Thanks to this individual, you can create a 3D printed model kit of your favorite car.

      Andrey Bezrodny/3D Export

      If you have an interest in contemporary supercars, showcasing a scale model of your favorite vehicle on your desk is quite simple. You just need to wait for a company to release one. However, if your automotive interests are more niche, you often faced challenges in finding models. This is changing due to 3D printing: There is a platform called 3DExport where you can download files to print a diverse range of cars.

      The site operates similarly to Etsy, but for individuals selling 3D printing files. Anyone can create a file, upload it to 3DExport for evaluation, and if approved, sell it on the site. Creators earn a royalty of 70% to 80% for each sold file, although the platform reviews every submission to ensure quality standards are upheld. The collection of car-related items available for purchase, download, and printing is truly impressive.

      For instance, a Lancia logo is available for $15, and if you're looking for a Gemballa body kit for a scaled BMW M635CSi from the E24 generation, that's priced at $30. Need rally car-inspired lights? Those are available for $8. However, what is even more remarkable is the extensive selection of actual scale models you can print, where the work of Ukrainian creator Andrey Bezrodny particularly shines.

      Andrey Bezrodny has been a seller on 3DExport for almost ten years, providing files that allow anyone to print what resembles the homemade alternative to the plastic Revell kits many of us attempted to build as children. For example, his 1984 Jeep Cherokee (XJ) model is divided into several files that consist of a body separated into four components: the grille, wheels, tires, and interior, as well as windows and light lenses. The files are in .STL format and are compatible with resin and fused deposition modeling (FDM) printers.

      You can print the model, assemble it, paint it, and even customize it if you have something specific in mind. A great advantage of 3D printing your own model is that changing the scale takes mere seconds, with the primary limitation being your printer's size. The XJ can be printed at a 1/43 scale, resulting in a couple of inches in length; at a 1/8 scale, it will exceed a foot in length; or any size in between.

      Bezrodny’s catalog features a considerable number of American cars. In addition to the XJ, it includes a 1979 Dodge W200, a Chevrolet Silverado HD, and a 1973 Pontiac Grand Am. He also provides models of European cars, such as the BMW M3 Touring, a 2003 Subaru Forester, and a Nissan Hardbody.

      Several other creators offer files on 3DExport, so if Bezrodny doesn’t have what you're looking for, you might find it from someone else. It’s definitely worth checking out! I recently discovered a 1984 Citroën C15 model that makes me want to take my 3D printer out of the attic and start printing.

      Most of Bezrodny’s car models are priced at $20 for download, but they are currently available at half price. If you've been waiting for a model of a 1991 Honda Civic, you’re in luck: that one is free to download. You can even print some stylish aftermarket wheels for it.

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