Elmers for test fitting in the chassis. The 3D computer snaps look like a fantasy until you get the parts in hand :-)

More food for thought, I draw on the computer, print it on paper, cut it out and tape it on the actual model like in the pics below to make sure things fit before printing in 3D. Gives me a good idea if things are the correct scale too.

More to come soon, I've got more parts in process at the printers.

 

 

Edited December 25, 2016 by StrangerBandFan

[Mooneyzs]

This is a great looking build so far. Love the CAD work you have done. It looks great! I am looking forward to seeing more work on this. I do have to ask what CAD program are you using?? I use Solidworks myself. I always enjoy seeing others utilize their CAD skills for our hobby.

[StrangerBandFan]

Hi Mooneyzs, I use 2D AutoCAD in my business, but learned 3D back in the late 90's. Looking forward to check out some of your builds!

[vamach1]

Having a distributor and spare tire would be a great improvement over the Trumpeter kit ;-)

[Mooneyzs]

Micheal... thank you. That is some awesome work with AutoCAD. I started my career using AutoCAd 12... then with Pro-E, then to Solidworks in 2007 and have also Learned NX along the way but Been prodomintly using Solidworks since 2007.

[StrangerBandFan]

Got a bunch more 3D design done over the holidays. Most of it is now colored as I'll paint it. The turquoise is my interpretation of the blue they used on the 1966 race cars, and of course, Gulf orange tubing to match the stripes on the car. Sent a bunch of it to the printers, so I'll have pics of an actual assembly in a couple weeks!

I felt I'm missing something in model building doing all of this 3D stuff, so I spent several days making wheel tubs from styrene sheet. Pics to come in next post. Building by hand is very satisfying.

 

[Davewilly]

Very cool Build.  AND very cool cad work.    I really got to work on getting some 3d skills....I have been doing autocad work since 89..rel 10 dos edition even... but I have never worked anyplace where we have used 3d....  I do have a copy of the solidworks that Chris uses and was teaching myself how to use it.  But no time with my current work load for the time.   I will have to make some at some point! 

[misterNNL]

What does all this cost?

[mad mike]

Hello Michael,

first of all thanks for the nice comment on my 1/8 scratch GT40. It's unbelievable what can be doen with 3D printing... Your build is very impressive as well, I'll be following it closely. One thing though: That engine does not look like it is the correct one. The MkIIs used a dry sump engine with a quad Holley carb as far as I know. A great source of information are those publications here http://www.gt40s.com/images/howto/LynnMiner/Reference/SAE_Papers.pdf

I'm durrently working on a 3D model of this engine myself.