Atmobil Posted April 10, 2015 Posted April 10, 2015 So I have wanted to build a baja bug for several years but when Olle (Chromecop) started his build last october I really felt it was time for me to start aswell and when I saw his pictures of the nearly finished Herbie baja bug I started on a project based on the Polarlights snap kit in the recent Spider Man release. This is what I started with: First I started to modify the floorpan, they have molded the rear part of the inner body to the floorpan and my inital plan was to keep it there but I soon realized that I needed to take it away to modified the rearsuspension. I cut of the rear part and glued the rear fork inplace and started making a IRS The IRS have been made with brass tube and styre profiles and some coilovers that I got from an old scrapmodel (a Tamiya Mitsubishi Pajero Paris Dakar). I also got other parts from this: I'm not using much of these on this model but the parts may come in handy for some other project.
Atmobil Posted April 10, 2015 Author Posted April 10, 2015 The front suspension as it came out of the box: After some work: The wheels I decided on: From left to right: AMT Goodyear Tracker A-T with AMT rim from Ford Econoline "Phantom", Polarlights kit wheel, AMT Goodyear two part styrenewheel from Meyers Manx kit with AMT rim from Ford Econoline kit. The left one is the front wheels for this project and the right one is the rear wheels. I was at first thinking about using the engine from the new tool Revell AG 68 beetle kit because that it a doubleport engine. But comparing the engine from the Revel kit with the engine from the Tamiya 66 and this Polar Lights kit it was very apparent that the Revell one was a lot wider and longer and would not fit between the forks. From left to right: Revell, Polar Lights and Tamiya. So I decided to use the one in the Polar Lights kit, it is quite complete and well detailed and with some aditional work it will come out very well. Here it is, assambled straight from the box:
Atmobil Posted April 10, 2015 Author Posted April 10, 2015 The kit engine does not have the pushrod tubes, so I added them from a bit of brassrod I took the double Weber carb setup from the old 1:25 Revell kit and it looks quite good. Simple painting and detailing.
Atmobil Posted April 10, 2015 Author Posted April 10, 2015 I did more work on the floorpan, removed the molded-in runningboards and with the detailed frontsuspension added. I detailed the frontsuspension with scartchbuilt steeringarms and discbrakes from a Fujimi Mitsubishi kit. Also used the discbrakes from that kit on the back. Here you can see the floorpan with the still not glued in but detailed engine. Still need to make exhaust system and carbrods for the engine aswell as a starter motor.
Atmobil Posted April 10, 2015 Author Posted April 10, 2015 And here I am today: I have started to modify the body for the baja look. Here you can see the body still loose on the floorpan to get a the idea of how it will look when done.
Tom Geiger Posted April 10, 2015 Posted April 10, 2015 Great work! You have illustrated the intent of the Polar Lights model concept. They produced a kit that a kid could easily snap together in an hour and get pleasing results, but advanced modelers would want to use as the basis of a complex project!
Foxer Posted April 10, 2015 Posted April 10, 2015 Oh what fun chopping up bugs! A lot of great detail mods going on there .. very nice!
jacoballardtattoo Posted April 10, 2015 Posted April 10, 2015 I like where this is going. I'm working one right now myself. If you get a chance check out out there isn't much prayed yet but soon I will update. Look for 63 Baja.
Atmobil Posted August 30, 2015 Author Posted August 30, 2015 I'm still working on this with a hope of finishing it in time for Norwegian Challenge in two weeks time. I have started to make the nosecone and I have painted the wheels and tires. The reartires need to be toned down as they are far to shiny.
Atmobil Posted September 2, 2015 Author Posted September 2, 2015 The floorpan on it's wheels with the brakepipes and hoses in place. Yes, I have made a mastercylinder The nosejob is starting to look like something. I want to use the stock VW headlamp from the kit and that's why the holes as oval instead of the normal round ones that we are used to see. And after quite a few hours of work I got this:Rear part of the body with the firewall and innerfenders. All the white parts are my work and the black bits are what the kit gave me. A little rough yet but it is getting there
Draggon Posted September 3, 2015 Posted September 3, 2015 Nice work! The narrow eye kits with the old style headlights aren't seen that often. Not to rain on your parade, but can you space the headlights out a bit?
jacoballardtattoo Posted September 3, 2015 Posted September 3, 2015 Is looking great, I'm in the home stretch of a Baja build right now myself. Engine looks amazing and I love the nose!
Atmobil Posted September 4, 2015 Author Posted September 4, 2015 Thank you very much the commenst guys and a special thanks to Glenn for that picture, I think I have to see if I can the headlights out a bit more to the side
PatW Posted September 5, 2015 Posted September 5, 2015 This is looking very good. Yes I used the Mitsubishi parts and a Flintstone Meyers Manx resin kit to make a 4x4 Dakar Manx.
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