Project Pistachio - (scratch-built) '64 Fiat 500

[toddshotrods]

One of the main issues I had with Schism for a Todd Perkins Design company project was, to satisfy the immediate needs of the Inhaler Project, it became heavily biased towards hand fabrication. While that's great for marketing the Inhaler Project's ability to mentor and develop incredibly skilled individuals, it was kind of crippling for my (typically CAD based) design work. I do develop a lot of the patterns for Schism in CAD, but that's not the ultimate expression of my work I was seeking to showcase with the project.

To make sure that doesn't happen again, I am basing everything on design with Pistachio. The actual car is a tangible expression of creative design, and this is not a case of design work merely being a support mechanism for a physical car. This art rendering will evolve and grow with the project, but the most important thing was to set the tone for the project, to try and maintain my focus.

"Abarth-Ninja" and "old meets new" are the key themes in the concept. I replaced the Italian flag colors with U.S. colors in the badge's banner section, then replaced the scorpion with a Ninja "action figure" silhouette, over the upholstery and paint colors; narrowed the lower band of the ralleye stripe, and added the Ninja script. The second step in setting the tone for the body (and project) was to incorporate the new style rag top. Now I start to smooth out and detail the body to guide my CAD work.

[HWY Nova]

Todd,

What CAD software are you using?



--Eric

[toddshotrods]

Originally Posted by HWY Nova

Todd,

What CAD software are you using?



--Eric

Hey Eric,

The stuff in this thread was done in Rhino. I use it for surface modeling, and "sketching". It is capable of pretty good precision though. I have done quite a few engineering type parts in Rhino (still surfaces) that machined and worked perfectly.

For more conventional, engineering tolerance, stuff I use Pro/E. Here's an example: the motor mount for my electric motorcycle project, modeled in Pro/E.

[HWY Nova]

Originally Posted by toddshotrods

I use Pro/E.

Todd,

Thanks for the response. I had used Pro/E for about 10 years, but switched to SolidWorks in 2000.


--Eric

[toddshotrods]

Originally Posted by HWY Nova

Todd,

Thanks for the response. I had used Pro/E for about 10 years, but switched to SolidWorks in 2000.


--Eric

I've been thinking about switching; honestly, just because everyone and their mother uses SolidWorks. Which one do you like best? I remember reading in another thread here about someone that had used Pro/E for a long time and switched but hasn't used Wildfire - was that you? The complex I'm located in has SolidWorks on some of their public computers, so I am going to give it a test drive one day.

[HWY Nova]

Todd,

I like SolidWorks so much better. Wildfire was coming out right as I was switching over. I have not seen the latest Wildfire run.

I'll send you a PM later.




--Eric

[rustomatic]

What happened?

[toddshotrods]

Originally Posted by rustomatic

What happened?

All of my projects were training tools for a non-profit program I tried to establish. It gave high school and college students hands on experience building this stuff, under my direction. Unfortunately we failed to fund the program, or get any real cooperation from the schools. All of the projects were cancelled, and sold off; mostly as parts. Sorry.

I am still building my electric motorcycle, but it's beyond the scope of this forum, so I haven't been very active here.

[rustomatic]

Well, there's another strike against young people having cool skills. There's always the minimum wage route after high school...

I'm guessing that we'll see some cool stuff from you outside the scope of non-profiteering, however...

[toddshotrods]

Originally Posted by rustomatic

Well, there's another strike against young people having cool skills. There's always the minimum wage route after high school...

I'm guessing that we'll see some cool stuff from you outside the scope of non-profiteering, however...

Most of these kids were on their way to make good money, as most were engineering students from universities. The mechanical engineering and industrial design kids ate this stuff up, and were thrilled to get the opportunity to actually touch the materials, rather than just doing simulations on computers. They were in the shop working on 90-100+ degree, humid-Ohio, summer days - because they wanted to be there...

The schools all said things like, "this is awesome", and "just what we need/are looking for." When it came time to put their money and time where their mouths were though, they went with the typical software-oriented programs; I think mainly because it's easier to get through the bureaucracy, and actually get them approved.



As for me, other than my bike, I don't really have any plans for new projects. I have been putting all that drive into my (design) client's projects (mostly non-automotive). I would love to be contracted to design a major hot rod project someday, but most of the big builders seem to keep that part of the process in-house, other than art. Maybe I'll develop a relationship with an owner/collector someday, that likes my work and can convince his favorite builder to...