Scale Model Choppers engine models may be a little different from what comes to mind when you hear "3D printed." We don't sell parts straight off the printer — every single model goes through several stages: data preparation, printing, and hand finishing. This time, I'd like to show you the side of the work you don't usually get to see.
Step 1 | Data Preparation — Refining the Data So It Can Be Printed
The base 3D data is high-resolution work purchased from creators overseas. But purchased data, as-is, won't print cleanly or hold up well. That's where the first job begins.
Areas that would come out too thin and fragile at 1/6 scale get extra thickness added in advance. Any hollow spaces inside the data are also filled, because uncured resin can get trapped inside them during printing and later crack the part from within. Doing this kind of print-focused editing on every single piece is the foundation for every step that follows.
Step 2 | Resin 3D Printing
Printing is done on a resin (SLA-type) 3D printer, the ELEGOO Saturn 4 Ultra. Compared with FDM (filament) printing, resin printing leaves extremely fine layer lines, so tiny details like the edges of cooling fins and bolt heads come out crisp. Each engine is split into multiple parts, and I work out the best orientation and support layout for every one of them.
Step 3 | Washing, Post-Curing, and Support Removal
Fresh off the printer, the parts are still coated in uncured resin, so they're washed and then post-cured under UV light to bring out the material's full strength. After that, the supports are removed and every contact mark is cleaned up one by one. It's unglamorous work, but this prep has a big effect on the final result.
Step 4 | Painting and Hand Finishing — Where the Most Time Goes
This is where the real craftsmanship begins. I prepare the surface and paint each part separately. The texture of metal, the wear that comes with the years, the seep of oil — the character of a real engine can only be recreated by hand, with brush and airbrush.
In the Real Aging series especially, I paint in the patina of a motorcycle that has actually been ridden for decades, one engine at a time, so no two ever look the same — even of the same model. This is where the uniformity of 3D printing meets the one-off character of hand finishing, and it's the core of what SMC does.
Step 5 | Assembly and Inspection
The finished parts are assembled and given a final check for chipped details, uneven paint, or any looseness. After photography, the model is shipped out to you.
In Closing — Your Own Motorcycle, Through the Same Process
Using this same process, I also take custom orders to recreate the engine of your own motorcycle in 1/6 scale. If you'd like to have your engine sitting on your desk, feel free to reach out via the contact page or Instagram DM.
I also share work-in-progress shots on Instagram (@scale_model_choppers).
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