3D design in SolidWorks

[Maticus]

Well in my engineering graphics class the final we had to do was design a vehicle to compete in a pinewood derby style race. the ones boyscouts did, haha.

I saw this as an opportunity to design a little replica of my dad's '69 Camaro SS he had in the 70s and 80s.

It started here : (Haha, you can tell its old from the bellbottoms my father was wearing! lmao! He must have been one cool guy.

I then decided to find a side profile of a '69 'maro to start and found this one:

I then had to implement some way of besting the competition, sadly that came to by making the wheels larger. (More centrifugal force on the wheel, and it covers more ground for every revolution)

Then a render of it:

And finally, Printed using a 3D ABS extruder!

Edited December 3, 2011 by Maticus

[Maticus]

So, once I got that far it was time for paint! I didn't exactly want a show car sheen, but I wanted a more metalic feel with a good texture for aerodynamic properties (see mythbusters golfball car)

Sanding, so much sanding.

First coat "baking" using an electric radiator, haha.

And :

But I just didn't like that glazed finish as much, that and it was gonna take a week + to cure! (didn't have that kind of time)

So....

After sanding and scraping for three hours, I got a somewhat smooth surface.

First two coats

After some more clear, and tinted windows using packaging plastic and lens tint for taillights

Edited December 3, 2011 by Maticus

[CortezDTV]

Wow I never thought a pine wood derby would be cool

Amazing car man

Where do you getthis abs plastic mold stuff? Is it very plyable and u can shape it or how does it work?

[Maticus]

This is actually how these items are made:

[rusty959]

Thats pretty sick. And yea, those rapid prototyping things are pretty sweet. At my college the fsae team just had an intake made similarly, and it looks amazing.

Good work on the car, be sure to get some vids of it pwning the competition.

[Maticus]

Finished product;

And all the other cars, we came in second place overall.