Der Beetle Bus

[Psychographic]

I've got the front radius rods figured out, they will just clear the zoomies. I just need to shorten them a bit, and make the frame mounts for them.

 

 

[Psychographic]

I reworked the front axle so it steers.

 

[Psychographic]

I started to make a dashboard. With the hinges allowing the doors to open inside the body, there is going to be a big gap on each side to leave room for the doors to swing in. I'm not sure I like it, but will have to live with it.

 

[disconovaman]

Dave the Beetle bus slayer!  Knocking it out dude! Awesome!

[disconovaman]

I don't know if you've thought this far ahead but I had a vision of this thing being red with fire engine gold leafing decals on the doors and mini ladders on the bed as side rails maybe a Dalmatian in the passanger seat oh man, dude that would be Awesome! with all the chrome parts sprayed with Tamiya clear yellow turns chrome to gold! "The little fire engine that could" Yeah?!

[Psychographic]

I cut out the area for the gauge cluster and mounted a column drop to the sheet stock that will be instrument panel.

 

 

The front suspension is mocked up except for the end of the link that hooks to the steering box. On the side of the frame is the panhard bar and the start of the coilovers for the rear suspension.

 

 

 

Edited August 28, 2016 by Psychographic

[Nytrozilla]

I hope I'm not repeating myself. 

THAT'S WHACKED BRO !!!!!!!!!

[mod3l Lover]

    I just love it Dave!!

You are showing us some mad

skills here for sure.

 

      David S.

[Psychographic]

After a frustrating night of trying to button up the rear suspension, I decided to work on the engine. As I don't know anything about hemi's, I did a search and found a pic that helped me out a bit. I took what I could from the research and added my own twist to things.

 

I made a harmonic balancer, a modular water pump, that the fuel pump mounts to and extended the shafts for the pulleys.

 

 

 

 

[Psychographic]

The shocks and panhard bar drove me crazy trying to get the lengths right so that the ride height was where it needed to be, and to get the rear centered. I'll add the springs to the shocks after I paint them.

 

I had to put a small notch in the frame to clear the transmission, then I added the braces to where the shocks mount. I also added motor mounts and a crossmember under the engine. The frame and suspension parts are ready for primer.

 

 

Edited August 31, 2016 by Psychographic

[Psychographic]

I added an oil filter, and and alternator. The pulleys are the rear mounted oil cooler set from a NASCAR cup model as is the alternator.

 

 

[bobthehobbyguy]

Coming along nicely. Wonderful job .scratchbuilding and adding details.

Was wondering if you finished the corvair wagon you were working on.

[Nytrozilla]

Looking better and more better. Love the choice of blower hat.

[Psychographic]

 Thank you all for the comments.

Coming along nicely. Wonderful job .scratchbuilding and adding details.

Was wondering if you finished the corvair wagon you were working on.

No, but I'm hoping to get back to it after I finish this project.

 

Looking better and more better. Love the choice of blower hat.

That's funny you say that, I always hated the look of this style hat. But for some reason I thought it was the perfect look for this build. Now I'm kind of liking the style.

[Psychographic]

I don't know if you've thought this far ahead but I had a vision of this thing being red with fire engine gold leafing decals on the doors and mini ladders on the bed as side rails maybe a Dalmatian in the passanger seat oh man, dude that would be Awesome! with all the chrome parts sprayed with Tamiya clear yellow turns chrome to gold! "The little fire engine that could" Yeah?!

While that's a cool idea, I had the paint scheme figured out before I even started on this. I promise it will be pretty wild.

[Psychographic]

I've got the door jambs done in the back, unfortunately I cant do anything in the front due to how the doors open.

 

Edited September 3, 2016 by Psychographic

[crazyrichard]

awome work ! and dont worry about the dash and front at the hinge earea .. when the doors are on its perfect and when they open they hide most of the front .

i actually like this hinge system seems stirdy to me and i think your doors wont open and close flimsy and wobbely > nice !

[DeeCee]

Lots of really awesome fabrication and scratch building going on here, and looking great, i am glad you decided to do it your self instead of opting for the easy out....( someone else's resin ).

This is what I call modeling..   Great work so far.

[Psychographic]

I started framing out the door for the door panels.

 

 

One thing that bugged me was how big the hinges looked, the door panel cleaned them up a lot.

 

 

Now the big question, will the seats still fit? Yup, they fit! Also, the gap between the dash and the door panel isn't anywhere near as bad as I thought it would look.

 

[Nytrozilla]

If I'm gauging the gap right between the dash and the doors, I'll betcha a pair of small vents or speaker lookin' thingies would squeeze in there nicely Dave.

You might even mount them on the door panels........

If you got REAL ambitious, there might also be a way to "wrap" those hinges to cover them too.

Happy days on the seat fitment too.

[bobthehobbyguy]

This gets better with each update. Your sdratchbuilding is beautiful.

Another idea for the dash and door space. You could use something soft like expoxy putty that would form to the space and be carved. Once shaped it could be added to the dash.

[Psychographic]

If I'm gauging the gap right between the dash and the doors, I'll betcha a pair of small vents or speaker lookin' thingies would squeeze in there nicely Dave.

You might even mount them on the door panels........

If you got REAL ambitious, there might also be a way to "wrap" those hinges to cover them too.

Happy days on the seat fitment too.

This gets better with each update. Your sdratchbuilding is beautiful.

Another idea for the dash and door space. You could use something soft like expoxy putty that would form to the space and be carved. Once shaped it could be added to the dash.

Thanks for the suggestions. Unfortunately the gap has to stay because the door swings into the open space. The gap isn't bad with the space taken up by the door panels. I could fill it in along the face of the dash, but that will leave an open spot behind it and would look worse than the gap. When I first made the dash and looked at it, the gap was huge looking, now it's fine.

I have also thought of wrapping the hinges, but I can't find any scrap .010 sheet. I'm afraid if I try to do it with anything thick it will knock them out of alignment.

[disconovaman]

I'm enjoying watching this Project evolve at every turn... Now all you need to do is cast the mold and pour the resin. I'd sure love to have one... I chopped the top on one the other day just to see what it looks like now I've gotta take off on my next Der Beetle Bus . I have 5 to build so I need to get cracking. Has anyone heard if we are going to do a community build on this model yet?

[Psychographic]

 Has anyone heard if we are going to do a community build on this model yet?

Start a thread in the CB section and see if there is any interest. I would bet there are not going to be many takers as this is a peculiar kit and has a limited audience.

Edited October 1, 2016 by Psychographic

[Psychographic]

I've got one side of the interior panels done. I used .060 half round for the two lines on the top and the one on the bottom. the center section is .030 sheet that I rounded the edges on, and wrapped it with .040 rod.