[Gordon Steadman]

As someone who enjoys carving my own slot car bodies, I watch, with great interest, the growth of 3D printing.

It's obviously a great way of getting bodies made at home and, obviously, offers the opportunity, like wot I have, to have cars not out there already.

But....most of those I see on the forums look as though they have been cast in rough concrete and painted with a 10 inch house brush.. There are also some that look superb but it have clearly taken a long time to rub down, fill and paint properly to achieve what I would consider a good finish. In wood, the basic shape is fairly easy and quick but it's the finish that take the time. Imperfections are all too obvious when the basic finish is smooth, maybe that's why some people don't bother.

I understand that the process is still developing and, no doubt, in due course, things will be almost as good as a professionally produced body but for me, for whom racing is more important that concours, putting up with such a rough finish would be impossible, I'd bin it or put it back on the bench for the hard bit.

No doubt others will have thoughts on this.