Marvel's Hydra Coupe 1/12 scale full scratch build

[François]

The fun thing about this build is that I know what the enveloppe will look like and it's limitations in space (height, width, lenght and curves). Everything else is speculations and up to my spur of the moment whim. So today I decided to create the fuel tank based on the only known parameter for the tank, I know where the fuel filler caps are (yes, they are 2). Then it was just a question of giving the tank a somewhat plausible shape that would fit in the general area dictated by the caps. The location in just dehind the rear seat and above the 2 differentiels, just under the trunk lid, a pretty standard spot. But the area is quite small since the spare tire seems to be located just under the trunk lid. I'm using the tank as a spare tire holder, this gave the tank a rather nice shape. But it will be a small tank so this v16 will definatly not be winning any mileage contest.

 

[François]

I've been busy with the mouse and key board the last 2 days.

I'm a long ways from being done, especially since I need to design a complete 16 cylinder engine. But before I start on that, I decided to work on the enveloppe first, to better know what volume I have to fill with mecanical stuff. So I started with the front end working my way towards the back. I first 3d modeled the radiator with the 4 head lights being careful to draw printable parts and adding as many features as possible such as lightbulb housing for the head lights and wire routing. I base the design of certain parts on similar bentley blower parts such as the radiator core. I'm very satisfied with the result so far. I also started the firewall. Once it's done, I'll be able to do the hood. I'll then have a very good idea of the engine bay volume.

Here are some progress pictures.

 

[mondrasek]

I love your work. So fun to watch your threads progress. So inspiring!

It looks spot on to the pics of the movie prop so far.

Thanks for sharing the entire design process!! I love this stuff!

Cheers,

M.

 

[François]

Thank you mondrasek!

I started the bodywork, it will definatly be a hard one to do as the cad system I'm using is not exactly the right tool for this type of form. But, being very patient and stubborn, I should be able to eventually get it right.

 

[mondrasek]

What modeling (3D) software are you using? I have 'Edge and 'Works at work, but a friend of mine did AMMAZING things in freecad. But then again, he is a Savant and was writing scripts to make parabolic paths for cutouts! Stuff I could never ever imagine how to do in the CAD that I have at hand.

M.

 

[François]

I use Inventor. I'm pretty sure that I'll get it done using the lofting command. If I really can't fo it with Inventor, I'll try Rhino, it's perfect for this type of shape. And I can try it free for 3 mounths.

 

[François]

More work done on the body today. I had my doughts on how easy it would be to do the body with Inventor but I must say it's turning out pretty good. I still need to tweak the form here and there and to add many details such as the hood scoop, the spare tire bump, the exhaust ports... Once I'm satisfied with the shape, I'll create the seams for the hood panels, doors and trunk lid. These will all be separate parts since they will all be openable. I will definatly need to separate the body in multiple pieces to be able to print it.

 

[François]

Almost there !

 

[François]

I modeled the trunk lid hinges today, it wasn't easy to find the right pivot spot but I think I got it. Same goes for the suicide doors, those pivot points were even harder to find. So far, it looks all nice and feasable on the screen. But the fun will start when I actually start building the freakin thing!!

 

[François]

Many more body details added today, tail lights ( I still have to figure out the wire routing and battery location), hook anchors, antenna holder and rear cockpit surround. I also did the interior of the trunk space which is 100% hypothetical since I have no pictures of it. The prop car probably didn't even have an opening lid. I imagine that the round bump on the trunk lid is to clear the massive spare tire but again, 100% blind on this also. About that bump on the lid, it stangely ressembles Captain America's shield. Maybe I'll paint the interior of the bump the same colors as the shield, make it a cameo of some sort.

 

[François]

I added a few more details to the body. Left and right hood now open, did the interior shape(it will all be upholstered in red leather), added the dashboard top with 4 gage bodies and did the Captain America's shield on the inside of the trunk lid. Still a lot more body to do.

 

[mondrasek]

Any plans to produce a "kit" at any point? So we all can build one too? Probably not as well as you (DEFFINITELY NOT AS WELL AS YOU in my case). But I'd definitely give it a go! Beautiful subject and models!

M.

 

[François]

Mondrasek, I did think about it. I'll start by making one and see if it could be feasable.

You might have noticed by now that I'm a science fiction movie geek. Especially when it comes to most Marvel films, they have some really cool stuff in them. In the very first one, they introduced a thing called a 'Tesseract', it's a blue glowy cube which is supposed to be a limitless power source. At one point, the cube is inserted in a cool looking devise. So I decided to add this devise in the car. It has no pratical use whatsoever, it's just looks cool!

Here's the movie prop

And here is my version

I'll run some wires (red lines) from the gadget to the engine bay. I might even put a blue led inside to illuminate the cube.

I also did the dashboard and steering wheel (a lot simpler than the Bentley's)

And the door panels

 

[François]

I made the cube holder thingy. It came out pretty good. I installed a blue led inside to light up the cube which will eventualy be reprinted out of clear resin. I'll also install some micro leds, one per side to illuminate the 2 blue rings. They too will be reprinted in clear resin.

Here are the parts before assembly



And assembled

And lighted up



And again, the reference

I also test printed a wheel and the gas tank. The wheel came out great but the tank not so good. I could fix it and once installed with the spare tire on top it would probably be ok.

 

[mondrasek]

I made the cube holder thingy. It came out pretty good. I installed a blue led inside to light up the cube which will eventualy be reprinted out of clear resin. I'll also install some micro leds, one per side to illuminate the 2 blue rings. They too will be reprinted in clear resin.

Here are the parts before assembly



And assembled

And lighted up



And again, the reference

I also test printed a wheel and the gas tank. The wheel came out great but the tank not so good. I could fix it and once installed with the spare tire on top it would probably be ok.

My money is on "he'll fix it." Kinda because that is what he does. Ya know, "perfection" or it is NOT GOOD ENOUGH! Anyone else want some of this action?

 

[François]

Mondrasek, you are 100% correct althougt it's not half bad once reworked but the walls are too thin which caused some printing errors so I'll reprint it. I also printed both filler tubes with the gas caps. So I have a fully assembled gas tank to play with. I also test printed a tire and it came out pretty close to perfect. I would really like to print them with a soft resin but this type of material is quite expensive. I took a picture of the tank next to the Bentley's gas tank, it give a good idea of the enormous size this model will be. Like I said before, they are both 1/12 scale.

The spare tire mount

Tank with spare tire

The hydra wheel next to the Bentley's

The hydra tank next to the Bentley's

 

[Donnie]

WOW - I am speechless - way above my abilities.

 

[François]

Did some more cad work on the firewall assembly. I've included a period master brake cylinder (comes from a 1940 ford) and clutch cylinder. They both have working spring loaded pedals. I've also figured out a way to mount the dashboard on the firewall so that the body can be removed without removing the dash and steering column, a bit like I did on the bentley. Ans lastly, I added a properly scaled human so I could position the pedals correctly.

 

[mondrasek]

The blue glowing thing could be an electrolysiser, splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen. Run the engine on the hydrogen and oxygen adding the supercharger's compressed air. Now the smallish gas tank becomes a relatively huge water tank.

 

[Alan Smith]

Hi. Lovely work, in a medium (Virtuality) I know little about. I have a question about the rear 4 wheel assembly. Does it have any other fixed points than the 4 swing-links between axle ends and chassis? I may have missed them but unless there are all the acceleration and braking loads with fall on the transmission shaft as the links will apparently allow the rear axle assemblies to move forwards and backwards relative to the gearbox/engine. This would be Ok of you had a spined joint somewhere in the shaft that would allow for such movement but I can't see one.