397 replies to this topic

[TooOld]

Yep , those are pinheads for the snaps . Really too big , but I couldn't find anything smaller .

Well . that's 1 vote FOR the whitewalls . I think most won't like them on a dune buggy .

[PatW]

Well TooOld there's no way I can beat that! But this is my Manx build at the start, firstly the gloss black floorpan and front axle plus a gold pearlescent fan shroud! The paint is one of a new range of Humbrol cans called Muti-Effect. So heres the first pic.........





Then we have the beginnings of the same Multi-Effect Gold on the body and bonnet...




Now my next problem is the colour for the interior seating! I've looked at twenty or thirty pics of real beach buggies and they have all black seating. But looking at TooOld's interior how do you beat that?

[TooOld]

Hey Pat ! So we meet again . We built a car at work a few years ago that was almost that same color . We ended up taking the black interior out and replacing it with beige leather . I'll have to dig for it but I know I have a photo some where . I'll post it as soon as I find it .
BOB.

[PatW]

Well Bob your spot on with the interior colour! I've found some of my small tinned Humbrol military colours I've hardly used and tried a sandy matt colour. After just the first coat it's looking pretty good! I'll try and get some pics after the second coat tomorrow. Thanks for your input.

[Danno]

Nice stuff, guys!!

[PatW]

Hello again, I've just given the seats another coat, ( I'll have to pick out the seat belts possibly in red)and test fitted the floorpan to the body tub......







The paint and the mouldings give the seats a used look.
The test fit......




I'm presently building the front axle so more pics soon!

[PatW]

I've mounted the front axle on the floorpan and put on the gear lever and handbrake, painted the same colour as the seats.......






I'm now waiting for the wired distributor to arrive to finish the engine. I tried fitting Porsche 356 disks all round but they are too thick and shaving them down would take away a lot of detail.

[TooOld]

That's a nice looking color comnination ! Should look great when finished . Did you get the suggestion on the front suspension and steering box ? He's right . There aren't any good pictures anywhere that show this , but once you move it you will see how it goes . Keep up the good work !
BOB.

[TooOld]

Pat , I enlarged one of my photos to show the steering box . I hope this helps .
BOB.

[PatW]

Ah yes! I see what you mean. Your also right that the instructions are not the best either. Cheers Bob, I'll fix it first thing tomorrow. You would have thought I should know how the front end goes together as we had 5 beetles in the family, one of which we stripped right down and rebuilt it lowered, no chrome jet black with centrelines! I have changed enough of those steering shocks to know better!

[DustyMojave]

Pat , I enlarged one of my photos to show the steering box . I hope this helps .
BOB.

Brake lines do NOT run along the top of the beam and under the steering box as shown here. They would go from the front of the master cylinder which is on the front side of the panel forward of the pedals, and go direct to the sides to tabs standing up at the edge of the floor pan where they become flex lines with black rubber cover out to the back side of the brake backing plates. There is no Tee in the front lines. 3 lines connect to the Master cylinder: one to the right front, one to the left front, and one along the left side of the tunnel to the rear. There is a tee on the frame next to the left front of the trans.

[TooOld]

You are correct if it had a stock brake system . This one uses two Tilton 5/8" master cylinders mounted above the pedals . A single line goes from one cylinder forward to a tee . Another line goes from the other cylinder , thru the tunnel , to a tee in the rear . You are correct about running the brake line under the steering box . . . That mechanic is no longer employed here !
That said , Thanks for the info on a stock setup . I've never seen one before and was just winging it on this build . I'll be sure to do it correctly on my next one .
BOB.

[PatW]

Hi, up at the crack of dawn around 7.30am! Into the cabin and after a drip of thinners off drops the steering box. Re-site fixing correctly to the top beam and the steering arm like so...........



If you see any other blindingly obvious mistakes please don't hesitate to tell me. I think the 1 or 2 grey cells I have left are on the blink!

[TooOld]

Looks good . Now I have to fix mine . . . it's upside down ! I think I have fewer grey cells than you do !

[PatW]

Three more pics. I've bought an aftermarket distributor so have wired that in and added the pulleys. the third pic shows the engine canted back so that you can see the colour of the fanshroud...................






I've just put the exhaust pipework on so waiting for that to dry. Then I may look at scratchbuilding a muffler or may fit the kit supplied one.

[TooOld]

You're moving right along ! I tend to drag my builds out over a long period . Don't know why .
I like the distributor . Where did you get it ?

[rmvw guy]

Wow! I like this thread. I had'nt checked in since it first started. Good stuff everybody!

Edited by rmvw guy, 15 April 2012 - 02:22 AM.

[PatW]

TooOld, the distributor is from an ebay guy in the UK, but you should be able to get them easier in the USA, cause they come from Morgan Automotive Detail (madmodeling.com) Westland Michigan. They have all sizes all colours 4, 6 & 8 cylinder and lots more.

[PatW]

Just four more pics, I saw the kit muffler to be a bit small and weedy so I scratchbuilt an new road muffler from alloy and plastic tube and some heat bending................




Ans I fitted the seats and grey carpet (did it come with the kit?) and popped the body on to have a look...............





See you soon...........

[TooOld]

It's looking good Pat ! I sure like the colors .
When you get around to the headlights , drill a small hole in the base and another in the body . Then mount them with a small diameter styrene rod or a pin or something . Sure makes life easier as they can be a real pain to glue on !
BOB.