HO 3D Printed Elf

HWP · 24th-Apr-23, 04:24 AM

I've been working on a new 3D printed P34 Elf 6-wheeler. Unlike the one made by Aurora back in the day, this one is much smaller and as proportionately accurate as possible down to the scale 10" front wheels. It uses a custom frame, not a full chassis, to clamp the motor into the body. Axles and other running gear are attached to the frame. Initial test prints are being sent out to a friend for track testing. If all goes well, I'll be putting these into very limited production. The test body in the pictures is of the earliest version of the car. I may make slightly later versions as well which use a different front wing shape. As well as a different or no airbox. I just slapped a quick coat of paint on the translucent resin body without any prep work to help show the shape of the car. But also to help me better see areas that need tweaking.

3D renderings:

Test Prints:

Size Comparison:

Gordon Steadman · 24th-Apr-23, 06:18 AM

I'm disappointed. The thought of racing elves and goblins rather appealed.

Sorry. Feeling a bit grumpy this morning. It's a Tyrrell by the way.

Kevan · 24th-Apr-23, 07:11 AM

Here you go Gordon...

HWP · 24th-Apr-23, 03:03 PM

(24th-Apr-23, 06:18 AM)Gordon Steadman Wrote: I'm disappointed. The thought of racing elves and goblins rather appealed.

Sorry. Feeling a bit grumpy this morning. It's a Tyrrell by the way.

Clearly!

But a rose by any other name is still a rose. You and I know both know its Tyrrell P-34.

I had some twit over on a facebook group get up in my face about it being a Tyrrell P-34, and NOT an Elf. But if you show a picture of a blue six-wheeled F1 car to most slot car enthusiasts over the age of 50, most will say "COOL! An Elf!!" Not, "Oh, that's Tyrrell P-34 built in 1976 with a wheelbase of ..." So, to them, it's a bloody Elf! Checkeredflag

HWP · 24th-Apr-23, 03:11 PM

(24th-Apr-23, 07:11 AM)Kevan Wrote: There's always one.

Kevan · 24th-Apr-23, 03:20 PM

That's not an Elf...

...now this is an Elf Thumbup

HWP · 24th-Apr-23, 04:58 PM

(24th-Apr-23, 03:20 PM)Kevan Wrote: ...now this is an Elf

THAT is a cool car! Yours? I drive a 1975 Triumph Spitfire 1500 - which is why I also make Spitfire, GT6, and Spit-6 bodies for T-jets. Working from blueprints is great. Measuring the real car is even better!

HWP · 24th-Apr-23, 05:00 PM

And a few passengers to sit on top of the interior insert.

Kevan · 24th-Apr-23, 06:12 PM

(24th-Apr-23, 04:58 PM)HWP Wrote:
(24th-Apr-23, 03:20 PM)Kevan Wrote: ...now this is an Elf

THAT is a cool car! Yours?

No not mine but I know someone who has Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT) and he's spent years renovating one despite all his suffering.

HWP · 3rd-May-23, 05:04 AM

Dave Wonacott got my Elf Prototype for track testing today. This could be a real game changer. The computer simulations I ran, and Dave's track testing proved the unconventional design works. And will allow me to create other car bodies truer scale, while keeping the electricals tucked neatly out of sight. Especially F1 bodies like the BT-50 for example. And older open-wheeled classics.

Here's some shots of the undercarriage showing the placement of the pickups tucked into the side pods. And one sitting next to a build of my Lotus body for size comparison.