Revell VW Bus Build

[Tony T]

Recently started this one:

There are no interior panels, so I started to make some. Here's what I did today:

[Guest Mustang3.8]

Nice start, Tony. I have one of those. Traded it away.

[Foxer]

Cool ..always wanted to see that bus version.

[Guest Gramps-xrds]

I can just tell. This is gonna be neat.

[David G.]

I just started one of these too! I needed a break from the Chevy Proton I've been working on. My wife has always wanted one of these busses in 1:1, since that'll probably never happen I decided to build her one of these.

I'll try to get some pics up this weekend.

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Tony,

Do you plan to open the doors and rear hatch? If so, did you see the bit in the most recent MCM about making external hinges? I think those could be adapted to the side doors.

I was planning on adding some interior panels to mine too, but I'd planned to put them inside the body vs. on the chassis plate. I thought it would be easier to fit together that way.

It'll be cool to see how each of builds the same kit.

David G.

[Zoom Zoom]

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Tony,

Do you plan to open the doors and rear hatch? If so, did you see the bit in the most recent MCM about making external hinges? I think those could be adapted to the side doors.

I was planning on adding some interior panels to mine too, but I'd planned to put them inside the body vs. on the chassis plate. I thought it would be easier to fit together that way.

It'll be cool to see how each of builds the same kit.

David G.

If you or anyone else really wants opening doors, hatch & detailed door panels, consider getting the newl issued Revell AG VW Samba T1. It is a far more detailed & accurate kit than the ex-Hasegawa kit. Everything opens, everything is hinged (though the hinge pins are fragile), and all interior/door panels are molded to the body. Lots of masking, but ultimately it blows away the very simple Hasegawa kit. At today's retail prices, the new Revell kit is cheaper than Hasegawa's (recently repriced) kit.

[Tony T]

I'm undecided yet on the hatch and side doors. If I don't open them, I plan on sealing the openings from the inside, so you can't see through them! If I open them, I'm not sure if I'll have them with operating hinges, or the easier way out of just gluing them open!

I have no intention of trying to correct this kit for a replica stock build, but with some modifications. With so many windows the interior will have to have some detail, just not sure whether to go close to stock basic, or what. Will depend on how I do the exterior, too.

[Tony T]

Worked on the dash today. The dash should have a shelf at the bottom of it.

Before:

During:

After:

Enjoy!

Edited January 27, 2010 by Tony T

[B67ville]

Very interesting build you've got going.

I was wondering why you had changed the floors to balsa wood?

Someone said something about the "new" Revell VW bus, well to you I say that it would be easier to start with but then where's the challenge?

And if your're wondering why I make that statement then just take a look here:

http://public.fotki.com/B67ville/model-cars-1/wips/00577-63-vw-bus-/

Tony we think allong the same path on this one.

Jerry

[jbwelda]

that is really sweet but boy does that box art crack me up! hippies wandering into the forest with their guitars! kind of like jon krakauers "into the wild". and i dont recall ever actually seeing a vw bus with flower appliques in real life but i guess it looks cool in a retro (that never was) way!

nice build though and im looking forward to seeing it finished!

another anecdote: the one VW bus i remember best is the one with the porsche cookie cutter wheels that passed us, going uphill, at about 70mph, into a headwind, on the way to laguna seca for some races in the early 70s. huh. whats up with that? well whats up was it had a 911 motor along with the wheels as we found out later at the campground where the guy was already well set up by the time we even got there!

[Tony T]

Jerry - The balsa is what I am considering to cover the floor, due to the sink marks from the frame under the floor. Easier than trying to fix the floor! I do like your build, too, and see we both fixed the dash!!

I'd like to get the new VW Samba, but I already had this one (I've also got a California Roller, and a Dave Deal Van on hand, too!), so I'm building it! I did notice that there is no pedals, and no parking brake provided in this kit. Something else to come up with! (I'm sure I'll be able to find something in the parts box).

William - Thanks for that! A 911 powered type 2 must have been sweet to see! I did recall seeing a YouTube video of a bus on a race course, overtaking a race car, could have been on the Nurburgring?? Not something you'd expect to get past you in a hurry for sure!!

[Tony T]

Updates from today:

Driver's area, new front floor with the toe board kick up, scratchbuilt pedals and park brake (none in the kit!):

Looks pretty good from outside:

A coat of Tamiya German Grey to the interior, flat black on the seats, and front floor-also filed off what was supposed to represent the grab-handle, now a piece of wire.

[Tony T]

Finally had some bench time for this one...got a coat of paint on it, over some red oxide primer. Got the interior panels done, and wheels & tires on...bit of dry brushing on the chassis...I'll give the paint a few days to gas out, get another can, and give it a bit of a sanding to smooth it out some. Also, got a coat of light wood stain on the balsa floors...

Paint is Tamiya Orange in the spray bomb...Enjoy!

[jedimastergary]

Looking good so far like the detail and the wood floors are a neat touch,

are you going to leave them that color or stain them? the body looks great nice color

[Foxer]

This build is making me appreciate how much work Revell did on the new Samba! You're doing a fine job on all the details.

[David G.]

It's nice to see some progress on your Bus. What you've done looks good!

As I said previously, I'm interested to see where you go with your kit.

This build is making me appreciate how much work Revell did on the new Samba! You're doing a fine job on all the details.

It's hard for me to imagine Revell releasing a kit of a vehicle that basically has a glass top, and not providing at least a rudimentary interior. But yet they did, and I bought one!

Had I known, I probably would have saved my money for the Samba, but at around $60.00, I'd almost be afraid to build it. At least I had the other one to practice on!

[Tony T]

Thanks for the comments!

Gary - I guess you missed this "Also, got a coat of light wood stain on the balsa floors..." right before the pictures!

The kit is nice for what it is, but man did they miss a ton of interior detail! The exterior is fine, and not at all bad, but to do the interior stock you'd have a ton of scratchbuilding to do it right! Considering what Hasegawa charges, and the price Revell charges, and that it is a curbside, this is an expensive kit! The new one might be worth the price of admission. At least I have leeway with the interior details, so it is a custom interior. That is what makes it fun, right!

[Tony T]

Fresh coat of paint just now...Krylon "Pumpkin Orange"...Cheaper than another can of Tamiya orange!! Plus I'll have more for another project! (Not sure how close this would be to a certain Charger, with a number "01" on it.)

Anyways, here are a couple of pictures...don't touch, though, the paint is still wet...

[Jon Cole]

Hey, that looks good!

How was the Krylon spray out of the can? My experience is it sprays too heavy, I was wondering what opinions others have had?

Orange looks good on the VW bus

[Tony T]

I like Krylon's new nozzle. You can adjust the spray pattern angle from horizontal to vertical, and all points in between. I found it is no heavier than Tamiya, or Testors out of the rattle can.

[Tony T]

Finished this one up last night. Will put it "Under Glass".

Edited April 26, 2010 by Tony T