RIP Shapeways
Shapeways introduced me to designing for 3D print, and the first runs of some of the products in my shop were provided by them. So it’s a shame to hear that the company has gone into bankruptcy.
3D
Project City- bringing the door panels to life
Time for a new car project.
The Microace Honda City is a simple kit, so I want to add some extra details. The first parts to get this are the door panels, with 3D printed parts replacing the flat moulded in features.
You can buy the parts used in this build at Spinneyworld.
The door handles, winders and armrests used in this part of the build were designed by Denilsonvm model cars, and can be found on Cults3D.
The Microace Honda City is available from Hobbylink Japan (affiliate link).
Prepare the Grand Panjandrum!
I had another old ashtray that made a perfect diorama base, so I built a companion to the Smith Gun diorama.
The Grand Panjandrum is an even more obscure Allied weapon from WW2- only making it to prototype stage and possibly being a bluff. I found a 3D printable Panjandrum on Booth and once I sat down and started the diorama, it went together over a weekend.
Easy Riders
I missed the announcement that Raleigh were releasing a reworked version of the Mk2 Chopper, or I’d have told you about it before the first batch sold out.
What I’d like to see is a modern reimagining of the bike as well- slightly larger, for adult riders, with geometry tweaks from the lessons learnt in the decades since the original. Give it a five or seven speed hub, or maybe even make it electric. I doubt the market wouldn’t be as assured as for the retro version, so it’s unlikely to happen.
For those, like me, who can’t afford a brand new (or rusty old) Raleigh Chopper, there are always toy versions. I stock 1:12 scale replicas, and versions for model railways.
New Product- Detailing parts for science fiction dioramas
I’ve been storing up interestingly shaped bottles and packaging to make science fiction flavoured buildings and tech. But I wanted to go further than normal greeblies and plastic strip detailing, and designed some themed parts.
The models are available as STL files from the Spinneyworld store, or as part of the rewards package for Builder level supporters on Patreon.
Making Toys For My Toys
Update: The RC transmitters are now available in the Spinneyworld shop. You can also get them as STL files if you want to print your own.
The product development process for the Spinneyworld shop is not very organised. I have a lot of ideas for things that need designing, and a lifelong problem concentrating on what I should be doing. Sometimes, the only way to get anything done is to trick my procrastinating brain into making something that isn’t on the to-do list.
Which is why Action Man now has a radio control transmitter.
I sat down with Blender yesterday, and built the model up based on photo reference, printing test pieces last night.
There are some changes needed before it sees production. The main one is to the trigger, which was super fragile, and pinged off as soon as I put the controller into the figure’s hand.
The final version will be available in 1:6, 1:12, and 1:24 scales, and this post is partly another psychological trick, designed to shame me into getting the work done, rather than sitting on it for a few more months.
Tesla Powered Model T Show Rod! Meet ET
Old meets new in this project. A vintage Model T show rod kit gets a modern drivetrain through 3D printing.
3D models used in this build:
Tesla crate motor – Quick change rear – Speedster Rod wheels & tyres
Building the Flying Gun Platform from Akira
There are a lot of great vehicle and technology designs in Akira. Everybody (me included) loves Kaneda’s bike, but it’s hard to find models of many of the rides. So I had to make the flying gun platform when Fichtenfoo put a file on their Patreon page.
The markings aren’t accurate to the manga or the anime, but it’s another build I’m glad to add to the display case.
The Fichtenfoo Patreon is on a hiatus, but you can buy their 3D printable designs at Industria Mechanika.
What’s on the Workbench?
Here’s an update on the ongoing projects on the work table.
You can buy Action Man’s guns, and other 1:6 accessories, from Spinneyworld
The Spinneyworld Patreon page is at https://www.patreon.com/spinneyhead
Soviet Bus Stops is available from Bookshop.org in the UK and Amazon elsewhere (Affiliate links.)
And don’t forget to Like and Subscribe!
Action Man gets a Fallout Laser Rifle
Experimenting with the YouTube Shorts format. Obviously, this works best on a phone screen in portrait mode.
Unboxing a 1:200 Warship 1
The ChuanYu range of 1:200 remote control ready ships have been popular on the Spinneyworld store, but this is the first time I’ve had a chance to look at one properly. So I did an unboxing video.
A build series will follow when I have enough space to work on it.
6mm Drive Past
A little clunky, I know, but here’s a sampling of the 6mm fleet (that is currently in stock).
1:12th Customising bits for motorbike models
Available from the Spinneyworld shop, or click on the buttons to add them to your shopping cart, then the cart itself to checkout.
The Bosozoku Bike Build continues
From the Spinneyworld blog-
It’s been a while since the last instalment of this build report. Mostly because I’ve been neglecting it.
Painting the tank took more masking than I’d ever done before. I’m happy with the lotus flowers that resulted, though I am showing you the side where a section of paint didn’t lift off with the tape and require bodging with a brush.
Also shown in the last photo are the Croc Jaw foot pegs. Future builds will likely use a higher proportion of Spinneyworld products, but this one only features the pegs and the Ape Hanger handlebars.
The bike started to go together, in short bursts. I didn’t get the engine in the right place, though, and that had a bunch of knock on effects. Such as problems lining up the chain. Which were compounded when I glued it to the side of the engine block.
The foot pegs look good, though.
 After a certain amount of faff, the exhausts went on. The kit shares parts with another model, so there were actually two exhaust options available to me. I went with the non-standard ones, but had to do some bodging, filing and cutting to get them working. The left hand pipes are a mashup of the chrome ones intended for the kit, and the longer alternative ones I wanted to use. Check out the gallery for a longer explanation.
The handlebars have finally been ordered from the printer, and the bike should be finished soon after they arrive. Check back soon to see.
Introducing the Early Adopter Discount at Spinneyworld
The Early Adopter Discount in the Spinneyworld store is a scheme to help me launch new products, and an opportunity for you to get them for less, if you grab them soon enough. Think of it as a rolling, in-store, Kickstarter scheme.
The discount applies from the time a new product is listed, until the first batch is delivered. Qualifying products get a discount of 20%. You’ll have to wait a little longer for delivery, but you’ll be amongst the first to get the model, and I’ll be able to expand my range.
This is an automatic discount, applied to qualifying products at checkout, so you don’t have to remember a code to use it.
Build report- 1:12th Aoshima Honda CB400T Hawk II
From the blog at the Spinneyworld shop.
This is the first build I’m going to be doing that will utilise Spinneyworld products. I’ve been so busy developing them, that I’ve neglected the workbench, and haven’t built as much as I’d like.
It’s also my first bike model, and, being me, I’m building it custom. Bosozoku are Japanese biker gangs (the most common translation I’ve seen of the name is “running tribe”), who have developed their own style of customising for cars and bikes. On bikes, it manifests as chopper style handlebars, exaggerated seat backs, and aero fairings lifted up so far they’re more likely to detract from the bike’s dynamics. Intricate paint jobs are common as well.
I’m going to be copying the seat and handlebars for this build, and trying out some new paints and techniques. The fairing may be beyond me, unless I get lucky on eBay. The handlebars will be designed by me for 3D printing (not started yet, need to get that done), and I’ll also be using some of the foot pegs I designed recently.
The model I’m working on is Aoshima’s 1978 Honda CB400T Hawk II, which I ordered from Hiroboy.
The first thing I did was glue the frame together, and the main parts of the engine block.
Whilst the frame went together nice and true. the connection pins for the lower half of the engine block were vague, and, no matter how I lined them up, there was a very obvious seam, which I later had to file down before fitting other components. The two carburettors were similarly tricky to align.
Boring black wouldn’t do, so the frame got a coat of gold paint. Wilko own brand rattle can, in fact.
The engine block, and the wheels, got a coat of Citadel Iron Hands Steel, and I learnt that my airbrush doesn’t work very well with a rotted seal on the air hose, on one of the most humid days of the year. Luckily, the paint’s just there to enhance the colour the plastic was supplied in. Those seams I mentioned were filed down, the chrome covers were attached, and the gaps between the fins were enhanced with a little Citadel Nuln Oil.
The next job is to get the chrome off the footpegs and their mountings. I’ve already tested oven cleaner on a bit of sprue.
Then the pegs will be replaced with these. The ‘Croc Jaw’ pegs, from my very own range.
I had a moment of inspiration whilst sorting through the mess on the workbench. I’ve bought a number of nail file sets from the pound shop, to use as cheap sanding sticks. They may turn out to be too coarse, but some of them are the exact shape I need to build the seat back. Even better, there are three different sizes of them. I cut out a plastic card back, then glued three of the sticks to it, using a combination of superglue and PVA. The next step is to use filler to build up a smoother cushioned shape, and then fit it onto the back of the kit seat.
The fuel tank is in the spray booth (which is a plastic crate on its side on top of the fridge, for the time being). I shall do a grand reveal of the paint scheme it’s getting in the next build report.
In development
From the blog on the Spinneyworld shop–
The product development process here at Spinneyworld is, well, let’s call it organic. I create items I want to use in one of my projects. Even if that project is scheduled for some unspecified point in the future. As I find the points where my odd interests intersects with yours, no doubt my direction will change again.
This week’s deigns are spun off from a motorbike project I’m about to begin, if not immediately usable in it. For a while now, I’ve wanted to build a bosozoku style bike. I purchased the base kit last month- an Aoshima 1978 Honda Hawk II CB400T- so it’s time to start work on the accessories it needs.
Except, I’m easily distracted.
A bosozoku bike will usually sport a pair of chopper style ape handlebars. Whilst searching for reference to base my design on, I found a different pair of handlebars, and made them instead. The Clubman bars are suited to hardcore cafe racers and ton-up machines. Don’t let the picture fool you, they’re not risers. They’ve been rendered the wrong way up. The curve doesn’t lift the bars up, but is supposed to drop the bar ends down, so that they’re on a level with the bottom of the fuel tank, and the rider can get down into an aerodynamic position.
They’re available in plastic or aluminium. At the moment, I have to order them on demand from Shapeways, but I will endeavour to get some in stock for a quicker turn around, and possibly a lower price.
Another cool looking accessory that isn’t very boso, is the bar end mirrors I designed yesterday. They’re more modern sport bike than cafe racer or Japanese gang. I shall be ordering in a batch, and making them available here and at the ebay shop primarily.
Next up is foot pegs, which are mostly inspired by chopper photos, but will be closer to the theme of the build that either of the previous two designs. I’ve been scribbling designs, and taking measurements, and shall be getting on them soon.