Very nice!
Printable View
Very nice!
Thank you all!
Made much progress on the modeling side. Here are a bunch of renders
Attachment 7134 Attachment 7135 Attachment 7136 Attachment 7137 Attachment 7138
And some more
Attachment 7139 Attachment 7140 Attachment 7141
I also printed the tub. Took 17 hours to print it
Attachment 7142 Attachment 7143
Man its getting close!
You sure you weren't in marketing? That's pure genius showing us how it's gonna look so soon. You think we are within a month for done?
Yep we're getting closer!
Funny enough, I never was a good salesman.
I don't know how long we are to the end. I'm putting together a todo list and it's quite massive yet. Not as much on the modeling side but mostly on the printing and as you alluded, marketing. I would like to sell the files so other 3D printer owners would buy them to print themselves. I may also sell fully assemble MB and printed kits for people to assemble, but there is still a lot of hurdles to go through. Still so many unknowns. I have no clue how long it will take to print and what will be the costs of printing a complete MB.
One thing bugging me about a future kit or fully assembled model is the fragility of parts. The smaller parts, like all the tubulars portions are very easy to break. If someone is willing to purchase a kit or fully assembled one and breaks a parts, that would suck for them and for me.
On the modeling side, I still would like to do a couple of optional features such as a mounted machine gun, the shovel and axe on the driver side, maybe the wire cutter you mentioned back in September.
I also have to figure out where I'm going with the 1:6 scale. I have to scale up the 1:10 model to 1:6 and print and test, make appropriate corrections. I've learned thus far that there is always something I had not thought of when I upscale parts.
Once the 1:10 is completed which will be within a couple of weeks, I need to print a complete one with the latest files and see if everything works.
I need to put a build document and or video.
I also have to figure out how I go about selling all of this. The files for printers and the model kit or assembled will not cater to the same crowds.
Finally, if I want to reach 3D printers, I need to show my work everywhere I can and build some momentum.
That definitely counts as a to do list. So if you get an endorsement from some kind of jeep museum and maybe they sell your stuff if they get a portion of proceeds as a donation to keep their doors open. Maybe some arts or activities museum place offers demos using your print designs using their printer machine. They'll have the web platform too. So maybe that's one way to get your stuff out there without you doing it all yourself? I'll bow out now, since as usual I have no idea what I'm talking about. Lol. I would consider buying one if you ever finish it! This build is the best.
Salesman 101 bb, make some samples and send em out! Id say send Mike at KW one, and Walk's etc. An ebay or Amazon store is easy to set up. Word of mouth in the forums will guide some there. This forum is being watched by a few. I am thinking this is the test launch. A few of us want one and the word will spread. Most importantly, advertise. If you get a store going, you put that www address right out in plain view. You want a google search to find you. https://www.hellodigital.marketing/l...und-on-google/
Once it takes off sell the whole concept for "large" to a major company, retire and buy an island.
Thank you both for the suggestions. I like the island concept ;)
I already have an Etsy shop and Facebook page dedicated to my work. I also have a YouTube channel with 1300 subscribed people. They're subscribed because of guitar building stuff, but that's an audience I can take advantage of. Like you say word of mouth will also play a big role.
One thing bothering me is the cost of a printed model. Printing is not cost effective. It takes a lot of hours which might drive the price too high just to break even. I should know more when I start printing the complete model. The slicer software has the ability to evaluate how many hours of print and how much filament will be required. I will have a better idea pretty soon.
Just a quick survey and without any obligation, I know the price will be the greatest factor to make a decision.
Regardless of price, what would you fancy most: Fully assembled MB or kit to assemble yourself? Scale 1:10, 1:6 or something specific?
The todo list is shrinking fast. The modeling is now completed. I will finish print the new parts and complete my 1:10 prototype in the next few days. I will then be able to print a complete 1:10 to validate that everything still works well together. I've made so many changes but have not reprinted every single parts. I'm pretty confident that only a few parts may need some rework.
Attachment 7153 Attachment 7154
I am sure there will be a market for "finished" and "assembly required". It will be interesting to see where you need to price it to make it worth your while. Inevitably you have one nice prototype!
Here are three new renderings
Attachment 7158 Attachment 7159 Attachment 7160
This is a tough one. How much money I've wasted on Jeeps I couldn't say. Way too much though, and more than half of it senselessly. How much I'd spend on a very cool model, I just don't know know. Never bought one. And what size? That would depend. Desktop, jeep shelf, or workbench? All I can say is I am currently looking into the purchase of one of those models you are building. And I want one of em. Lol.
A Christmas wish for you and your need for toys AZ! https://www.banggood.com/ROCHOBBY-1-..._warehouse=USA
I hope we can manage for you to have one!
Wow that is incredible, I want one. The level of details is awesome. There is no comparison with injection molding. Scale 1:6 Remote controlled. That is a great deal
I spent yesterday compiling information in a spreadsheet to see what is my break even point. It's horrible. Here's the breakdown
Scale 1:10
Filament required 875 grams -> 39.25$
113 printing hours. Cost of printer wear and power consumption is estimated at 0.50$ / hour -> 56.50$
Screws (breakdown is not complete yet) Estimate -> 30$
Shipping Estimate ->25$
Etsy selling fees for direct sale 10% of selling price (this will increase if I add a profit margin) -> 20$
Total break even cost: 170$ Canadian Dollars. At the current exchange rate it's around 132$ US Dollars
Scale 1:6 filament and printing time is multiplied by 1.67
Filament required 1500 grams -> 65.54$
188 printing hours. Cost of printer wear and power consumption is estimated at 0.50$ / hour -> 94$
Screws (breakdown is not complete yet) Estimate -> 30$
Shipping Estimate ->25$
Etsy selling fees for direct sale 10% of selling price (this will increase if I add a profit margin) -> 25$
Total break even cost: 240$ Canadian Dollars. At the current exchange rate it's around 185$ US Dollars
These figures do not take into account that inevitably, some prints will fail and will need to be reprinted. It does not take into account the time required to monitor the printer, the start/end of jobs clean up and the time to assemble. Printing a 1:10 scale will take 10 days at 12h/day. The 1:6 will take 16 days at 12h/day.
This technology is obviously for hobbies only. And this is exactly what I'm doing here, having fun. I'm in no way shape or form starting a business with all the crap that it entails.
I think the only way to recuperate a little bit of the money invested in this hobby is to sell the digital files and the prototypes printed in the development phase.
Therefore, I will have only a couple of 1:10 and 1:6 to sell in the upcoming weeks/months. After that, I may consider special orders.
If this is something that anyone would like to buy, feel free to contact me directly by either private message or email.
Let's get this one off the assembly line and see what is what when it's done! Another option is trade value. Bartering is a thing. This is a great build.
That sounds good AZ.
When trying to complete the prototype with the latest 3d parts, I broke the windshield bracket while removing it.
Attachment 7164
I printed another one and I snapped it with my fingers along the print line.
Attachment 7165
So I decided to change the direction of the print.
Here you can see the printing lines running along the shaft
Attachment 7166
Tried to snap it with my fingers and it would not snap.
The next scene contains subject that may not be suited to everyone. This is the result of torture using pliers, faint of heart beware.
Attachment 7167
The bracket resisted!
Are we back to inserting a metal pin? Sort of important, the foldable windscreen!
There is no way to insert a pin in there, it's a weird curved shape and it's only 3mm diameter. But no worries, the new print orientation looks to be tough enough to keep the windscreen foldable.
Attachment 7168 Attachment 7169
I need to revisit the way the back and front portion of tub mate together.
I'm waiting for skin color filament to print the seats and the soft top.
Tuning in for my daily dose of what's good about this world and you've delivered again! How cool is that thing! Not being knowledgeable in gigantic torpedo launchers, is that armament to scale?!? Wtg man. Coming along.
Wow coming along, almost there. Yup that armament looks pretty good AZ! I am thinking pelago knows how its supposed to look, I think he has used one.
I have no clue about guns, even worse on machine guns.
Thanks for confirming that it looks appropriate.
I used these two pictures without knowing whether they are a proper reference of the real thing almost 80 years ago. I think they are referenced as M31 machine guns.
Attachment 7176. Attachment 7177
Az, it's going to be hard to provide regular new info for your daily dose, printer is printing 10 hours per day, but nothing much else worth showing going on. Working mostly on documentations.
Here's how I hope to fix the mating of the tub. I started with your overlap comment a couple of pages down, then wanted to make sure it would not slip one way or the other. So I came up with this extrusion on the back side and added screw tabs under to attach the two portions together.
Attachment 7178
The opposite has a 0.1mm wider slot for tolerance so it fits easier.
Attachment 7179
Here's the last two days of printing non stop
Attachment 7180
The military green is a bit lighter shade than I wish it'd be, but it beats painting the parts. Side by side comparison is not helping, but by itself I think it will be close enough.
Printing those seats and a top is gonna be fascinating. It's been close to render thus far, so if you pull off the seat to match the render, it'll be astonishing. Yours is the fastest build from ground up ever. Did you ever mention if you are going to print your own decals or get from somewhere?
I will print my own decals. I don't know yet what I want exactly. I will for sure do the name plates and dials on the dash. Not sure what or if I will do on the body.
Since I will not have much to show, I thought that I may show you the pictures I'm working on for the build document. If it's of no interest, let me know.
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Attachment 7188 Attachment 7189
That's it for today!
Here are the next 5 for the front axle
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The Browning 30 Cal is right on the money. That is the smaller of the two machine guns used for the machine gun mount, with the other being a M2 Browning .50 Cal machine gun. Fun fact, we still use the M2 .50 Cal today on our modern military machines. The M2 (Ma Deuce) has been in operation since the end of WWI.
https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-th...149264398.html
Thanks GM, always a pleasure to get accurate information and pictures! I read later that the M31 refers to the machine gun mount.
Pictures of the transmission and transfer case assembly
Attachment 7199 Attachment 7200 Attachment 7201 Attachment 7202 Attachment 7203
Pictures of the suspension assembly and putting it all together with the frame
Attachment 7204 Attachment 7205 Attachment 7206 Attachment 7207 Attachment 7208
Ma Deuce is the ultimate fight stopper!
At one time we didn't have a mock up M2 to sight in the remote weapons system, (RWS) which utilizes a heavy barrel M2 Browning. We would have to check out a M2 from the government armory. Our mode of transportation on the depot were golf carts. Two of us would have to go and sign for the weapon, then cruise back to the shop to perform the boresight. Nothing makes a golf cart cooler then having a Ma Deuce leaned un against the seat, in between two guys. Now they use a gutted out shell of a 240C or a carcass of a Browning with nothing more than a charging handle and a barrel. The weapon was there just to hold the bore scope/laser sight to adjust the camera sight to both were zeroed in sink.
Look at those drawings! You must be having a grand old time. This is definitely going somewhere as far as marketing. You know may be there is some history buff out there who wants some of this? "Building History - a modern take on the manufacturing of Jeep that saved the world". (Box set available, maps, materials, and the untold declassified true story of 'Magoo' as told in special badging documenting his greatest Victories). You'd have to get the story of Magoo, of course.
I bet it is!
Fascinating! Probably the most intimidating golf cart out there.
Yes I'm having a lot of fun trying to make everything look as professional as I can. You are the master of marketing here. You have plenty of great ideas.
Still working on the images that will be included in the build document, while the printer is spitting out small jeep parts.
Engine, Radiator and front grill
Attachment 7209 Attachment 7210 Attachment 7211 Attachment 7212
Tires, Wheels and tub
Attachment 7213 Attachment 7214 Attachment 7215 Attachment 7216 Attachment 7217
Attaching tub on frame, pedals, steering wheel, fenders, headlights and hood.
Attachment 7218 Attachment 7219 Attachment 7220 Attachment 7221 Attachment 7222
Totally professional. Wtg
Thanks AZ,
Glass template, and windhsield assembly
Attachment 7229 Attachment 7230 Attachment 7231 Attachment 7232 Attachment 7233
First three pictures are for steps I forget to insert before assembling the tub. The last two are in the proper order
Attachment 7235 Attachment 7236 Attachment 7237 Attachment 7234 Attachment 7238
Here are the last 5 pictures that will go into the build guide., seats, tub details, muffler and finally optional items.
Attachment 7239 Attachment 7240 Attachment 7241 Attachment 7242 Attachment 7243
Will put all these pictures in a build guide. I will share it with you when completed.
That looks amazing!