The Beetle

[Modlbldr]

Yeah, Mike. I'm back. I'll get some photos up soon. I cut out the openings for the side vents and finally got my mind wrapped around how I should be able to rework the (swing arms??) for the rear suspension. I did all of the lowering of it but I need to do the modifying to attatch them to the deeply inset rear wheels. Stay tuned.

Later-

[Space Cowboy]

Glad to see your back at it Tom. I hope to be posting soon myself.

[DrewCfromSC]

Looking cool! I really like to see all versions of VW based cars. What type of putty do you use around the scoop areas? Drew

[Modlbldr]

Since Jantrix made me feel guilty about not updating our JWAC posts (Thanks, Someone needed to make me feel guilty to get me to move)I decided to get after it. I don't have alot of "Exciting" updates, but it's all forward progress.

First of all, exciting for me....not so much for you guys, I got my window installed in my model room.

All this managed to do was let in more light to let me see that, MAN, what a mess I have!

On to the model: First, I finally cut some holes in the body for the side scoops. I think they are too big, but once I get the scoop area filled in, they may not be.

Also, I have some repair work to do on the air intake on the roof. The body didn't fair well in the suitcase coming home from Taos, NM.

I got a coat of primer and Light Ivory on the center sections of the seats and door panels. The two tone will be Light Ivory and Light Earth.

The front seats are from a Fujimi Porsche 911 and I had to narrow the upper section of the rear seat to fit between the mini tubs. I may use the dash from the 911 also.

Next up is a series of the engine shots. Nothing special here except P.E. pulley covers. I plan to make a custom exhaust similar to one I found on the interweb that will allow a stinger pipe.

More to come.

Later-

[Modlbldr]

This is how the rear ride height looks due to the work to the rear suspension.

Next up is a bunch of work to the front shocks and inner panels to make room for the wide front tires.

I had to move the front shocks to the other side of their mounting point.

Otherwise the front rim would hit them.

That required me to tub the front inner panels, which I am in the process of now.

I'm not sure that this will leave room for the spare tire now. I may need to make some sort of cargo to go in this space now....maybe a suitcase?

Every little modification leads to something else.....

Thanks for looking. Any comments or criticisms welcomed.

Later-

[Railfreak78]

Looking great so far. Those wheels are perfect for the build too.. Pegasus? Body work is very well done too.

[MikeMc]

Lookin great Tom!!!!

And you don't need no stinkin spare.....

[DocLong]

Forget a spare (or go with the porsche mini-spare.) Put an oil cooled and some ducting up there!

[crazyjim]

Glad to see you're posting again, Tom. I thought you fell off the planet. I'm still anxious to see how you're going to do those side vents.

[Modlbldr]

Well, It's been a long time since I've updated this. I got sidetracked building a 50 Ford for my cousin. Now the Beetle is back on the table and work has started again. I've managed to get all four wheels on and the ride height is just where I want it. I've gotten a little progress made on the interior. I'm trying to decide whether to do the interior in light ivory and earth or in white and light blue. I'll get that figured out soon.

Tonight I am working on finishing up the tubs in the front trunk area. Progress is slow but should pick up soon.

Pictures to come when I get a bit more substantial work done. It doesn't look much different that back in August.

Later-

[Space Cowboy]

Is that you Tom good to see you back at it. Nice window my friend and time flies fast so keep in there....

[crazyjim]

I was wondering what happened to this project. I was (am) very interested in the side scoops and am looking forward to seeing more progress, Tom.

[Modlbldr]

Jim-

I'm having problems with the side scoops. I was hoping to find an existing kit with a similar scoop that I could just "cut and paste" into place. Unfortunately I haven't found one and my version isn't working out. I made the holes too big (I think) and may have to do some filling to get them to the right size. Right now I am only working on the driver's side until I figure it out. No sense in making twice the mistakes.

I think that a "cut and paste" scoop is going to have to come from an exotic car like a Ferrari or the like.

Got any ideas????

Later-

[crazyjim]

Sorry, Tom. I have no idea how do the side scoops - that's why I'm so anxious to see how you do it. How about maybe Evergreen tubing? Thin the wall with an Xacto knife and then split it in half? I don't buy kits just to get a part from it.

[MikeMc]

Hey Tom....cut a rectangle hole and insert a alum tube wrapped in saran wrap, bondo the insideof the hole, let dry, slide the tube out , file off excess

[Modlbldr]

Mike-

I'm not sure that I'm following your suggestion...

If I am, I' not sure if it would work. The bottom front edge of the scoop curves up so it's not exactly th same on the bottom as the top. I bought some brass tube that is shaped like a tear drop (imagine a somewhat smashed tube)thinking that it might work to form it. The work that I have done so far in styrene and putty is not good. I'm going to make the hole a little smaller and try the brass tubing- hopefully tomorrow. I'll try to get some photos up then.

Later-

[crazyjim]

Please take pics of the process (so maybe others can copy the technique).

[Modlbldr]

Jim-

Will do. Although as stated, I'm not liking the progress so far.

Later-

[Jairus]

Jim/Tom,

Evergreen makes their stuff in various sizes of tubing. Why not simply glue a length of tube in that hole at a very sharp angle and putty around it. Then simply block sand flat after all is dry and solid?

Edited December 28, 2010 by Jairus

[Modlbldr]

Jairus-

I'm thinking that may work but my initial concern was that the bottom of the front of the scoop seems to flatten out a bit as if the contour changes. That was what held me up for so long although It ma be able to be fixed by filling it in with a little putty. It's probably a lot simpler than I'm making it out to be. I've got to run to the P.O. right now but I plan to work on it and post some photos later. (I know.... I've been saying that for days now.)

Later-

[Modlbldr]

OK. I got some small work done in the last couple of days. The first pics are of the side scoop that I had started and didn't like.

The problem to me with this scoop is that it is too tall and the front bottom curve is not shaped correctly.

So, I cut out what I had done and I've added small strips along the bottom to take out some of the height.

Now I should be able to reshape it with a little sanding. I think that if I remove a little material from the bottom starting at the point and leaving the very bottom filled in it should make it look longer and not as tall.

I've also finished tubbing the trunk area for the front suspension to fit.

Next up is some ideas for the interior.

Later-

[Modlbldr]

As I had mentioned a while ago, I had plans to add some parts to the interior from a Fujimi Porsche. The front seats will work well.

I plan to use the steering wheel too. Today I found a couple other parts. The piece on the left is a console piece that goes around the gear shift lever. The piece on the right is another console piece that goes around the E brake lever. Just a couple of pieces to add a little interest to the bare interior.

Hopefully I can get these side scoops ironed out. Once i get the shape of the hole right I can glue sheet styrene behind them and putty them like I did with the first attempt. It worked well enough. Just not shaped right.

Then I can get on to primer.

I hope you all are as happy as I am that progress is happening again with this one.

Later-

Edited January 6, 2011 by Modlbldr

[SSNJim]

Jim-

I'm having problems with the side scoops. I was hoping to find an existing kit with a similar scoop that I could just "cut and paste" into place. Unfortunately I haven't found one and my version isn't working out. I made the holes too big (I think) and may have to do some filling to get them to the right size. Right now I am only working on the driver's side until I figure it out. No sense in making twice the mistakes.

I think that a "cut and paste" scoop is going to have to come from an exotic car like a Ferrari or the like.

Got any ideas????

Later-

Check out optional aero side skirts in the Revell 92 Thunderbird lowrider, or any issue of that era TBird. The scoops in them look almost identical to what is on the bug.

Edited January 6, 2011 by SSNJim

[highway]

Check out optional aero side skirts in the Revell 92 Thunderbird lowrider, or any issue of that era TBird. The scoops in them look almost identical to what is on the bug.

Yeah, I think they are in the 90 version of that kit, too. If you need some Tom, I'm pretty sure I have a set I'm not going to use.

[Dr. Cranky]

I hope you are making more killer progress. This one is going to turn out nice. Can't wait to see more.