Okay...a couple of years ago I went on a months long hunt to find someone who could reconstruct our various name tags (Courier-Sedan Delivery etc.) Had no luck.
Well...my sons roommate has a 3D printer now...and he is working on learning to make them! Below is a sample of what he did today. It is in plastic, and it is not quite perfect...but he said he knows what tweaks need to be made to get it that way. He says he will be able to make them out of metal too.
Now this is going to take a bit of time to perfect, but I would say that we may be able to see a good quality one in about 6-8 weeks. They would come with the beveled edges, and he believes he can get the pins as well in back that slide into fenders.
I know we had someone on the forum in Canada who had a Courier, but I guess they were branded there as Sedan Delivery. He can make those as well...but he will need one to use for set up...even if it is broken, he said he can piece it together to make the template.
Once he gets himself educated on the operation of making these, he'll ba able to make other sorts as well, as long as he can lay hands on templates.
I'll keep posting progress as it occurs.
I'm a Kendigit fan and was astounded at the amount of 3D printed stuff they make. I guess the wave of the future for those that need stuff made of unobtainium......
I made a "n" for one of my CS emblems and it's been on there for 3 years. Also 3D printed.
If they are not repopped the next step would be to have the emblem sand cast in aluminum with pins on the back. Them polish and plate. It's a good stand-in until you find a real one.
I would not say it's the future. It should just be a tool to help with the loss is some craftsmanship. The same file can be used to creat a CNC'd Billy emblem and polish and chrome that too.
3D printing is just another tool
Okay...so these pics are the result of today's play time. It is Christmas Day in Missouri...and 77 degrees!
I took the piece in the original post and sanded it with 220 taking some of the burrs off.
(Mind you I didn't put a LOT of effort into this as it will never see a car...it is far from functional. This was the first attempt to see if it could be done. The guy who made it is already looking to make another with proper beveling and the "o" and the "e" with their holes. Additionally is looking into more durable types of plastic.)
So...I shot it with primer...3 coat..very light first coat, a little heavier 2nd coat, then sanded with 2,000 grit. Then a final coat of primer same heaviness as the 2nd coat. I let each coat of primer dry for 20-25 minutes
Then I shpt it with the rattle can chrome paint. I have never shot anything with this paint before...so had no clue what it would look like.
Same as before...very light first coat, 20 minutes, 2nd slightly heavier coat...2,000 grit sanding, then another coat same heaviness as 2nd. Let it dry for 30 minutes before the pic.
Not bad overall...probably this one good for a 20 footer...maybe less. I'm thinking with the ABS plastic he is looking to use it will be better since that is a much cleaner and smoother material.