Jim Gibbons

Wow, beautiful job! Just looking at it gave me flashbacks to when I used to go to the Canadian Grand Prix. Your client will be very happy!

Before, I was also referring to the original as the 1:1. I'm not sure if the Auto Show version was the first one ever done that way. VWs have always been modified or customized over the years. I remember a magazine my father got in the late '50s, early '60s, Foreign Car Guide, which specialized in VW, and one issue had a stretched Beetle chassis with two front ends on it. I'll have to look in storage; I may still have that issue. I wouldn't worry about the vents; this car defines air-cooled!

The original? (I put the ? in, as there have been a number made over the years) was painted white. I think it would look best that way, as it tried to simulate the wrought iron outdoor furniture look that was painted white more often than not. I wish I had bought my camera during the times I was at World Wide Volkswagen, as this car always delighted me. As with the original, I'd suggest cutting out the vents above the engine cover and using them. Why they bothered including it is beyond me, but I guess they wanted a bit of the original sheetmetal to be included as a visual item (that and it probably housed the decklid hinges and springs). Go, man, go...this is a treat to watch as you progress!

Very, very cool! I remember seeing this car at the New York Auto Show in '73 (might have been '68, but pretty sure '73) I sold VW in the mid '80s, and World Wide Volkswagen (the last independent distributor of VW, since absorbed by VWoA) had some classic VWs on display, and this was one of them. I'd see it when I'd go to training seminars, new product introductions, etc. I've always wanted to see someone tackle this. It's a bit beyond my skill set!

The Muira is one of my favorite car designs, and both your Lambos came out beautifully.

Beautiful...I like everything about it; mods, color, stance, wheels. Superb job!

Just great. Another item I have to add to my must have list that I don't have the money for! I had a 1:1 in that funky purplish blue Persimmon color. All in all, that Gremlin was a pretty decent car. Darn it, I want one!

Wow. Awesome work!

Impressive builds; welcome to the board!

I also joined the fun!

Considering how good the wood looked, especially on the surfboard, I (and I'm sure a lot of the folks here) would like it if you did a tutorial on it sometime. You're thinking outside the model box, and the results show!

In a 2005 issue of Hemmings Classic Car, the writer Tim Howley described the loss of a building full of his cars during one of the California fires. I'm enclosing the link to the article, but only one photo is in it. You'd have to order the back issue to get the full set of photos that accompanied it. He took them right after the fire, so the oxidation Art described isn't evident yet. http://www.hemmings.com/hcc/stories/2005/06/01/hmn_feature25.html

Syd, we still have to see your finished model, even if it takes some time for you to rethink the appearance. Plus, there's Cato's version to see completed...this thread is way too good to see end!!! (I really like the 935, too!)

Sorry, don't have more than a couple of pics of aircraft right now, other than this P-38J; I'd like to join in Jarius' racing plane challenge, but don't have the kits to do it. Here's the plane, but I feel guilty about posting it, as your model is the spotlight here!

Looking really good! I will be following this.

Sweet!

I have to go with model on this one.

I believe my machinist friend is coming back this week from vacation. I'm going to do a 3D exploded view drawing and email it to him for comments about how to best approach maching your actual wheels at some point. I'll also email you a sketch when I get it done to get some 1:1 measurements to scale down. This might take a while (sorry, been a bit busy here w/ house business.) It's great that you will be able to unbolt the wheels you ordered, though!

Syd, despite the difficulties you've had, the GT40's progressing beautifully. I'm going to miss this thread when you and Cato are done! Fascinating amount of racing and car history here. I've seen a GT40 race at Lime Rock Vintage (I've worked timing and scoring for that event) and they are surprisingly small. I have no idea what chassis #, but it's a darkish red with the #68 if you follow vintage racing. It's incredible how much safer the sports racers are today. I agree; crashing a GT40 at speed would likely have been fatal, as with a 917, etc. I'll never forget hearing on the radio that my childhood hero, Jim Clark, had died at Hockenheim. Back then, it seemed that every racing season issue of Road & Track I'd read listed at least one racing fatality. To drive those cars back then required the kind of fearlessness that one sees in extreme sports events today. WW1 pilots had the same mentality; how could you fly what was essentially a wood and fabric motorized kite, and have any real faith in it? (Guess that's why Eddie Rickenbacker was also a hero; he raced AND flew those things!) I think I'll pop my tape of the movie "Le Mans," or "In Car 956" in now!

Actually, I guess I used the term generically, as the photo is a rear view shot of one car's body being lowered onto the chassis. I didn't realize, though, that they had a separate assembly station. I am still unpacking from my March move, and haven't uncovered the book or article the photo was in yet.

The same day I saw the the car was posted, there were photos from the '50s to the '70s in the English Russia site I subscribe to. This picture has the front end of one on the left side. I knew it had to be Russian or Eastern Bloc, but just couldn't find the answer. Funny how we "Capitalist Pigs" influenced Soviet industrial design back then. Not that they would have admitted to it, though!

Okay, somehow I managed to change everything to all the requirements, to the point that my name shows up three times. If everyone can't figure out who I am, than my name ain't Oswald P. Schlabotnik!

Really cool, and convincing. It looks so realistic, like something you would find as a 1:1 out there. Outstanding work!

Johnny, both you and your wife are in my thoughts and prayers, and will continue to be.