MOLDING: from 3D printed to rigid plastic?

[Shinchu]

So most of you know, I'm building a 79 ford truck. body selection for that year is... difficult.
(yes I'm running the Jconcepts but the dimensions are challenging)

there is a company out there called JKRC. i believe they are from korea.
they make a 3D printed 79 Ford that is nearly PERFECT. aside form the grill being a little too angled, and the whole thing looking a little too boxy... its probably the best thing out there for a 79 right now.
drop bed, light buckets, available camper shell, 8 inches wide and 313mm wheelbase.
its perfect for what i am building.

link to JKRC - http://jk3drc.com/product/1979-f-150.../30/display/1/

(ignore the bronco, however it gives me the idea maybe i can use the upcoming traxxas bronco grill...)




so the only reason i am hesitant, is because i hear all of the nightmares of 3D printed stuff warping in hot environments.
"don't leave it in the car" that sucks because what if we go on a crawl, and we get something to eat afterwards? stop at the store for milk on the way home?
scary.

so, my question is:
would it be feasible to buy this 3D printed body (or any, for that matter), and cut it back down to individual body panels and take molds of it, re-cast in a more rigid plastic?

or is that crazy talk?
also if you have had any experience with JKRC, please chime in. another fear is paying and never getting the body. at $225 with bed topper, selling my yeti and getting nothing in return, or a melted mess of PLA is a pretty big hit.

[JatoTheRipper]

People do make molds from 3D printed objects. But any imperfection in the body will end up in the mold.

I'm not sure if JKRC is where my friend got his Land Rover body, but it came in 100 pieces and he had to glue everything together. Is this body the same way?

[Shinchu]

most likely...

actually i wouldn't mind too much if its in that many pieces.
well 100 is kinda crazy but if i plan on molding parts, that might be an advantage.

i need to get smart on mold making...

[JohnRobHolmes]

Depends on the type of plastic used. If it is PLA that is not annealed, it will indeed warp in a hot car. Even in hot sun.

[stormridersp]

I have the exact same idea for a project of mine, although I intend to also mould and cast 3d printed functional parts like suspension arms, diff housings...

https://youtu.be/fxIBYYwHxDw
and
https://www.smooth-on.com/tutorials/...-20t-silicone/

Cheers

[JaydenThomas53]

Might be better off to jut start clean and not work off of those molds. When you make a mold it won't be 100% and the 3d print you bought might not have been 100% correct to start. Like a photocopy of a photocopy it looses detail.