From a Shelby Cobra to a Fiat 500, Maurizio Casella’s Detailed 3D Printed Models are Breathtaking

Change is apparently something that Maurizio Casella of Egypt is quite fond of. After all, he had been working doing advertising in Milan, Italy since the early 1980s, before he decided to get up and move to Egypt about 15 years ago in order to “follow his inner passion”. At the time, that passion was for the earth’s oceans and seas, and Egypt was the place he felt like settling as a diving instructor. However, Casella also always had a knack for illustrating, creating ads and brochures, and developing websites. The combination of these interests culminated in him picking up a hobby consisting of 3D modeling, which ultimately led to him buying a 3D printer in order to bring his 3D models to life.

Sure, plenty of people spend their extra time dabbling in 3D modeling software, but few actually reach a level where their models become something of exquisite beauty.

This past week, Hugo Cults, co-founder of French based 3D printing model repository, Cults3D, contacted us to bring our attention to artist Maurizio Casella’s incredible work. Unlike a lot of modelers, Casella’s work is all original, and he focuses on creating model cars and airplanes which can easily be 3D printed on standard desktop 3D printers.

These models include his design of the scaled down Shelby Cobra, the Fiat 500, the Ferrari F430, and the Messerschmitt ME 262 fighter jet. Each and every one of these models are designed with very intricate detail, and while Casella typically uses a Kentstrapper Volta Beta 3D printer, his models print out just fine on most FDM/FFF 3D printers out there.

Designing each of these was no easy task for Casella.

“It all starts with blueprints, which include drawings of the subject from the front, the side, and the top,” Casella tells 3DPrint.com. “With those drawings I start modeling with my 3d software, point to point, following carefully the shape of my object.Once this is done, I have the general shape of my model and I can go ahead with details or internal objects like the engine, seats, cockpit, (that cannot be drawn from blueprints) which I copy from pictures that I have selected from the web. Then I have to think about wall thickness, polygon intersections and boolean operations, which are the parameters that define a good and easy printable manifold and watertight .stl.”

As you can see in the different designs and prints below, Casella doesn’t leave any stone unturned when it comes to incorporating as much detail as possible into his models.

SHELBY COBRA

Perhaps the most famed car in American history, once printed out, the pieces must be assembled like you would any traditional model car. Casella suggests printing all the parts in PLA at 220°C, with a layer height of 0.2mm. Some of the objects, such as the steering wheel, come off the print bed very small, meaning you must be careful removing them from the printer so that they do not break. The model may be purchased for printing at home, from Cults3D for just $4.83.

FIAT 500

In the United States, FIAT has become quite popular as of late as a car manufacturer. In fact, you can find many 2015 FIAT 500’s driving around on the road, just about anywhere in the US and Europe. Casella’s verison is based on the 1960s model of the car, and it includes all of the little intricacies that you might not expect to see on a 3D printed model. The model may be purchased for printing at home, from Cults3D for just $4.89.

FERRARI F430

No model car collection is complete without including a Ferrari. Thie Ferrari F430 is a scaled down replica of the famed Italian sports car, which went out of production in 2009. While it’s production life was short lived, Casella’s model will last you forever. Casella designed this model using Cinema 4D. The model may be purchased for printing at home, from Cults3D for just $4.83.

MESSERSCHMITT ME 262

The Messerschmitt Me 262 is a historic fighter jet. It was the world’s first jet-powered fighter aircraft. It was used in Nazi Germany during World War II and has become a very intriguing piece of history for WWII and airplane buffs. The model may be purchased for printing at home, from Cults3D for just $4.82.

As you can see in the photos provided, these 3D printed designs feature just as many details as your typical model car/airplane kits. Could this be the future of model making?

“I have been modeling for years now, just for rendering purposes, but I am new to 3d printing, and it still amazes me how easy it is to turn out real things from my computer,” Casella told us. “I think that when the FDM 3D printers [begin working with] with shredded plastics or pellets, there will be the real 3D revolution, less waste of plastics around the world and a new concept of re-using materials and objects. I bought my 3D printer with the purpose to build toys for my 2 years old child, but I quickly realized that most of the toys will be for me.”

What do you think about Casella’s models? Will you by downloading and printing any of them? Discuss in the 3D printable detailed car/airplane model forum thread on 3DPB.com.