The Creative Explorer Posted October 28, 2015 Share Posted October 28, 2015 Ok, here's a wacky idea; how about a car transporter, made from a Routemaster, or London bus? Somewhere on my vacation-break I got this awesome idea and started playing with it, I bought another London Bus kit from Revell (I kept the first one to be build stock) and got it yesterday evening. I was all excited at work to start with it, couldn't wait and have now the first 2 hours in it. It isn't all that difficult if one went the easy route, hop in a ramp, change the back end and done. But I plan to go somewhat further and make it technical possible, so I need to take in account all dimensions, angles, room etc... not cutting corners, at least not too much. On with some pictures:The familiar box The top floor, seems to have enough space for a E-type and a Morgan This has to be cut, in order to change it into a transporter Than I realised that the wheel wells? are quite big in the Routemaster, so I mocked-up the bus and see if a sporty granturismo would fit between the roof and the wheels, albeit a bit low, it seems to work out. A bit more overall picture And what a great view for people looking at the transporter! A door in the side is also convenient to get to the storage area, fortunately, there is a door size window on the side and would make a great door. Unfortunately it is too far to the rear, so I will swap the two windows. The door will move one spot to the left. The ceiling and topfloor are 2 parts, so twice the cutting and now past the point of no return! A mock up again This is how far I am going, I calculated the angles the Ferrari could handle and used that as a guide for calculating the ramps angles.unfortunately, the distance between the rear of the bus and the rear wheels is too short and gets too steep, so I have to think of a solution for that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DRIPTROIT 71 Posted October 28, 2015 Share Posted October 28, 2015 I can honestly say that I would never have thought of that. Very Cool!!! Looking forward to seeing more! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darbo Posted October 28, 2015 Share Posted October 28, 2015 Will be following this great idea! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Superpeterbilt Posted October 28, 2015 Share Posted October 28, 2015 Very cool idea. Nice work so far. On the ramps, may I suggest some sort of hydraulic ramps that fold up and stay mounted to the rear of the bus? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gatorincebu Posted October 28, 2015 Share Posted October 28, 2015 Really a cool project ! I wonder if you could use a low profile wheel and tire set. And modify the wheels wells, to get a bit more head room.I will be following this build for sure. Be Well Gator Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
truckabilly Posted October 29, 2015 Share Posted October 29, 2015 Wow, that´s somethin´ else! Go on with it, I´m curious. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigred63 Posted October 29, 2015 Share Posted October 29, 2015 This one is out of the normal, but it should be an interesting build. This one I will follow.Ronnie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Creative Explorer Posted October 29, 2015 Author Share Posted October 29, 2015 Thanks guys @Terry; That was kind of the idea, but it has to be periodic correct. Still figuring that out, but not until I have the inside ramp finished. @Marc; It is an good suggestion, but I have to be realistic and use the original tyres, they have to carry quite a load and small wheels/tires will look off. I think the room is sufficient. After all; it's the sixties, who knew anything about health and safety codes anyway? haha Being smart this time, I decided to take little steps in building up. so I worked on the upper deck and get that nice and smooth.[imghttp://www.firerods.com/unfinished/Routemaster CT/slides/rtmct014.jpg I added some styrene to cover the gaps And glued the longer strips whilst the bus was somewhat mocked up, I don't have carpenters fingers, so in order for everything to be straight in the end, I thought it was smart to do it this way. And I keep fitting the 275, it is my benchmark and if this one fits, the smaller british cars will fit too. Important was some clearance on either side of the Ferrari Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Atmobil Posted October 29, 2015 Share Posted October 29, 2015 Fantastic idea, I really dig this one. I don't want to spoil you fun but a guy in the Norwegian IPMS did make a race transporter out of this bus a few years ago. Here is a picture of the diorama he made at the 2012 IPMS show. He called it "A lord and his lorry" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gatorincebu Posted October 29, 2015 Share Posted October 29, 2015 Eric, I take your point. As I had not really considered the era of the vehicle. I was thinking more of an old bus that had been refurbished and purpose built to haul the classic/race cars.Anyway. I think you have a good handle on the build and I am enjoying the thread! Be Well Gator Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tesla Posted October 30, 2015 Share Posted October 30, 2015 Quite an ambitious project! It's refreshing to see someone thinking outside the box. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Geiger Posted November 1, 2015 Share Posted November 1, 2015 Quite an ambitious project! It's refreshing to see someone thinking outside the box. It takes a big man to cut up a kit that expensive! Go for it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kilrathy10 Posted November 2, 2015 Share Posted November 2, 2015 This is looking pretty awesome.....Amazing idea.....Very nice....Looks like you have it well in hand..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Creative Explorer Posted November 8, 2015 Author Share Posted November 8, 2015 Thanks guys again! @Gaute, a little bit, but not too much. I am planning to make my transporter quite different. So, no biggie. @Tom; Well, don't forget I am living in Europe, they are quite less expensive. I think I paid around 50 dollars for it. Time for a huge update, lots of pictures too. I started with making the ramps on the lower deck inside, these will be fixed ramps. Added a guide edge to it I made a new wall/divider for the lower deck, this will divide the car from the small workarea/storage. Including a door Dryfitted together I started with swapping the door and window area on the left side of the bus The window is now moved one slot to the right and in the remaining hole will come the door. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Creative Explorer Posted November 8, 2015 Author Share Posted November 8, 2015 Some strutting for the ramp And the drivers wall got a open space, so he can get into the drivers seat from the work area. Entrance of the work area from the left side Workdesk Fits snugly in the corner. And from this point down, it was all done yesterday, went we had a modelshow nearby, where I actually do model. So there's about ten hours of work below...I started with making some storage space for the work area, it has to be cramped ofcourse. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Creative Explorer Posted November 8, 2015 Author Share Posted November 8, 2015 I also made the swing-ramp for the lower deck, made it a bit trapezium shaped, for easy entrance and for the upper swing-ramp. A little template for adding the right rear of the bus, getting rid of the big curve, this will add more space for loading. This will be the upper deck, with the upper swing-ramp in place. A view simple pieces of PS, but does look nice. Dryfitting time, looks pretty good to me It really starts to look like something I added quarter rounds to the upper ramp, makes it look a bit more realistic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pim Posted November 8, 2015 Share Posted November 8, 2015 holy moly thats cool Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Creative Explorer Posted November 8, 2015 Author Share Posted November 8, 2015 The ambiance I 'had' to work in, not that bad eh ;-) I put the drivers cabin together, to see how it would relate to the work area and what work has to be done. After adding a guiding edge to the upper swingramp, the fit got too tight, so I have to adjust that. At this point I started to make a dryfit of as many bodypanels I could get. To see if everything was still straight and true. But also to see if I made mistakes and how to solve them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gatorincebu Posted November 8, 2015 Share Posted November 8, 2015 Erik, " By Jove old chap! i think you've got it!" lol Awesome work! Be Well Gator Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
truckabilly Posted November 8, 2015 Share Posted November 8, 2015 Awesome conversion. It´s a pleasure to watch something like this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Superpeterbilt Posted November 8, 2015 Share Posted November 8, 2015 Very entertaining work. Im fully tuned in to this build.Great job Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenny B Posted November 8, 2015 Share Posted November 8, 2015 Very nice scratch building going on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Creative Explorer Posted November 8, 2015 Author Share Posted November 8, 2015 Thanks guys! I enjoy you enjoy it haha. I must say; this kit is so good, that even with serious butchering the kit is still fitting together very nicely. And I must be doing something right this time, since usually my scratch work is always off. I forgot a few pictures, so as a added bonus for today: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Geiger Posted November 8, 2015 Share Posted November 8, 2015 Looks super! You worked out all the details realistically. And I love your work space. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tesla Posted November 8, 2015 Share Posted November 8, 2015 Your careful planning certainly shows in the results...awesome! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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