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For fitment, I prefer a full sized wood mock-up. There are small details that you can catch when actually sitting in (or getting in and out of) a full sized mock-up that would be hard to detect in a scaled down model.
If I recall Erioshi did a lot of full scale modeling for one of his ideas and found it very useful. I think the large scale, 1/4, modeling time is better put into either working with CAD drawings or full size models/mockups that you can sit in and get a feel from.
Just as a heads up, the experience of my engine builder friend is that the material used by a prototyping machine is not useful for real intake manifolds. He was doing a serious pull on a turbo Lotus twincam and heard an odd noise - looked up at the engine stand and a haze of fuel air mist was starting to seep thru the intake manifold where it had become porous from fuel. That was probably just a few seconds before there would have been a decent explosion...
There might be some interesting small things to make in full size with a prototyping machine that could be used for casting patterns.
- Front and rear suspension uprights could be made that would be a big improvement for us ( Seven, Lalo and other small track cars )
- Bellhousing adapter to mount Porsche, Subaru and Audi transaxles with flywheel and starter in a Locost style car.
- Parts to shrink a Ford 289/302, It could be the smallest motor to put in a Locost, but it could use help for that. A very low profile intake manifold ( for turbo maybe/probably ), conversion to an external water pump.
- A diff housing or maybe rear cover more suitable for us.