G-machine of a different.......scale?!?

[black2002ls]

Fast forward a few months and I got bored and started digging thought my box of parts. I found some tire casts that a guy in California sent me to mess around with, my original prototype wheels, and found that everything fit together almost perfectly:



They also looked right at home on the rear of the Camaro (notice the body was still black with hockey stripes at this point)



So, that set the wheels in motion to start trying to source parts, and reinvigorated the build.

It was at this point I came across some old reference photos as well as photos of the body when it was painted Sunset Orange Metallic in the beginning. This set me on a course to strip the body, which took about a month of soaking in various chemicals, and prepping to re-paint it SOM. This time around I used a mail order auto refinishing site and picked up some SOM in a spray can and got the finish I was after, minus the tiger stripes.

So, where does this leave me you may wonder?

The wheels need some work. The centers are a little loose in the sleeves, not so loose that they aren't usable, but loose enough to make getting them mated together square and looking right could be an issue. Ideally, they need drawn with a "stop" for the wheel center at the proper depth for the offset I'm looking for, problem there is, I don't know what offset I'm after! These aren't necessary, but would definitely help. In addition to that, I would like the spokes on the wheels just a bit "beefier" as the look anemic as they sit. The brakes that I designed need to be scaled down, as they were designed to fit the larger wheels, and now that I'm going with the smaller ones, they will not clear. Then, once all of the adjustments are made, I need to "group the parts" in a Solid Works file and upload them to be printed.

Anyone familiar with solid works? lol

[PASD U]

Glad to see this is still going. I've debated building one myself but I would get a lot more frustrated. I'm way too picky wheels/tires having the right look. Closest thing I found I could use was kitbashing the detail kits for Pocher Ferrari F40's or Lambo Aventador. There is/was someone even making aftermarket tires for them

[black2002ls]

Originally Posted by PASD U

Glad to see this is still going. I've debated building one myself but I would get a lot more frustrated. I'm way too picky wheels/tires having the right look. Closest thing I found I could use was kitbashing the detail kits for Pocher Ferrari F40's or Lambo Aventador. There is/was someone even making aftermarket tires for them

There are some guys doing some pretty cool things. 3D printing has REALLY opened up the 1/12th scale and larger stuff. There is a guy replicating Big Red, he commented earlier in this thread. He did a 3D model of the tires and is working on casting them in rubber.

Wheels are a whole different story, if you don't have CNC abilities to work in small scale, you are out some major coin. I'm still working with my 3D renderings and hopefully can order some test prints mid July to see if it is going to work. I haven't completely given up on getting wheel sleeves machined, though I am prepared to work with the printed sleeves and try to give them a finish that I like and gives the look I am after.

EDIT:

I ordered about $60 worth of 3D parts last night. I should have all of the major components for the drive train now. Whipple charged LS3 with a TKO 5spd

[PASD U]

Today is a day of coincidences. Was just watching a few Big Red videos last night and looked to see if any company had made a diecast replica. Would love a Big Red scale model, as well as a few other "celebrity cars"

[black2002ls]

Not a huge update, but figured I would chronicle some of the growing pains.

Moving to the smaller wheel means I need to change the size of the brakes that I drew up in Solid Works. I'm hoping to be able to accomplish this in the shapeways terminal and not have to completely re-draw parts.

Here are a couple of shots of the wheel size that I will be using. The aluminum ring has the same ID and OD as the printed sleeves, and of course a shot with the brakes behind the current wheels.





Hopefully I can find the time to scale the brakes this weekend and order some test prints to make sure that everything fits correctly after the changes.