Marvel's Hydra coupe 1/12 scale full scratch build

[Mattilacken]

Wow wow wow! CAme out so incredible well! Great work on al aspects of the build!

[François]

Thank you everyone,  much appreciated. 

I was asked to take a few pictures of the Hydra next to my other models.

They are all 1/12 scale! The hydra is a beast. 

 

[François]

I printed all the parts for the control console set up, should turn out good.

Test fit before paint

Potentionmeters and switchs in place

Test fit after paint

 

[Bugatti Fan]

Amazing project to follow. What an enormous car !

What's next Francois?          Will you be resurrecting that old Pocber Rolls you bought some time ago ?

[François]

Thank you Bugatti fan.  Not sure what the next one will be yet, I might take a little break.  But I still need to do the display case for this one first. The top cover for the control console is finished complete with 2 levers to control the car lights and cubes plus 2 handwheels for controlling the motor and display lighting. Speaking of the display lighting, I found 2 types old theater spot lights. Both could be free standing or mounted on the display structure. Maybe 1 spot per corner aimed at the model?  TBD...

console cover

Old theater spot lights,  l like both styles but I think the second one if more "Marvelish" in a doomsday/death ray kinda way.

Any thoughts/comments welcomed

[François]

The control console is all done, and it was a pain to do. A lot of wiring and let's say wiring is not my specialty.  Hopefully,  everything will work as planned once hooked up to the car. I tested the circuits with a small light buld as I went along and for now, it all works. I might do a bit of weathering eventually. 

A lot of wires

Red and his switchs 

Working bleu cube 

General location of console in relation to the model 

[Unatural]

Sooo good! Does the switch for the cube he is holding also control the blue thing in the trunk?

[François]

Yes it does

[François]

I started to tinker with the spot lights today. Not quite there yet but not that far.  I was able to find an old instruction booklet with a few dimensions on this old stage lamp so, althought I printed it a bit larger than 1/12 (closer to 1/8) scale, the proportions are ok.

The goal 

My lamp so far

[François]

I worked a bit on the enclosure design today. I'm not 100% satisfied but not very far either.  I  want it to be a bit theatrical,  red skull being such a drama queen.  I think the shape a gave the enclosure,  combined with the theater spot lights gives it a bit of a stage look. The structure is somewhat reminiscent of some structures seen in the Captain America movie. 

Here's what it looks like so far.  The cones represents the light beam although I dought that once finished,  the spot lights will give much light. I was thinking of 3 spot lights along the front top rail shining down and 3 along the rear lower rail shining up. The way I made the spot lights,  the can be oriented in any direction. 

[Rattlecan Dan]

All museum quality work. Just amazing. Your builds are fantastic!

[Dragline]

Man! What 3D can do. Cannot wait to start in on mine.

Incredible project that simply wasn't possible as little as 3 years ago to the average Joe.

And it looks dead on too.

Well played Sir. Well played indeed.

[François]

Thank you Dragline.

But if I may, I would like to clarify a few things. Anybody (the average Joe) can effectively print good quality parts with a high res printer (which have been around for more than 3 years) but, If you don't possess the key ingredients which are a good design background and a profound knowledge of 3d modeling with a cad system,  you will have to print other people's  creations which may not always be what you want.  So yes, 3d printing is very impressive and can open up a hole new way to do miniature modeling but it's really not as easy as one may think and definitely not for everyone. 

[François]

I've been busy with the printer these last few days. All display case parts are printed.  It took a total of 4 separate prints at approximately 12hrs per print but every part came out perfect.  Next step will be to assemble a few sub assemblies,  primer and paint then final assembly and wiring of the 6 spotlights. It wasn't easy to figure out a way to bring all the wires to one corner but I think I found a neat way to do it. I'm waiting for some 1/8 inch thick plexiglass to do the front and sides,  the top will be made with 1/32 inch thick plexiglass because it needs to be curved. 

All printed parts (52 total) needed to make the case. The base will be made from wood shaped to look like an Hbeam  structure.

Finished spot lights 

[Mattilacken]

Looking great as usual! Keeping up! 

[Big John]

Being an old stage hand I really like the lights instruments François.  Did you print the lenses and/or cast them in clear resin?

[François]

Big John,  the lenses are 3d printed in clear resin. 

[Spex84]

Spectacular work!!

Thanks for sharing all the steps involved in re-creating this wild design in miniature. I'm beyond impressed by your 3D modeling,planning and execution abilities, and appreciated your description of the real challenges in creating organic shapes with your chosen software. This is one of the reasons I always find myself leaning towards mesh-modeling (Like 3Ds Max or Blender) because it allows me to be....not sloppy, per se, but certainly cavalier in the way I model things! Of course then I miss the ability to accurately dimension parts or do complex NURBs-type swept surfaces. Win some, lose some.

Whatever the challenges, you seem to have surmounted all of them. I hope you have opportunity to show off the Hydra coupe at a scale model show or two. It's worthy!
 

[Big John]

Thanks, the idea of printing in clear resin does open a new world of options for the technology.  the UV cure should be throughout the part and complex window shapes sanded and polished. ?

[François]

I'm almost done with the display top. Just need to install the top plexiglass. I'm vefy pleased with the result as everything came together nicely and as planned.  Wiring the spot lights went as planned also. I still need to make the base and to install all the quick connect plugs.

Here are a few pictures of the display top.

And with the car

[BK9300]

Looks pretty sweet, Francis.  Very accomplished result!

[64SS350]

Outstanding!!

[Big John]

Thanks for another amazing conceptual model build.  Thank you so  much for sharing your trials and successes.  Gorgeous display!  I love the electrical conduit, as with all your display structures.

[Mattilacken]

Epic display it turned in to!! 

[François]

Thank you everyone. 

The base is done,  just need to paint it flat black.  And to decide what type of floor to but in. 

I also installed the quick connect for the lights.