Method of making a body shell for a model automobile

Abstract

A method of producing a scale automobile replica by deforming a sheet of metal into a metal body blank having a front, a back, sides and a roof, which collectively define an external profile of the replica automobile. Portions of the metal body blank are removed to define openings for a decklid, a hood, windows and wheelwells of the replica automobile. The metal body blank is then shaped and detailed by stamping with a collection of dies, and hinged closures are located within respective opening to form the decklid and hood.

1 . A method of producing a body shell for a model automobile comprising:
 providing a sheet of metal having a thickness in a range from 0.015 inch to 0.025 inch,   deforming the sheet of metal into a metal body blank having a front, a back, sides and a roof defining an external profile of the replica automobile,   removing portions of the metal body blank to define openings for a decklid, a hood, windows and wheelwells of the replica automobile,   shaping and detailing the metal body blank by stamping with a collection of dies, and   locating within respective openings hinged closures for the decklid and hood.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the shaping and detailing comprises stamping the body blank a plurality of times with the dies. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the body blank is stamped between 35 and 45 times. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein deforming the sheet of metal into a body blank comprises using a metal stamping technique 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein locating within respective openings hinged closures comprises providing weld-on tabs and hinges for engaging the closures onto the metal body blank. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the metal body blank is hardened during stamping with the collection of dies. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the sheet of metal comprises metal with high deformability selected from the group including Steel, Stainless Steel, Aluminum, Copper, Brass, or Co-netic metals 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 4  wherein each of the stampings uses a different one of the collection of dies. 
   
   
       9 . A scale replica automobile having a stamped metal body shell made by a method comprising providing a sheet of metal having a thickness in a range from 0.015 inch to 0.025 inch, deforming the sheet of metal into a metal body blank having a front, a back, sides and a roof defining an external profile of the replica automobile, removing portions of the metal body blank to define openings for a decklid, a hood, windows and wheel arches of the replica automobile, shaping and detailing the metal body blank by stamping with a collection of dies, and locating within respective openings hinged closures for the decklid and hood. 
   
   
       10 . The scale replica automobile of  claim 9  wherein the shaping and detailing comprises stamping the body blank a plurality of times with the dies. 
   
   
       11 . The scale replica automobile of  claim 10  wherein the body blank is stamped between 35 and 45 times. 
   
   
       12 . The scale replica automobile of  claim 9  wherein deforming the sheet of metal into a body blank comprises using a metal stamping technique. 
   
   
       13 . The scaled automobile replica of  claim 9  wherein locating within respective openings hinged closures comprises providing weld-on tabs and hinges for engaging the closures onto the metal body blank. 
   
   
       14 . The scaled automobile replica of  claim 9  wherein the metal body blank is hardened during stamping with the collection of dies. 
   
   
       15 . The scaled automobile replica of  claim 9  wherein the sheet of metal comprises metal with high deformability selected from the group including Steel, Stainless, Aluminum, Copper, Brass, or Co-netic metals. 
   
   
       16 . The scaled automobile replica of  claim 14  wherein each of the stampings uses a different one of the collection of dies.