How to carve a Mini Cooper from a block of wood

[tom120934]

With sanding started, it's even more interesting now. Thanks for sharing that !

[solidmodeler]

Transferring lines and shaping the back of the car with the same method used on the windshield...


Using a template as a guide for carving the outline of the lower rear...


The general contour roughed out...


Rounding out the front of the car, actually the front bumper. This can be done with coarse sandpaper tacked to a block...


Shaping the convex curve of the hood and top. I shave off thin layers of wood, not too much really and then use the sanding block...

[solidmodeler]

The next step is to create the convex shape of the door panels. This diagram shows a cross-section of the car and how bevels are used to transition the saw-cut block to a more realistic shape...


This is the contour before shaping...


Using the chisel to shave the upper bevel. I like to make one continuous cut if possible, keeping the same angle all the way across.


This is how it should look after cutting the bevel and using sandpaper to soften the edges.


Here I am carefully scoring a line along the bottom edge of the door and around the wheel wells. These areas will appear to be raised above the body contour after the door is shaped (next step).


Cutting the lower bevel of the doors.


So that it gives the door a bulge effect...


Shaping the rear quarter panel. Basically, streamlining the space between two horizontal contours created with templates in yesterday's post.


As the shaping progresses. Taking off small facets until a satisfactory look is achieved. This is where I look at a lot of photographs of actual cars to compare.


Leaving the tail-light raised...


It's not a square car anymore...

[hmg2007]

Amazing work there. Interesting. I love how this car is turning out, especially out of wood. Keep it up.

[The IC]

that looks fantastic! great job

whats the plan at the end? paint or varnish/oil/wax etc. or just leaving it unfinished?

[greenvampire]

incredible so far! really enjoying the progress images, keep em coming

[tom120934]

You have amazing skills for wood and for explanation. That's why your project is so interesting !

[solidmodeler]

Thanks, thanks and thanks. I was thinking about painting it in a rally scheme, maybe the classic red and white.

[Stew2000]

It's just amazing. old skool 3D modelling. no PC needed.

[solidmodeler]

Actually I use the PC to download, scale and print the drawing!

[solidmodeler]

I drew the outline of the grille and headlights onto the front of the car and carefully with a knife cut along the lines. These will help prevent tearing out wood that I want to stay on the car.






Using a small chisel, remove the waste material, one shallow "layer" at a time, until reaching the proper depth (the depth at which the headlights and grille connect with the body of the car). Then I re-cut the outlines to deepen them for the next pass of the chisel. This all requires a light touch, almost no hand-pressure. Avoid going too far and cutting off important parts! It is difficult to put wood back on.


Next I use small needle files to smooth out the rough spots.


Here I am using sanding sticks. They are simply strips of sandpaper of various grits glued to small wooden sticks. They can be custom made to any size or shape. Eventually I will use these all over the car for final sanding.

[Stew2000]

That is just amazing.

[greenvampire]

incredible, its really starting to take shape now

[VladyF]

it's looking great but you should use a bigger scale, isn't tricky to work at those small details ? 0_o

too bad you can't mirror it like a 3d model

[EFFalcon]

you really need an eye for this kind of work.
much like clay sculpting.
very impressed.

[solidmodeler]

This step is not absolutely necessary, especially if the model is to be painted, but I think it adds some extra realism to show the windows slightly recessed below the car body.

Tracing the outline of the side windows...


After all the lines have been traced from the paper onto the car...


With a knife, I am cutting along all of the pencil lines...


I begin shaving a shallow depression with a small chisel...


After reaching a desired depth, about 1/64th of an inch or 1/2 millimeter on a car this scale. There is no need to measure the depth of with a ruler, just whatever looks right.


Smoothing out with the chisel before using a sanding stick...

[Synetearis]

wow.. those are some solid skills! Love the way you plan out your layers of cutting away the wood.
I would love to see you do something bigger..

[Stew2000]

It's amazing. are you going to sell it?

[greenvampire]

really incredible, looks amazing!

[TomiL]

This is really amazing. The favourite topic at the forum
I´d love to see a Land Cruiser FJ/BJ series model...*cough cough*