Rocking Rodney Rat Posted June 27, 2021 Posted June 27, 2021 (edited) Time to start a new project and I figured a drag car is in order. This is a concept I've been mulling over for a while. AMT recently re-issued the shorty VW bug kit they call the 'Superbug Gasser' (?) whatever. The VW bug body lends itself to a AA/FA style (I know, it's been done before) and I figured I'd give it a try. I'm using an MPC funny car chassis components. I'm not in love with these MPC frames, but it will do fine for this project. The frame will be shortened. The plans are to heavily modify the body with fenders cut off, top chopped, front extended and body made taller...let's rev up the Sawzall, shall we???? The majority of the parts will be from these two kits, with a few other bits and pieces added from other kits.... The 'yard sale' of parts thrown on the bench. I have made a few markings on the body where the surgery will be performed.... I hogged out the rear fenders.... I cut away most of the roof.... I removed the front fenders... Next the chop. I'm going to brace the body with some sprue so it doesn't get all wonky while the roof is taken off. The plan is to cut off the cowl and then slide it back so the dropped down A pillars on the top and bottom will align. I'm most likely to separate the hood and fender pieces on the body (cut along the front door line?) and then extend that part and fill in middle section....more to follow.... -RRR Edited June 27, 2021 by Rocking Rodney Rat
Claude Thibodeau Posted June 30, 2021 Posted June 30, 2021 Hi RRR! Well, this thing will be "a handfull to drive down the quarter-mile", as Wild Willy used to say. Wheelstands will be daily occurances. Fun! CT
slusher Posted July 1, 2021 Posted July 1, 2021 Great start on your project so glad I found it I enjoy your work..
Zippi Posted July 2, 2021 Posted July 2, 2021 A Gasser Bug. This should be a kewl build dude. I like what I see already. I'll be watching.
Rocking Rodney Rat Posted July 3, 2021 Author Posted July 3, 2021 On to the top chop.... Roof has been removed, notice the two pieces of sprue temporarily glued in the body to make sure it maintains the proper shape.... My original idea was to cut off the cowl and slide it back to meet the shorter A pillar. Once I got the roof removed I realized I could stretch the roof a bit. Since most of the top of the roof had been removed, bending the roof to "lengthen" it was easy. No need to mess with the cowl.... With a bit of persuasion and some deft massaging, the roof is re-attached..... This pic shows small triangle pieces being added to the upper corners of the B pillar, then shaped to form the curve between the pillar and the roof.... Next step is to lengthen the body a bit. The Sawzall is getting a work out!!! With a long weekend, much more will be done. Stay tuned and thanks for checking in.... -RRR
Tortuga Kustomz Posted July 4, 2021 Posted July 4, 2021 WAW that and awesome work, i haven't try to do something like that yet, some day i will
Rocking Rodney Rat Posted July 4, 2021 Author Posted July 4, 2021 Now that the chop is completed, it's time to stretch the body a bit. First order of business is to separate the front end from the body. The hood has been (or is it a frunk?) glued on... The plan is to stretch the body about this much. I lined up the frame with it's proposed length, the front frame crossmember including springs is dropped on.... Notice that the width is off once the two pieces are separated. The sides of the body will need to be spread apart just a skoshe..... I made cuts along the beltline that will give me the ability to push it body apart just enough to get the panels to line up.... stretched panels glued in.... The filler panel across the hood is slowly futzed in place... With a few pieces glued into the corner and a bit of sanding, it's looking pretty good. A schmear of putty will clean that up... a quick mockup, and it's starting to look like something...... With a wedge shaped piece added to the bottom of the body and it's really looking TUFF!!!! Thanks for checking it out! More to come.... -RRR
TarheelRick Posted July 4, 2021 Posted July 4, 2021 This is about the best thing that can be done with this particular kit. Really like the direction you are taking and your eye for proportion on the bodywork is excellent. Keep on hacking and let us watch.
Claude Thibodeau Posted July 4, 2021 Posted July 4, 2021 Hi RRR! The stance and strech are spot-on. Brutal beauty... CT
Mike Williams Posted July 5, 2021 Posted July 5, 2021 This is really sensational work here. I admire your bodywork in styrene. Do I understand this correctly, after the chop, the roof has a section added so the A pillar meets properly? Makes sense. I like this. Mike..
Ace-Garageguy Posted July 8, 2021 Posted July 8, 2021 I always loved the little Fiat Topolino altereds. This thing is even cooler.
Rocking Rodney Rat Posted July 8, 2021 Author Posted July 8, 2021 45 minutes ago, Ace-Garageguy said: I always loved the little Fiat Topolino altereds. This thing is even cooler. Yes it does look very much like one! https://public.fotki.com/jferren/fiat-aafa/dsc00314.html
alan barton Posted July 8, 2021 Posted July 8, 2021 Yep, my first thought was Volkswagen Topolino! Love the proportions - you really have an eye for picking potential! Cheers Alan
Kit Karson Posted July 8, 2021 Posted July 8, 2021 Back when you first ran this idea passed me, I never imagined how aggressive this was going to turn out. You, my friend, have turned a sow's ear into a silk purse! -KK Fierce Fiat Rob Rizzoli's Blown 1937 Fiat Topolino
chris chabre Posted July 8, 2021 Posted July 8, 2021 13 hours ago, alan barton said: Yep, my first thought was Volkswagen Topolino! Love the proportions - you really have an eye for picking potential! Cheers Alan THAT was my thought too!
Rocking Rodney Rat Posted July 24, 2021 Author Posted July 24, 2021 (edited) I'm hoping to get back on this project this weekend, I guess I'll see what the honey-do list looks like when wifey gets up.... I messed around with a bunch of little things, brakes, pulleys, magneto, roll cage, interior bucket, steering and bits and pieces....I made up mounts for the attach/pivot point for frame to body. I have to get the ride height established and attach the mounts (bottom edge of pic, way too long until cut to length) to the back of the frame.... i didn't like the way the frame sat so deep into the body, it needs to sit up higher in the back end...gotta make rear axle mount lower in the frame, pushing the frame up higher... If I get the frame pushed up a bit, looks much better...(below)... back to the bench..... -RRR Edited July 24, 2021 by Rocking Rodney Rat
Scott8950 Posted July 24, 2021 Posted July 24, 2021 Amazing transformation I can't wait to see it finished.
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