68 VW, Revell ... first car model in almost 50 yrs (Finally finished)

Here's a couple of progress pics. I dropped the engine on the chassis....

I sure hope those silver pad things aren't visible later. They both have awful sink holes that I'm afraid I should have filled. They are not getting filled now.

And shot of the underside before I glue in the rear suspension and half those pretty metal tones will be gone.

You know, I half remember wondering where the heck was the actual motor in those VW's. Building this thing, I was sure surprised to see it's a horizontally opposed four, under the chassis for all practical purposes. How clever. Live and learn..... (I mentioned going in I don't know much about cars)

Knock wood, continue to be impressed with the fit of this kit.....

Steve, that's all great news. I can only imagine the feeling of freedom not lugging the equipment around. Keep it up, sounds like you're doing great.

Thanks for your nice comment on the engine, Duster. Wow, you drove one of those mouse bugs, eh? That's cool! I'm not sure we had them here in the oft times boring midwest, but I'm familiar with them for some reason

Thanks for dropping by, Max!

I keep meaning to mention, Rob, even if that finished Rabbit isn't the exact year, it sure looks good from the pic. Like I could hop in and drive away.....

The beat up AMT Rabbit box in my photo above is a second kit I bought on eBay several years ago. I was planning on building my car again, but trying to update it to the 1989 look. I didn't think I could do it so it sits in the basement along with other car kits.

I think my new one is molded in yellow, but the original was molded in red. I still have the optional wheels for that kit somewhere.

It's just Max, checking for progress on the Bug and more funny VW stories. Yep, this is the place!  

Good engine job Greg.    Looking forward to seeing your progress.

  Driving VWs?  Yeah I was "privileged” to drive several different year VWs for my work with a national pest control company, the mouse cars had mouse ears, tail and nose/teeth were just the added spice to make crusen’  along the freeway a thing of wonder.

Also drove a VW Rabbit.  No mouse ears or tail on it…nope it

had bunny ears and a fluffy cotton ball tail 

What else could you expect? 

Greg

Hey Steve! So you're out and about and perusing the hobby aisle at Hobby Lobby, eh? Man, is that the best news ever or what?!?!

Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a comment, it's just so good to hear from you.

 

Steve

Rob Gronovius

Saw this '68 Beetle at Hobby Lobby today. I was tempted, but I need to finish the car kits I am working on AND already have in the box!

 

I understand that, Rob.

If I didn't mention it already, that is how I got on this car kick. I already had the bug from watching threads here, was perusing the Hobby Lobby model aisle, saw this, and there I went. Right over the edge.

Saw this '68 Beetle at Hobby Lobby today. I was tempted, but I need to finish the car kits I am working on AND already have in the box!

Bakster

Ha! Nice job Greg! Following this.

 

Thanks, Steve.

BTW, if this ever gets finished it will not have lights, and if it meets up with water, it will likely rust.

Tanker - Builder

Oh My  ,Greg ! 

 That certainly looks like the engine I had in both of my Bugs ( a 63 and 67 ) and my kit built Plane ! Now where's the rest . LOL.LOL. Good job My friend ! T.B.

 

If it reminds you of real engine(s), then I'm happy. And yet more VW memories from T.B.!! Thanks!

Hodakamax

This is fun. I also had a 1979 Rabbit diesel. Incredibly noisey and slow. On highway use, to pass someone, you would have to turn off the AC. I think if you put someting on the dash, like a camera, it would be completly disassembled in fifty miles from vibration. Hey, it would eek out 50 mpg occasionally, nothing to scoff at. VW stories, you've got us started!  

Maxie

 

So many Volkswagon memories. I'm having as much fun listening to VW stories as I am building this thing. It's sort of like I'm having my own VW vicariously through my buddies stories.

Good to have you, Maxie.

midnightprowler

Engine looks good. Watching this.

 

Thanks, Lee. Appreciate the comment and thanks for stopping by, it's good to have you.

Re "watching this....", I got to thinking, I haven't any idea what I am doing building a car. If I screw this thing up, everybody will know it!

Rob Gronovius

 

The Model year of the kit doesn't match my actual Rabbit; headlights became square, turn signals were relocated from the front bumper and side of the fender to a single unit adjacent to the headlights. Same thing on the tail lights.

 

As far as the Airfix kit, I would not recommend it. I had purchased it because it was close in scale to armor models, but determined that the scale difference was too great. It is not a good kit.

 

Well, in the case of the Rabbit model not being the exact year, you've given me an idea as I found a mustang kit close to the '72 I had but not quite. I might get the kit anyway as it's only a year or two off.

Thanks for the thumbs down on the Airfix Bug. I don't like strugglling with kits and appreciate the heads-up, Rob.

Ha! Nice job Greg! Following this.

Oh My  ,Greg ! 

 That certainly looks like the engine I had in both of my Bugs ( a 63 and 67 ) and my kit built Plane ! Now where's the rest . LOL.LOL. Good job My friend ! T.B.

This is fun. I also had a 1979 Rabbit diesel. Incredibly noisey and slow. On highway use, to pass someone, you would have to turn off the AC. I think if you put someting on the dash, like a camera, it would be completly disassembled in fifty miles from vibration. Hey, it would eek out 50 mpg occasionally, nothing to scoff at. VW stories, you've got us started!  

Maxie

Engine looks good. Watching this.

Greg

It's awesome you have a scale model of your first car, Rob. Who doesn't remember the Rabbit!?!? Even more awesome that you still have it.

Looks like you did a knock out job on it and the Airfix VW. So you're no rookie building things with 4 wheels, then.

I had no idea Airfix had that kit. I've yet to build anything Airfix and I'm eager to give them a go.

 

As far as the Airfix kit, I would not recommend it. I had purchased it because it was close in scale to armor models, but determined that the scale difference was too great. It is not a good kit.

GMorrison

So that rubber tube that connects from the crank case to the aircleaner wants to get chucked. It's a PCV tube. No, not a polution control valve, but "positive crankcase ventilation. Thats Bug for air polution control. Useless.

Get rid of that flex pipe from the left head shroud to the aircleaner intake. Cold start preheat also useless.

In fact, get rid of the aircleaner because the two stage Weber downdraft carb you're gonna replace that anemic Zenith carb with has it's own foam rubber air cleaner on top.

Now yer' rolling.

 

Oh no! There won't be anything left. I guess you really do know your Bugs!

By golly I know who to ask if I want to customize the next engine, though.

Hey Steve! So you're out and about and perusing the hobby aisle at Hobby Lobby, eh? Man, is that the best news ever or what?!?!

Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a comment, it's just so good to hear from you.

It's awesome you have a scale model of your first car, Rob. Who doesn't remember the Rabbit!?!? Even more awesome that you still have it.

Looks like you did a knock out job on it and the Airfix VW. So you're no rookie building things with 4 wheels, then.

I had no idea Airfix had that kit. I've yet to build anything Airfix and I'm eager to give them a go.

GMorrison

Youngsters. I went through my Bug phase with a 61 and a 63.

Ha! That's funny!

GMorrison

That certainly looks like a bug engine, nice job.

That's sure a nice compliment, thanks!

GMorrison

My favorite VW Revell kit is the 23 window bus. It's been re-released as the "Samba' bus.

Oh oh, I just looked up that kit. It's available all over the place as you said. Looks a bit challenging, says multi-piece body. That's going to be hard to resist as a 'when I get good enough' kit.

And why, all of a sudden, do I feel like loading up the SUV and heading to Woodstock???

Thanks for popping in, Bill. I sure do appreciate it.

So that rubber tube that connects from the crank case to the aircleaner wants to get chucked. It's a PCV tube. No, not a polution control valve, but "positive crankcase ventilation. Thats Bug for air polution control. Useless.

Get rid of that flex pipe from the left head shroud to the aircleaner intake. Cold start preheat also useless.

In fact, get rid of the aircleaner because the two stage Weber downdraft carb you're gonna replace that anemic Zenith carb with has it's own foam rubber air cleaner on top.

Now yer' rolling.

Great looking engine Greg. I was looking at this kit just yesterday at HL. Really wanted to pick it up. I'll be watching.

Greg

Rob, I wouldn't have guessed you have all those cars in your stash, and many of them bugs! Thanks for the nice comments, and let's bug on.

My very first brand new car was a 1984 Wolfsburg edition Rabbit. I built the AMT kit of it in 1984 and still have the model in my display case today.

One of my first first place model kits is an ancient 1/32 scale Airfix VW Beetle (model year unknown) with right hand drive. I still have it in my display case too.

Youngsters. I went through my Bug phase with a 61 and a 63.

That certainly looks like a bug engine, nice job.

My favorite VW Revell kit is the 23 window bus. It's been re-released as the "Samba' bus.

Thanks for your comment, John. I appreciate it.

Nick, thanks. You do a heck of a job with cars. You might just be right, might be contagious. We'll see.

Rob, I wouldn't have guessed you have all those cars in your stash, and many of them bugs! Thanks for the nice comments, and let's bug on.

Hey Max, do come adjust my valves! One of my problems with building cars is I know so little about them. I can ID a distributor cap, an air cleaner filter housing, and maybe a fan belt, that's about it. It's probably a good thing I didn't go through a 1:1 VW phase as you did back in the days I could have afforded it. And thanks your your nice comments.

Plenty cool Greg. I went through a 1/1 VW phase years ago and restored and drove several 69-72 Bugs. Your engine looks super! Want me to adjust the valves for you? Only takes a few minutes, lol. Looks fun, maybe I should try one. Maybe not. I did have to join VWs Anonymous because I could never go from point A to point B without stopping to ask what they wanted for that old VW out back.---Max, watching! 

You're welcome Greg! I literally have a dozen or maybe even dozens of car model kits. I just didn't even consider thinking about them until recently. I'm going to build a few of them soon.

Your bug looks good. I have a Polar Lights Herbie the Love Bug kit I bought for one of my kids before they lost interest in model building. I also have a Revell of Germany new Beetle Polizei police car. And I have a Hasegawa VW van that an eBay seller in Japan sent me by accident and told me to keep (was supposed to be a Fine Molds snow speeder that I did receive).

I'm also a sucker for a deal and have grabbed all sorts of car kits I see on sale for under $10.

Hey Greg looks like you have a fun little build . There is one thing   Shine is  contagious that engine looks nice! I'll be watching this my friend.