1/24 scale 1966 VW Beetle

[Geeti]

Hi all,

This is my first post here on the scale model forums. I’ve been getting back into the model building hobby after a few years absence (~30 year hiatus ) Since the last bug model I build back in the mid- 80s, I decided to give the Tamiya '66 Beetle a try (lowered, just because )

It’s not perfect, but it was a fun little project.

Here are some pictures.

Me & paint still don't get along too well! It’s rustolem Garnet Red (the can I had was having spray problems ! !! ). I coated that with some Pledge Floor Wax w/ Future shine over it.

Tamiya’s licence plates appear too big, so I filed 'em down

[ Side notes: other things that I couldn't 'fix' from the Tamiya kit: this kit appears to be an adaptation of a Right Hand Drive Beetle, the wipers are 'parked' on the wrong side of the car (internet pix of real LHD cars don't lie ) & the mirrors are on the wrong side (the round mirror represents a LHD drivers side mirror!)....this bugged me a bit, so I just used the pear shaped one as a drivers side & chopped the passenger side mirror off...'cuz I couldn't correct it.! ]

Interior coloring is incorrect (should be a black steering wheel, etc.), but I was playing with mixing acrylic paints to come up with these colors.

Since the paint on the roof didn't come out as nice as I would have hoped, I decided to make a roof rack to 'cover it up'. . I tried to copy the rack on my real bug. I drew it up in CAD and printed the 'plans' out at 1/24 scale.

[Geeti]

Test fitting...

Getting there...

I couldn't figure out a way to make the rail clamp until I saw noticed the profile of a 'to-go' plastic container from the recycling bin. Not exact, but close enough, so I glued it in place :laugh:

[Geeti]

too many brush strokes, but whatever...

oil leaks, of course :laugh:

There was a place for them molded onto the body, so I made some bumper overrider braces out of the .03" rod.

My bug model I built in 1984 is on the left, 2013 on the right (similar???!!!! HA!)

I entered it in a model show, just for the heck of it. Didn't place, but had fun

[Geeti]

I ‘sanded down’ some tires for the front (aka, I chucked them onto my dremel and spun them on some sandpaper to reduce the diameter for the big/little tire look.

I may rebuild some things on this kit, like cut the front side windows out of it & maybe try and do the white rim barrel on the wheels to add a bit of contrast in the wheel area (BRMs would be nice, but I don’t have any in my limited stash ).

Thanks for looking, lemme know what you think

[mcandela]

Looks really kool. Looks real!!

[ningoth4]

A Bug freak here. Nice build. You did a great job on that roof rack! Great stance too.

Kevin

[Chuck Doan]

I like it! I agree, nice rack (!) and stance. I had a '63 for years-wish I still had it-even with those oil leaks!

[Ford guy]

I think it's super cool Chris. You did a great job on that roof rack. It has the right look to it.

Roy

[Draggon]

Dang thats nice. I love it, great stance, and great work on the roofrack. The engine should have some Kadrons and a stinger though!

[scalemodelworld]

Looks pretty good to me. Good recovery on the paint job

[Foxer]

Very nice, Chris. I came back 5 years after a 30 odd year hiatus also. I like the color mix on the steering wheel .. looks just right. I always have problens finding all the cream colors on cars.

The roof rack looks exactly like the one on the '69 I had .. nice work!

[Jonathan]

Just stumbled across this. I'm impressed with that roof rack! Well done!

[dodouglas]

Very cool!!!

[beeRS]

Great roof rack!

[Pixie]

Really nice job! I'm building the same model and I'm wondering if you could share the blueprints for the roof rack. I can't seem to find any good ones and yours looks fantastic  

[Davewilly]

nice looking bug!