3D print & 3D metal print an Ecto-1 & or DeLorean 1:18 & 1:6 scale project, Need advise!
Example
I’m very seriously looking to make a very high quality 3D printed & 3D metal printed Ecto-1 & or DeLorean 1:18 & or 1:6 scale using a combination of plastic 3D printed material & metal 3D printed material.
My Goal is to take (for example) the Hot wheels elite and make a replica with parts that where originally made with plastic (grill, bumper, window frames, side fins & more) & replace them with shiny metal to make a true solid version metal version That will last and look perfect.
This is a huge project indeed & it may take a long time just to get it figured out first. I’m new to making models but I know with time and patients & research this can be done. I don’t have a 3D printer or a metal one but am looking to get these parts made by a company out there that does this kind of stuff with both version of the 3D printer. I have an Ecto-1 elite with issues that I am willing to hack up for parts in order to scan each part. tires might be hard to recreate as well as many other parts including windows/ windshield lights I’m hoping most can be done with 3d printers. I’m planning to make it with doors and hood permanently closed to make this a bit easier and no turning front wheels
I’m also looking to get the diecast body recreated by 3d metal printer. I want to get this organized in a way that I can recreate it a few times to make a few of them possibly. I have no idea what materials to get these parts made out of, something lightweight but not too brittle.
It might be easier to make this in 1:6 scale but I’d really like to make it in 1:18 something that will fit in a display case after with other models.
It’s the Ecto-1 or the Delorean from BTTF 1. Not sure which one yet.
After seeing this I’m almost certain this can be done. Link—> 3D Printed Ducati 1199 Superbike - 3D Printing Industry
& this—> https://all3dp.com/3d-printing-metal-need-know/
Any & all help will be much appreciated.
I’ve doing research all day on the subject. I’ve figured out It’s not really worth making a 1:18 replica, dunno if 3d printers can even come close the what Mattel made with the elite on that scale but 1:6 scale seems doable. The thing is I can’t seem to find any 3d Metal printing services in high detail enough to bother, also their max length, width and height are simply too small unfortunately. Unless some one here can point me in the right direction to a 3D metal printing service that can do more the 30 x 30 cm in high detail enough the project is screwed for now . I’ll keep looking but if any one knows anything about this that can help it would much appreciated.
I had my heart set on 3d metal printing but maybe I should get a mold made? I have no idea, I’m willing to spend maybe a grand in all to do this project but a metal mold casting situation sounds too expensive.
To do this with plastic just seems like a waste of time, it might look cool in the end but I want to go for quality that will last and not fall apart in your hand, esecially because it such a big project that hope to complete with a mostly professional finish
I’ve made a bit of progress on the a company that can make the windows and windshield (hardest part) using a special 3d printing acrylic process. Link–> http://blog.luxexcel.com/transparent-3d-printing/transparent-3d-print/
I hope this 3d metal printing technology gets a lot better in the next few years, I’d hate to have to wait 10 years to do a project like this. Hopefully what I’m looking for in out there right now. I just gotta find it!
This project is doable, there is just a lot of road blocks and things to get figured out first.
Just found something interesting about metal plating 3D plastic materials. This might be the solution. Again I have no idea about cost yet with any of this but it’s looking do-able again.
Link–> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-heV79vRWY
Link–> Plating Finishes » RePliForm, Inc.
This might be very useful for a proton pack replica as well.
I swear this is the future of high quality diecast models right here.
Now to get familiar with 3d cad.
As a person that works in the professional 3D printing industry, I can tell you that CAD modeling is the hard part.
Printing is easy, relatively speaking, but not cheap.
It would take a talented artist working in Solidworks a month to pull of Ecto1. Thats with a laser scan of the original to start with.
Once thats done its a matter (pun intended) of choosing the correct 3D printing technology for the model.
FDM(FFF) SLA, SLS or MJM (MJP). Metal printing is only affordable by Nasa, Boeing or specialized metallurgical manufacturing companies (and a pain in the a**)
Can you 3d metal print a full size car for us please. that would be great.
I’m in the middle of making a 3d model of the 67 impala from supernatural into a 3d printable version of it self, I figured it’s a bit easier than the ecto-1 to start with and almost as iconic, I may end up getting the ecto-1 made still (not metal unfortunately) but I’d need a better ecto-1 3d model than what I’ve seen on the net (something with the inside fully modeled) and more cash, Its thousands of dollars to 3d print and get the printed parts replicated from molds, It would essentially be a large model car kit but not necessarily sold as a kit (sold pre-assembled and painted with lights hopefully . It’s not easy, the thousands of hours making these 3d models into 3d printable models **properly **takes forever, it’s not fun, its addicting, horrible & tedious. Then there is assembly and painting etc, not easy either. The model market is pretty horrible these days so it’s hard to tell but, it’s a challenge and it all may be worth it and profitable. :love:
Check out this thread I made about it on the model car mag forum → Bot Verification
