How about a 3D print of a scale model Slate?

[SailorDan]

One of the things I noticed from the NYC block party photos was a scale model of the Slate truck in a Crayola color, Cerulean blue.
I asked a Slate rep in a chat whether we could buy one of these model trucks and she said no. When I asked whether we could get a drawing file of the model so we could 3D print our own, she said not now, they don't have any drawings to share yet, but maybe later, sounds like a good idea and she will pass the suggestion along.
I would buy a 3D printer and learn how to use it just to make one of these toys.
Are there any useable 3D drawings already out there by third party developers?

 

[KHN707]

I'd like to see diecast models too. Johhy Lightning could do a series of all the body styles. Maybe with a removable top and rollbar.

 

[SailorDan]

I tried the file from dragondroptv,, but it was too big for my limited software.
Maybe I just need to upgrade enough to use his model.
But to what?
I will give BambuStudio a try. They also have a Slate model on their site, so I will give that view, too.

My apologies to the forum members here who know what they are talking about in their messages back and forth to each other. I am ignorant but trying to learn.

 

[KHN707]

I am ignorant but trying to learn.

The key to life. No need to apologize.

 

[E90400K]

Just to be super ironic, I'd love to buy a Hubley metal model car kit of the Slate, like I used to build back in the early 1970's. Or a bit less ironic, a plastic model car kit from Revell, AMT, or Monogram.

 

[clofan]

I looked but didn't find any good models. Actually I only found two, and both had some drawbacks I didn't want so I decided to wait. I hope Slate puts out something official, would love to have a 1/32 scale model on my desk to match my postcard!

 

[Chucker77]

There are a couple out there. Not great, but they've allowed me to set up an assembly line.

 

[SailorDan]

3Dmodels.org has some nice looking ones for $95 detailed exterior only and $295 with detailed interior included. +$900 for "print ready STL" Yikes! I just want a model truck!

 

[kvermeer]

There are also these files:

https://www.slateforums.com/forum/t...uv-fastback-for-diy-3d-print-stl-files.13055/

You don't have to buy a 3D printer to get a 3D printed model:

https://craftcloud3d.com/

https://www.xometry.com

https://www.hubs.com/

https://now.formlabs.com/

Yes, your cost in filament will be much lower than any of these services if you first buy a $600 printer, and it can be a great hobby (especially if you want to 3D print lots of gadgets for your Slate someday!), but if you just want a model ~~right now~~ in a week you can email a file to someone with a print farm and get a scale model for $30.

 

[SailorDan]

Form Now will print a 9.6" long (about :18 scale) Slate truck with tires (they are separate objects in the file) for ~ $300 from the dragonflydroptv file. This is a 1000% scale-up from the file if inches are used as the unit of measurement. Some repairs were needed, but a free third-party app referred by Form Now did the job easily and quickly.

I have paid more for 1:18 scale die cast cars, but those were painted and chromed, with detailed interiors. The dragonflydroptv file has a single-color interior, but no glass.

 

[kvermeer]

Form Now will print a 9.6" long (about :18 scale) Slate truck with tires (they are separate objects in the file) for ~ $300 from the dragonflydroptv file. This is a 1000% scale-up from the file if inches are used as the unit of measurement. Some repairs were needed, but a free third-party app referred by Form Now did the job easily and quickly.

I think you want millimeters, Slate is 4434 mm long and this model is almost exactly 1/20th that scale in mm.

Form Now will get you an astonishingly high-quality resin print, Xometry can make you a basic FDM print (you're going to be post-processing it anyways) for $50:

Easy to forget how expensive these services are after you have a printer of your own and filament costs $20/kg...

 

[clofan]

Find a local makerspace (or friend) and use their printer

 

[SailorDan]

I could not get Xometry to scale the model up from 1 inch long, and wound up with an $87 quote for a 1-inch long gray nylon truck with no wheels.

Nylon 12 off-white was $7.74-$10.01 for an inch long truck with no wheels.

They recognized that there were other objects (wheels/tires) in the file, but did not break them out for me, only suggested that I do so myself and upload the objects separately.

 

[SailorDan]

Find a local makerspace (or friend) and use their printer

I tried that first but could not find anything reasonable in the Savannah GA area.

If anyone knows a printing source here, please pass them along so I can give them a try.

 

[sodamo]

I tried the file from dragondroptv,, but it was too big for my limited software.
Maybe I just need to upgrade enough to use his model.
But to what?
I will give BambuStudio a try. They also have a Slate model on their site, so I will give that view, too.

My apologies to the forum members here who know what they are talking about in their messages back and forth to each other. I am ignorant but trying to learn.

Further along than me. 😋