Few names are more iconic in the customized motorcycle world than that of Harley Davidson’s (HD) Fat Boy model. The bike represents a significant piece of the American company’s brand due to its popularity and representative value. The urban legend about its name says that it refers to the WWII atomic bombs, Fat Man and Little Boy. The celebrated Fat Boy model has its unique history. The motorcycle is credited for single-handedly re-launching the U.S. motorcycle manufacturer when its market was dwindling and was facing foreclosure. Paying homage to this distinctive Harley Davidson bike, Maurizio “Mao” Casella develops a 3D print your own Fat Boy motorcycle.
The Challenge of Creating a Printable Fat Boy Model
Casella has established his reputation in the 3D printable model world by creating an impressive collection of emblematic vintage cars; examples of this are the Fiat 500, the Shelby Cobra and the Ferrari F4300. These stunning and high-quality replicas of classic vehicles from posters and showrooms throughout the world have been developed from images available online. He continues to challenge his abilities by increasing the quality of his 3D printable representations, as well as the number of available designs.
To develop the unique Harley for a print your own Fat Boy motorcycle, the ingenious designer challenged his abilities by going one step further: Maurizio conceived and designed the Fat Boy model by himself. Designing, printing and building the Fat Boy was the designer’s most exceptional challenge to date. Casella wanted to master the symbolic Harley’s unique ride. Mao contacted Harley Davidson on their website to see if the company’s interest in 3D printable models. He also submitted his model to HDs creative division to see if the company would be interested in promoting the replicas. Lastly, the models can either be gifts for HD customers or available for direct purchase for 3D printing fans.
Designing and Printing the Fat Boy Motorcycle
Because Harley Davidson did not respond, Casella decided to do it himself. The design process of the “Print your own Fat Boy motorcycle” proved to be difficult for Mao. He began with the engine and the frame, maintaining a very similar style to the original model. He designed the remaining parts of the Fat Boy from scratch. Maurizio was going for a customized replica that included a new tank, reverse steering, a mono-seat and tail cut among the detailed features. The final tally of 3D components numbers an incredible 75 that are divided by color in over 20 different .stl files. Although beginners might feel overwhelmed by the many pieces needed to build the Fat Boy miniature, Casella includes a thorough tutorial to help model enthusiasts assemble the final product.
For users who download the files, Leapfrog Creatr HS 3D printer streamlines the process to print the Fat Boy motorcycle. Leapfrog’s Simplify 3D software keeps alive the Fat Boy’s urban legend through its accessible 3D printing.