51 & 67 bugs

[Rolandm925]

i was looking at another thread and posted a pic of my flamed unfinished split window bug. A fella asked if I could start a new thread because he had a lot of questions and would like to see pics. You fire away with the questions and I will respond with answer and pics

[hjracing]

Cool!

[Foxer]

I'll start ..

Where is that split window body from? .. one you fashioned yourself?

The roof rack on the '67 looks just like one I need for a '69 I'm building. Was that scratch built or from some kit? .. actually the rack on the '51 is closer but without the diagonal members. Guess I'm asking about them both.

[Rolandm925]

Sorry to disappoint, both of these bugs are 1/18 diecast. All 3 racks are custom made with (new) tattoo needles that my parents picked up from a yard sale ( 500 count) for a dollar. The one on the 67 looks just like the one I had on my bug when I was a teen, the 51 racks where made by looking at photos on the net. Up close photo for ya.

[chunkypeanutbutter]

Would it be too much to ask for a tutorial on the roof rack? I'd like one for my Bug, and I think the other VW nuts on here would enjoy it, too.

[southpier]

see? every one of us has questions!

the scale is what threw me off, too. i hoped the split was 1/25. i'm going to give the gunze sangyo '56 a tussle and try a little styrene in hopes of making an at least plausible splittie.

the racks job are really nice and we could certainly "adapt-down" to modeling scale.

for anyone who's a fledgling Bugophile, you might enjoy Chris Vallone's very informative youtube site: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvnAxi1jREKbM9YpSXzYijQ

he plugs his site & blog, too. lots of good reference material.

[southpier]

Oops ... thanks Roland for posting the additional pictures, too.

[Rolandm925]

I know joe! When I see stuff I'm like"how the f did they do that? " here is my first roof rack attempt made out of coat hanger and super glue and baking soda. The thinner the metal the easier to bend it. When you are doing the passenger and drivers side remember to do them both at the same time. As you can see on this one the bends are different. I'm going to pick up some styrene and give that a go. Miles if you want this rack to "go by" on dimensions you can have it. It's just sitting in a box in my garage.

[Rolandm925]

I also just picked up a mold making kit, so I'm going to try and cast my own racks just to see if I can do it. When it comes to making the medal bond as close as possible I use this to start the bond. It's like super glue and baking soda "on steroids"

[Roadrunner]

I'm starting to develop a taste for bugs myself; may have to hunt one down. Nice looking roof rack.

[Rolandm925]

Hahaha! Well said! Have fun with one! If you need any insight, please hit me up! I will do my best to guide you

[PatW]

Great looking racks! I remember having one on my '70's 1300, loaded with cases (before I hired a trailer) drove into a multi-storey car park on the way back from holiday. Forgot about the rack, hit the concrete overhang just inside the entrance and knocked the rack off it's legs, crash onto the roof! Reversed out, nice dent in the roof and went to a roadside parking space, and bolted the rack back on the rain gutter!

As I said hired a trailer the next year, mounted a tow bar/hitch and sorted the lights/plug-in, cooler towing!

[Pim]

Nice

[Olskoolrodder]

LOVE em!!!