Original sketches for the model - the sketches were not TOO important here - the whole point of this exercise was to build a hard model to show my students how to do it. It is important to note at this point that I am NOT by trade, a modelmaker - but as an industrial/vehicle designer it is something I have had to do in the past.
Developed sketch - I'll have to push the front wheel out a bit...
Another sketch - trying to establish the dimensions of the bike here...
Side and top sketches to be used as underlays for "tape" drawing.
Beginning of the sketch model (I always do a sktech model first to ascertain the design) note the "tape drawing is a cheat - hasn't been done properly yet.
The sketch model advancing - the models is simply carved from "blue insulation foam" - the black lines are added in "sharpie" marker to highlight the form.
The finished sketch model - I believe that this was done at 1/10 scale. I'm happy with the form at this point so I'll move ahead. It's important to note that the design development of this bike has been VERY light - the model is the project, as it were.
The beginning of the lower fairing - this is the manner in which most of the model will be built - splines supporting surface. The splines here are cut from clear acrylic and the surface is a thin styrene bonded to the acrylic with solvent (not as easy as it looks with complex curves...). I'd liken this to bones supporting flesh...
The belly fairing - this is, for the most part, complete - note the body filler used to smooth over the hard edges (the dark pink/mauve areas).
The wheels were drawn in Adobe Illustrator, imported into solidworks and than carved out on a CNC machine (one of the benefits of working at a College that has these sorts of things!). The grid on the board is to keep things accurate. Note the "support" behind the model to allow adjustment between the wheels. The swingarm is roughed out in bluefoam as a test.
The rough blue foam swingarm on the left and the styrene piece to be used in the model on the right.
Engine bits appearing - these (the cylindrical bits) were done on a lathe and the "block" at the front was done by simple cutting and boxing.
The "V-Twin" appearing. Again, splined styrene. Note the sketch model behind - always referring to it...
Another view of the engine, half dowels have been added. Note the chain and sprockets - these were purchased at an "electronics/mechanical surplus store. Cheap.
These are some more of the bits I bought at the Surplus store - I used most of it - I paid about $9 Canadian for the above. Nice for "details".
The engine and belly fairing primded. The dowels sticking out above will bind the engine to the bike to allow the model to be "self-supporting" - that is it won't need any support under the lower fairing, and the wheels will bear all the load.
The begining of the "frame" and tank - again - you can see the "splined" nature of the construction.
The tank, close to being finished -but still needing sanding.
The tank with the seat mounted to it - drying onto it, in fact. Note the painted wheel in the foreground and the painted bellly fairing in the background - that is how projects like this evolve - a bit at a time.
Engine, swingarm and belly fairing finished. Note the footpegs - remember the stereo bits from the surplus store?
Springs and wheels mounted...
Almost done! Tank and seat mounted, and front forks put in... The seat is real leather bought at a dollar shop stretched over (and spraymounted to) the seat construction.
And there is it - a 1/3 scale model of a bike. This description of the process has, necessarily been truncated, but I hope it has been useful all the same. The model was painted with Krylon Spray bombs (in a spray booth) - nothing else. The "graphics" were created in Adobe Illustrator and sent out to a printer who made them as "self adhesives".
And another view - Thanks for looking! Cheers - Bruce
