Dale W. Verts Posted March 19, 2014 Posted March 19, 2014 (edited) I started on a convertible Beetle for my wife yesterday, her "Flower Power" ride based on the Revell Cabriolet "Skip's Fiesta" kit. I had no intention of a build-along, but I spent over four hours prepping the body, and had a good time to boot- First I removed the side molding- that took quite a while, and I made a few bad moves on one side that required dipping into the Bondo- I then filled in the exhaust holes in the back apron- this thing is gettin' a set of HEADERS- I also opened up the louvers... Although it'll be a while before this build really gets going, I did a quick mock-up like so many of you do to get an idea on ride height and stance. To get this thing lowered in the front and look right I'll need shorter front tires, for sure- The motor is a problem- I have FOUR VW kits and the motors are pure-D JUNK. I did a little research on resin motors with little success. Help anyone? If I have to I'll scratch-build the whole durn thing. I do have a pair of Webers on hand, but that's about it. A little more Bondo and the body should be done. If I was a little steadier with the tools Bondo wouldn't be needed! Thanks for lookin'. Dale Edited March 19, 2014 by Dale W. Verts
Foxer Posted March 19, 2014 Posted March 19, 2014 Nice start. I can't say where you could find a good VW engine for cheap, but the new Revell Beetles or the old Fujimi 356 kits have great engines.
Modlbldr Posted March 19, 2014 Posted March 19, 2014 The Tamiya 66 Beetle has a beautiful engine...but I'm no VW expert. Looking good so far. Later-
Dale W. Verts Posted March 20, 2014 Author Posted March 20, 2014 I'll want a modern dual-port engine with all the fixins'. I used to mess with bugs a lot way back when and I want this thing to look right. I'll probably try a scratch-build. This is the fourth model I've started since coming back into the hobby- haven't finished one yet (waiting on parts/deciding how to finish, etc.). My wife says I'm too picky. I tell her, "well, I did end up with YOU..." Dale
charlie8575 Posted March 21, 2014 Posted March 21, 2014 My wife says I'm too picky. I tell her, "well, I did end up with YOU..." So, how many nights on the couch did that win you? The build will look good. Take your time and make sure you're happy with it. Everything else is window-dressing. Charlie Larkin (Still more-or-less happily a bachelor)
Zarana-X Posted March 21, 2014 Posted March 21, 2014 Your best bet is to get one of the new Revell castings, the sedan or cabriolet. I've got the sedan, and its gorgeous. I've also got the Tamiya 66. If you get the convertible, you may as well just start over with that kit. It really puts how bad the old Revell kit into perspective. I've got a bunch of older VW kits, including this one. The engines are pretty bad, or vauge at least. The IMC one is a joke. If you need a good set of Webers, the old Tamiya Lamborghini Countach gives you 6, that's enough for 3 VW's. Here's two I put on a 2.3 Ford engine.
Dale W. Verts Posted May 7, 2014 Author Posted May 7, 2014 (edited) I took this pic to show some buddies the scale that a half-blind Hickbilly is workin' with... I spent several hours on this engine alone yesterday, now I've had to cut the bug apart to make it fit. I got it from the Meyers Manx kit, and it's better than anything else I had, but still horrible. I'm building intakes to make it a dual port, and adding Webers. And building a set of headers. I know the bodywork on the bug sucks. I'm learning. I got put in a cast for a fractured ankle last Thursday and they tell me twelve WEEKS. Looks like I picked the perfect time to pick this hobby back up! Dale Edited May 8, 2014 by Dale W. Verts
Dale W. Verts Posted May 8, 2014 Author Posted May 8, 2014 Actually I'm havin' a BLAST. Fifty-years-young, rediscovering the kid in me... Dale
Dale W. Verts Posted May 12, 2014 Author Posted May 12, 2014 Man, I didn't spend this much time on these things when I worked on real bugs... Got some engine detail done today, and touched up the wheels. I was intending for this thing to set lower, at least in the front (I've already dropped the spindles all that I can). I was going to go with a shorter front tire, but my wife says if this was really her car then she likes the stance the way it is. So there. My bodywork is not perfect, but I did fix (hide) some issues that the model had, and some that I created myself. Built the bumpers (I'll get them better next time) and molded the lights and turn signals into the body. The color is flat-white. It'll get cleared after I use my wife's choice of decals. Gonna be weird. Haven't decided exactly what to do on the interior. Being a convertible it needs to be nice. But I HATE interiors. Fabricated dual-port manifolds. POORLY fabricated. Carbs are resin Webers. The Alternator is a rather feeble piece also. I just need more supplies before I can build stuff that looks real- I need to order lots of styrene! I need to work up a throttle linkage as it is a prominent feature on 1:1 Beetles with dual carbs. Then I'll wire the thing and add the coil. Headers will finish it off, and for this and my current '32 WIP I need to build them myself. There it is. Criticism is welcome. I swear. Thanks for lookin'. Dale
DavidG Posted May 19, 2014 Posted May 19, 2014 Are the nerf bars upside down in the above photo? Where did you say you got the Webers? Did they come with the kit? I have Revell's new 68 VW kit. I wanted to put dual Webers on it and I also wanted the Porsche Fuchs alloys. I got some from a Porsche kit that looks like they will work well. But I was also wondering how I was going to lower the front a little. I'm glad you started this thread. You've given me something to go on.
Dale W. Verts Posted May 20, 2014 Author Posted May 20, 2014 (edited) Thanks all. David, I wanted the nerfs to have that little bit of angle to them. Again, I fabricated them from left-over tree-pieces... Next time I'll do better. The carbs are from the Parts Box in Australia. They're okay, but look at empinuts' threads in the Resin forum under "VW Induction". I think his are better. As far as lowering, I just cut and dropped the spindles for a slight lowering. I'll get back on this thing in a day or two. I've been doing some builds for friends and the 'Bug got put on the backburner. I need to get a Dremel tool (mine is loaned out) to do some grinding on the interior for clearance due to the lowering. A broken-ankle makes just runnin' to the store to pick up tools and supplies difficult and besides- we live in the middle of the woods (the way I like it) and it's forty-five minutes to town anyway. Dale Edited May 20, 2014 by Dale W. Verts
Wonderbread Kustomz Posted May 20, 2014 Posted May 20, 2014 Thanks all. David, I wanted the nerfs to have that little bit of angle to them. Again, I fabricated them from left-over tree-pieces... Next time I'll do better. The carbs are from the Parts Box in Australia. They're okay, but look at empinuts' threads in the Resin forum under "VW Induction". I think his are better. As far as lowering, I just cut and dropped the spindles for a slight lowering. I'll get back on this thing in a day or two. I've been doing some builds for friends and the 'Bug got put on the backburner. I need to get a Dremel tool (mine is loaned out) to do some grinding on the interior for clearance due to the lowering. A broken-ankle makes just runnin' to the store to pick up tools and supplies difficult and besides- we live in the middle of the woods (the way I like it) and it's forty-five minutes to town anyway. Dale Sounds like where I live... 30 minutes to get to Walmart, Hobbytown and hobby lobby are about 40 minutes away... Thank god I keep the gas in the car pretty full and rarely let it go under a quarter tank... Closest gas station is about 15 minutes away...
Dale W. Verts Posted May 20, 2014 Author Posted May 20, 2014 Identical. We call it "God's Country", on the edge of the Ozark Plateau. A little short on frivolties, but a GREAT view. Dale
superbike-shaun Posted May 20, 2014 Posted May 20, 2014 Okay, you said criticism is okay, here goes, Man! that build sucks! just totally kidding Dale. I love that build, 'specially the wheels! ive got to get me a beetle one o these days!. keep up the good work. shaun.s
Dale W. Verts Posted May 21, 2014 Author Posted May 21, 2014 Thanks Shaun. Love my bugs. The next one will be better. Dale
Del Austin Posted May 22, 2014 Posted May 22, 2014 Looks good so far. Always loved bugs but have yet to build one.
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