3D racers

[KAHNZILLA]

Has anyone thought of buying or have already purchased a 3D machine to build scale racers. I know someone was building models for sale here a few years ago but this would work really well and you may even make a buck. If you could get Taichi involved for the drawings it should be a snap and be done so it is affordable to most. Thanks, KC

[Chad Veich]

Re: 3D racers

Has anyone thought of buying or have already purchased a 3D machine to build scale racers. I know someone was building models for sale here a few years ago but this would work really well and you may even make a buck. If you could get Taichi involved for the drawings it should be a snap and be done so it is affordable to most. Thanks, KC

It isn't quite as simple as it sounds and, like with much related to aviation and warbirds in particular, you would probably have to start out with a large fortune in order to make a small one.

[mrcraigarcher]

Re: 3D racers

You certainly could start with Taichi drawings, but they would all have to be 3D modeled prior to being "printed".

Many of the lower cost 3D printers don't have the surface finish that most collectors would require in a model. The final product just isn't that smooth - see the attached photo. This photo is an example of the most common method of 3D printing, called fusion deposition modeling (FDM). With this method, imagine adding layer upon layer of the goo from a hot glue gun on top of one another until you had the size/shape you're looking for. FDM is just like that, except computer controlled, a different plastic and a much smaller bead than your average hot glue gun.

There are other alternatives, such as stereolithography (SLA) and selective laser sintering (SLS) that give extraordinary results, but these methods are still very expensive and VERY slow. In the case of SLS, you can 3D print plastics, ceramics and metals. Very cool stuff!

Craig