"Bucegi" is the brand of the old Romanian truck I'm in love with. I drove one for many years while I was younger and it was pure love. Based on a Ford Y-block pattern V8 gasoline engine of 140 HP, the first SR-131 truck was produced in the summer of 1960. In the five years a lot of trucks have been produced, including military vehicle, long vehicle, tip-lorry and crane.

I've been in love with this truck for years, I'm modeled it from resin years ago and I've played with it in Microsoft Train Simulator. Last year a friend of mine introduce me to 3D printing and it's been a new horizon opened in front of my eyes. I have rebuilt the cabin from Microsoft Train Simulator to STL and start printing. For the last year I've managed together with my friends to design for 3D printing three Bucegi trucks (a gasoline tanker, a lorry truck, and a tractor).

Who are you ? 

I’m Arin Panait, I’m 52, I leave in a small town in Romania, Fetesti. I could describe myself as “a passionate hobbyist”. I have done a lot of things and there were a lot of domains I was interested into. 

I’ve started tinkering in my childhood with DIY construction machinery toys made of wood and wire, I’ve done lot of fretwork (some photos on my blog - http://arin.panait.net/?s=trasuri), I’ve built a model railroad diorama as large as my living room (http://trenulete.info/orasul-din-sufragerie-prin-lentila-unui-ziarist-la-adevarul), and for the last few years my passion is to build custom model cars. I have built lot of models, both from scratch and by customizing off-the-shelf models (a Romanian Postal Service car http://arin.panait.net/dacia-1304-posta-romana/ or the car of ex-dictator Ceausescu - http://arin.panait.net/aro-306-ma%C8%99ina-decapotabila-a-lui-ceau%C8%99escu).

Last year I’ve first seen a 3D printer, with the help of a friend. It was like a new universe has opened for in front of my eyes. I’ve been fortunate to have friends who helped me use the new technology and helped me with creating 3D models. This way an old dream of mine came true : modelling of the old Bucegi Romanian truck. 

What is “Bucegi”, why and how are you modelling it ?

Bucegi is an old Romanian truck brand that have been produced in Romania 40-50 years ago. I drove one when I was younger and it was love at first sight. Around 25-30 different trucks have been produced in Romania, all on the same Bucegi platform (lorry, tractor truck, gasoline tanker, garbage truck, milk tanker, fire truck, refrigerated truck, timber lorry and others).

Years ago, playing Microsoft Train Simulator, I have modelled the trucks as 3D digital models for the software.  I’ve tried many times to replicate real models with resin and stuff, but nothing satisfactory until I’ve start using the 3D printing technology.

As I said, 3D printing has opened a new universe for me. Converting the cabin from Microsoft Train Simulator to STL for 3D printing was the first step I did (http://arin.panait.net/bucegi-pregatiri/). One year later, with help from my friends, many trucks were ready (see the pages on the blog - http://arin.panait.net/page/4/?s=bucegi). Three of the trucks are completely 3D printable, all the elements have been modelled and printed. For the rest of the trucks you see on the blog, it’s actually a combination between 3D printing and building from scratch from other materials.

Why have you started this campaign ?

What I want is to share with people the results of my work. I really think it’s nice for the youth to have the chance to connect with the technology of the past. As soon as I have enough trucks to display, I want to create  a small museum for everyone to learn about the old technology.

This is a goal I see in the future, for now I have to focus on modelling and printing. That’s actually the role of the campaign. To allow me to focus on 3D modelling and printing until I have enough models ready to be displayed. I have three models ready to be printed (the ones I’m offering in the campaign),  and I still have about 20 trucks to modelled and printed. 

I’ve seen all the perks on your campaign are the same, no matter the contribution. Why ?
 

That is correct, all the perks are the same, no matter the contribution. Although the Indiegogo platform is mainly used by startups and businesses, I do not see my Indiegogo campaign as a business. If I wanted to make money, I would have sold the models on Shapeways or similar for a fixed price. However, I only need a way to focus on designing new stuff for 3D printing and later creating my museum, and nothing more. It’s up to you to decide how much value and happiness my models bring to you and contribute accordingly on the campaign.