Is that Shelby GT350R out of your budget? What about the SVT Raptor? If you’re a fan of diecast, or better yet, making your very own 3D creations, you may want to check out the licensed Ford 3D Store.
This new Ford 3D store, found at 3d.ford.com, has files ready for your printing pleasure to create 3D versions of your favorite models such as the new Ford GT, F-150 Raptor, Shelby GT350R, Focus ST and Fiesta ST. More models will continue to be added. Over 1,000 Ford images are available to purchase and the list is growing. Customers can pick which models they would like to print, as well as the size and materials they’d like to use.
“3D printing at home is a growing trend, and it makes sense for us to offer our customers a chance to make their own 3D Ford models,” said Mark Bentley, licensing manager, Ford Global Brand Licensing. “At Ford, we’re using 3D printing every day to rapidly prototype parts, and now we want to share that fun with our fans.”
Desktop 3D printers are jumping up in sales according to Juniper Research. Data shows that 44,000 of these 3D printers were sold in 2014, and it is predicted that the number will skyrocket to over 1 million units in 2018.
These downloadable and printable files can be ordered in 1/32 scale in plastic, but purchasing just the digital image can allow the customer to print it in whatever scale or material of their choosing and at home or take it to an outside source with professional 3D printers which can use soft plastics, sandstone, or various metals. The 3D digital online store is powered by TurboSquid.com, a leader in 3D image files most commonly used in video games.
“TurboSquid already allows customers to purchase more than 1,000 unique, licensed digital images of Ford products ranging from the Model T to the all-new Ford GT,” said Bentley. “We’re at the forefront of licensing 3D automotive images, and it made sense that TurboSquid help us complete that connection to the consumer.”
Visit 3d.ford.com to see what 3D images you’d like to print out for yourself!