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1963 VW Micro-bus


B67ville

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I bought this kit because my dad had one of these.

0057763VWbus01-vi.jpg

0057763VWbus02-vi.jpg

I was hoping that when I purchased this bus that it was the old Revell bus from the 60's.

It's NOT!

It is nothing more than the Hasagwa bus reissued under the Revell name.

What should have been a simple quick build, turned into a major project.

The kit is a 21 window Deluxe,with a sun roof.

My dad had a 15 window Deluxe without a sunroof.

The kit has 3 full bench seats.

Dads was a walk thru.

Lots of mods right there.

OK, I can deal with that. Unfortunately I didn't get pics from the very start.

So here's where I did start the pics.

0057763VWbus06-vi.jpg

As you can see the roof windows are filled, and the sun roof is history.

The seats and floor are modified for the walk thru configuration.

0057763VWbus14-vi.jpg

0057763VWbus04-vi.jpg

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1963 VW Micro-bus part 2

I had to correct the dash, as I had never seen on as in the kit.

Where the kits dash extended flat to the bottom, there would have been a shelf, it's there now, and the grab handle is no longer a solid bar , but a handle as it should be.

0057763VWbus07-vi.jpg

The vents in the roof are non-existent in the kit. So I made one.

0057763VWbus10-vi.jpg

0057763VWbus11-vi.jpg

A friend found a Revell Roller Skate Van at a swap meet and thought I'd like it.

He was right I did like it, and thought it would be good sitting beside my bus.

But I noticed the the Van still had the interior engraved on inside, (another thing the kit don't have).

Sorry, but I never took a pic of the van before tearing it down.

0057763VWbus16-vi.jpg

I also liked the chassis as it had a bit more detail, (the heat duct leading to the front).

so I ground out the chassis from the van floor and the chassis from the bus.

0057763VWbus12-vi.jpg

0057763VWbus13-vi.jpg

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Re: 1963 VW Micro-bus part 3

Here I have the cut down Van sides test fit on the chassis.

0057763VWbus17-vi.jpg

With them almost ready to install.

0057763VWbus20-vi.jpg

(It will now have an engine too!)

0057763VWbus21-vi.jpg

Which brings us up to the moment.

As it sits now in mock-up.

0057763VWbus22-vi.jpg

0057763VWbus23-vi.jpg

It's getting close but I still have a lot to do.

Stay tuned for up dates.

Thanks for looking.

Jerry

Edited by B67ville
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That is a very cool project. I like it a lot. The sunroof delete on the Deluxe was an interesting option and I like seeing your conversion. That would have been easy on a Revell kit. You only needed to put the Van roof on the Microbus body! Of course then you would have had to deal with the rest of the Revell kit!

Looking forward to seeing this project under glass.

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1963 VW Micro-bus part 4

I made the 2 panels that are behind the front seats,as well as the ashtray on the back of the middle seat.

0057763VWbus24-vi.jpg

also decided to open the doors.

0057763VWbus25-vi.jpg

and this is where it truely sits at this time. The stall being the door hinges. I've seen a how to on a external hinges, but, naturally I can't find it now.

Thanks for looking.

Jerry

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1963 VW Micro-bus part 4

I've seen a how to on a external hinges, but, naturally I can't find it now.

Thanks for looking.

Jerry

You just might be in luck! There's a how-to on that subject in the brand new MCM that just came in the mail a couple days ago. cool.gif

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Jerry, nice to see you post your build, too!

Converting from the 23 window to 15 window is pretty sweet! I also like your use of the roller van for the interior panels. I have a California Roller kit that I could have used that for, but decided to go more on a custom vein. The Cali Roller also has the side window locations moulded in place, so could be converted to a window van. Could the hinges from the parts bus be used for your build, or are they broken? That is part of the reason I haven't cut the doors and hatch out of my bus! I'm thinking of leaving them in place, but skimming the inside of the door seams so light doesn't shine through!!!

I like the paint scheme on your build, too. Nicely done so far!! I'll keep watching!!

Do you have a solution for the lack of pedals and park brake handle?

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