1/24 Austin Rover Mini 25th - 3D modeling + printing + building

[PabloModelkits]

Hi folks!

Today I started new and challenging project!
One of my New Year's resolutions was to 3d model + printing + building a scale model car and is time to go for it.

The chosen one: Austin Rover Mini 25th Anniversary.

The reason why: Two reasons, first, I love Mini, second, yesterday I finished an Old Mini by Fujimi 1:24 scale, this model included pieces for two different models the Rover Mini Mayfair 1.3i and the Austin Rover Mini 25th, I built the Mayfair model and now I have a bunch of pieces of the Austin but without chassis and body, the reason to go for my 2022 objective is served.

The objective: First 3D model the body + chassis, second print with resin printer and third build using all unused parts of the Fujimi kit.

What I have done today as good starting point is:

• Scan blue print included in the building manual.

• Prepare views in separated files checking alignment and proportions.

• Start modeling body and chassis + interior. Here I started with an already modelled Mini Morris Cooper (modelled by me ) and I use it as starting point.

Scanned Blueprint from Old Mini Fujimi kit building manual. Here you see two models included in Fujimi kit.
Old_Mini_Medium_BluePrint by Pablo Modelskits, en Flickr


3D modeling process day 1: Body, chassis and interior.
Working_Progres_Day1 by Pablo Modelskits, en Flickr


What is next? First check 3d is modelled according blueprint references, after, check carefully all parts to be printed ensuring shapes accommodation to be printed. Once printed, build it using rest oft parts in the kit.

Wish me luck to finish this successfully

[Twokidsnosleep]

Cool

[PabloModelkits]

Day 2 - My computer crashes.



Conclusions: buy new computer or change project.

[PabloModelkits]

Day 3 - Ok! I finally managed to rebuild the model. Now I have 3 main parts ready to be printed: Body, chassis and seats.


I'm a bit sceptical because is the first time, but considering all measures where well made things shouldn't go wrong. I think this is the most critical part of project, if parts where not well measured prints, which last a long time printing, will not fit with the rest of parts .

Lats of modeling step: I will need to model the tires that should fit in wheels in the kit. For that I use the digital measuring calliper to get the precise diameter.

Digital measuring calliper by Pablo Modelskits, in Flickr

Once I have tires modelled I will share with you, after that the printing steps will start

[digger303]

Awesome skills

[PabloModelkits]

Day 4 - Tire Modelled!

I tried to do like the original one included in the kit a Pirelli P7F 175/50 VR13. Not perfect but will work.


Its time to rock n roll!

I prepared print with Chitubox and will be divided en 4 waves:

• WAVE 1 - 4 Tires that will last 1h10m

• WAVE 2 - Body that will last 15h20m. This one will last more because I reduced de height per layer to have more definition

• WAVE 3 - Chassis that will last 2h53m

• WAVE 4 - Seats that will last 2h30m

Lets see if I will be building the car in two days or crying

[PabloModelkits]

Day 5 - all parts print.

After printing all parts I'm not really happy with result because I will need extra polishing for support sides



I'm considering print them all again, at least body and chassis . For second print attempt I will review supports structure.





As a positive note quite happy with seats and tires, also all kit parts fits well







Hopefully next post I will show you all parts perfectly printed and ready to build.

Leave you opinion about process and tips to improve prints

[digger303]

[PabloModelkits]

Day 6

Today I started painting 1st prime coat + polish.


Day by day little by little my dream is becoming real.

[digger303]

Are you using the first print of body works or did you go ahead and reprint the parts more successfully ?

[Twokidsnosleep]

Look at you go!!
Nice work indeed, I love the tires. What printer do you have???

[PabloModelkits]

Are you using the first print of body works or did you go ahead and reprint the parts more successfully ?

Yes, I went ahead printing again. Somehow body was improved in second round but not that perfect as spected. I would go for the third attempt if the print last less but 20h is crazy.

Bad thing extra polish work needed

God thing: I can go ahead and built it

[PabloModelkits]

Look at you go!!
Nice work indeed, I love the tires. What printer do you have???

Its a Elegoo Mars 2 pro. Quite I'm happy with it but not my girldfriend

[PabloModelkits]

Day 7 - Final Result + Insights

Before going to insights lets see the final result



Yeaaaa! Quite happy with it but confident that next time will be better because I learned a lot down the road.

I'll be sincere with all learning, because most of those came from the failures.

Learning from failures

It is the first time printing a 3d modelled car and many questions were made before and during the process. Those questions were answered during the process and many fails came: Modelling parts that "should" fits properly, setting up the configuration of printer and painting and varnishing .

I feel more happy of confidence I got during the process that the result itself.


I spent afternoons and weekends doing this project since I started 1 month ago. It was one of my New Year resolutions and now I can say it's accomplished!



My two babies together




Every beginning has it end... but each ending is followed by new beginning

[digger303]

[RangerNeil]

Nice job at the end. Well done!!

[BigWall]

Very nicely done!

[Twokidsnosleep]

Fantastic work!!!
Congratulations

What 3D program did you use and did you direct scan the parts into the program??

[PabloModelkits]

Fantastic work!!!
Congratulations

What 3D program did you use and did you direct scan the parts into the program??

Industrial designers will kill me but I use Autodesk Maya. No I modelled using blue print as a reference.

[NoelSmith]

Very nice project modelling.

[Portman]

That's really cool - it's good to see a proper Mini!