Introduction: How to Design and Create a Scale Motorcycle Model

Hello, in this tutorial I take you through a simple step by step process on how to start the design of a motorcycle to finishing with a scale model of it. I will achieve this by showing a variety of step by step videos, pictures, and I will also give a brief description. Through out this you will also have a learning experience with many different kinds of software that I used. The final product is based on a model I designed my self. The time frame for this project is about a week and a half, this includes printing the parts and painting them.

Hope you guys enjoy!

Step 1: What You Will Need

the materials you will need are:

1. Pencils
2. Pens
3. Erasers
4. Paper
5. Markers
6. Acrylic paint
7. Airbrush
8. Paint brush
9. Super glue
10.  Graphics tablet
11.  3D printer
12. a computer
13. display case
14. hot glue gun
15. hot glue sticks

Software used:

• Autodesk Sketchbook Designer
• Autodesk Inventor Pro
• Autodesk Alias Automotive
• Autodesk Showcase
• CatalystEX

Step 2: Research

For this step it is very simple. I would recommend going onto the internet and looking at different motorcycles. Researching many styles will help give you ideas. You can look for themes, frame styles, colours, and many other things. This will help either giving you ideas or show you how others have done what you are about to do.

Step 3: Creating Rough Sketches

The first step in designing a motorcycle is sketching ideas and finalizing what you like. This step can be done in pencil, or pen. I would recommend pencil as it is easier to correct is something gets messed up. When starting a pencil sketch I would recommend starting off simple by drawing circles where you would like your wheel placement. This is a big factor with the over all frame design as well as the angle for your front end. After you have the wheels drawn in id recommend you next sketch out the frame and front end. Once you have done this the rest can be done in a random order, just make sure that when drawing the handle bars don’t interfere with the gas tank or become limited in the range they turn.

Step 4: Using Autodesk Sketchbook Designer



This tutorial will show you a quick run through of the program Autodesk Sketchbook Designer. I will simply show the necessary tools and steps I took for creating a digital sketch of my motorcycle frame.

Step 5: Creating Your Rims in Autodesk Inventor

this video will take you through the steps on creating a rim in Autodesk inventor

Step 6: Creating a Fender in Autodesk Alias Automotive

This tutorial will show you the program Autodesk Alias Automotive. I will take you through the process I took in creating a piece for my motorcycle.

Step 7: Creating an STL in Autodesk Alias Automotive

This video will take you through the steps on how to create an STL from Autodesk Alias Automotive.

Step 8: Creating Render Images in Autodesk Showcase

This tutorial will take you through the process of creating high quality resolution images in the program Autodesk Showcase 2012.

Step 9: Creating an STL From Autodesk Inventor

This video will show the steps of taking the rim designed from the earlier video, creating an STL for that piece and bringing it to another program. The program is called CatalystEX, this is the software that will be used in printing all the parts of the motorcycle in 3D from the 3D printer.

Step 10: Rapid Prototyping the Parts for Assembly

This video will show you how to use the program CatalystEX in order to print out your parts for a scale model.

Step 11: Setting Up a Print on the 3D Printer

In this slide I will show you 4 videos. These consist of starting the print up, the first couple layers of support material getting put down, the last 4 minutes of the part being finished and finally the part being popped off the tray.



Step 12: Painting Parts for Assembly

In this step you can now take the parts you have printed out on the 3D printer and start deciding what the colour scheme will be. Their are many different types of paint that you can use: enamel, acrylic, spray paint, lacquers. The different paints give a different finish to the parts. The one thing you will have to be careful is if you are airbrushing your parts you must know what the system can handle, for example I used acrylic paint because I didn’t have an airbrush that could handle lacquers or enamels. The easy part with this step is if you have completed the previous steps then in Sketchbook Designer you can change the colours of your frame and wheels to help you decide and then do the same with all the parts in a 3D environment when creating render images in Showcase. Once you are prepared you can paint the parts the chosen colours. When dry I would recommend clear coating the parts which will give them a nice shiny look and seal all the paints in.

Step 13: Final Assembly of Parts

This is the final step in building the motorcycle. First step is start by taking the frame and putting all the parts on. This will show what the over all look of the bike is and how you will need to space everything to fit perfectly. Once you have done that you can take piece by piece off and with the super glue, permanently securing the parts down. For the wheels you might need to make axles to secure them. For my bike I drilled 1/32nd inch holes and with a piece of wire I glued them in place. When the whole bike is secured together you have a couple options; you can secure it to a enclosed case that AMT models makes, or you can create your own like I did with some foam core (found at staples) and some plastic.

Step 14: Assembly of Motorcycle in Autodesk Maya 2012

in this step i have created an animation in Autodesk Maya. This is a step which is completely optional for the tutorial. the reason i did this was to illustrate how i had assembled the bike in Alias but this program allows you to assign all materials and see what needs to be changed if anything. 

Step 15: Other Bikes Made

The following pictures are examples of 3 other people who I have seen complete the project. One is a chopper, one a concept sport bike, and the last a concept scooter design. All of these have been created using the same steps and process I have shared in this instructable. 

Make It Real Challenge

Participated in the
Make It Real Challenge