I'm building a thing - noll11's MAZ-537

[Noll11]

I've always loved older Russian trucks, with the maz-537 being pretty high on my list. I've never really had the expertise to do the body though, so it's always just been a pipe dream. I. however, have access to a 3d-printer this semester in school, as well as an old google sketchup model of the Maz lying around, so I thought why not? . I will be pausing my Porsche to get started on this, as I had to steal the axles haha.

Here's the hopeful end result:



and what I've done so far. the model that I had didn't include any surface widths, so I'm having to to through manually and add them all so the printer will know how thick to make all the walls etcetera. the cab is going to be so big that I have to print it in 6 different pieces! I've got the front of the cab and the doors done so far:






and my real-world physical progress (i'm going to need to trade for the rest of the axles, driveshafts, shocks, etc; any one interested in a 1/8 buggy ?):


I will be working on this every day in design tech, so that should keep the momentum going. more updates soon!

[Noll11]

Thanks, JN!

nothing really picture worthy with the cab itself (just resolving some mesh errors with the cab), but I did just make a transfer case that should work with some mod 1 pinions that I had lying around. I will hopefully be printing the doors and t-case tomorrow.

pic:

[Noll11]

just finished the center section of the cab and vent:

[Noll11]

got the doors printed. they'll need some sanding and filling, and i'll do the doorhandles by hand.

Pics:

[Szczerba]

Awesome. Subscribed.

[lonleycreeper]

Originally Posted by Szczerba

Awesome. Subscribed.

Yeah what he said!

[slow1500]

This is awesome! One of my favorite trucks on Spintires!

[Noll11]

Thanks all! been wanting to do something like this for a long time, now I have the equipment to do so .

Nothing picture-worthy to show, but I've finished all the various parts for the cab with the exception of the fenders; will start printing tomorrow with any luck.

Not sure how I'm going to do the fenders yet; not sure how well something of that shape/thickness would 3d print. if anyone has any suggestions/tips, that'd be awesome.

[Noll11]

Transfer case completed (mocked up with leftover driveshaft parts):



Have had a major setback with the body; It seems like there's something up (with all sections!), that is preventing it printing properly. I've been trying to figure out what it is for quite some time, but to no avail. there is no other sketchup (or other) models to work from either, so I don't think that the maz will end up working, sadly.

as such, for the past few days I've been working on a KrAZ 255. pic of the various parts:

[Noll11]

Nearly ready to start printing. Also found a picture that I think conveys the sheer size of this truck:

[Szczerba]

Waiting patiently for the printed parts to take shape.

[89redranger]

Hey man, awesome build you have going. I've designed a few of my own parts for 3D printing as well, and even know the struggles of Sketchup. One word of advice...get rid of Sketchup as quick as possible. Sketchup is an architecture based program, has problems developing small curves and segments, and is basically only good if your models are drawn WAY over sized, then rescaled to the size you need. Try downloading the free trial for Autodesk's Fusion 360. No more problems developing water tight models, no more problems with small curves or segments, and I can draw my parts in 1:1 without the program freaking out. Even micro parts are no longer a problem. Happy CAD'ing!

[Noll11]

Thanks ranger! I've made some stuff in autodesk now, and am really liking it


Got a box today. Do I have enough tires?

[Noll11]

oh, and nearly forgot - working on some 3d-printed rings to replace the stock axial ones:

[Szczerba]

Ready see some more pictures

[89redranger]

That last CAD model looks pretty damned good. For the longest time I THOUGHT I was happy with Sketchup...then I was sent looking for Fusion by a good friend, and my CAD world hasn't been the same since. While it's still no Solidworks, it does everything I could ask for, and a ton of things I don't know how to do even. I'm going to have to buy the license for the program soon though, as some of my parts will be going into production in the next month or so. I don't need my hands slapped by a corporate suit with a hard-on for licensing agreements.

[Noll11]

Long story short, i was able to do some finagling with the original MAZ 537 models and make them printible on one of our printers. Only thing is that the printer is our old one, which means that the quality isn't as good (that's what sandpaper is for haha) and the print area is a bit smaller; i've had to cut the model into 12 separate pieces, not including vents, interior, etc.

Pics - the middle panel is a failed print, but it's good for mock-up:



next to my SCEXO) (~12 in wb):

the cab section alone:

[Noll11]

Did a test print of a beadlock ring. the print wasn't very nice, but good for proof of concept. next to a stock axial ring for reference:



hope to have another bit of the cab done tomorrow, as long as it's printed nicely.

[Noll11]

Starting to collect the rest of the stuff that I need to get this going again - axles, shocks, trans, etc. jerry from SoCrawl will be printing the body once he gets his laptop back and repaired, but I have a lot to do until then haha.

Have done some alterations to the body (made the doors no longer a separate part, added the fenders which I forgot efore, and so on.

Also had an idea that will include a spare ESC, 55t motor, and lots of gear reduction - anyone care to guess what it is?

pic of body as it is now:

[LCW89]

Very nice! I wish i had the knowledge to use software for this!
As i am working on a Maz myself, have you noticed the (my english stals now) from back to forward slope on the driver Cabin part, IT also goes from the center of the back out forward to the front corners to create the little droopy eyebrow look!