VW Convertible WIP

My Bug had a smoothed off dash and I liked that look so I did it to the model with some styrene and aluminum.

To get a dropped front I first checked out how it would sit OOB with a mockup.

The arrows point to where I want the wheels centered.

So I set about to cut the locating arms from the front suspension assembly.

And then relocated them.

Winding up with the wheels where I wanted.

Nice work!  I'll be watching this thread.

I've always wanted to build a VW Bug but I can't remember ever doing one.

 On a side note, does anyone know what the difference is between a VW Bug and  VW Beetle?

Hi Dave. A Bug and Beetle are used commonly for the same car.

And thanks for the kind words.

Sourced a pair of Weber style carbs and whittled up some new intake manifolds.

Also reshaped the fan shroud to the overall rounder looking '36HP style'.

Hi. I'm interested to see how you get on with this , I've not only built about ten of these over the last 30 years (my last one is 1/16th scale and just in the box waiting to finish)but also real ones! I'm impressed so far in your dropped front axle, keep up the good work!

PatW.-Anytime you have had experience with the subject matter it can translate into a better model IMHO. Having restored real cars for 30 plus years I often find myself flooded with memories as I look at a kit and then enjoy setting about to replicate some of that in miniature. Thanks for the compliments.

The kit engine needed a proper performance exhaust. So far I've cobbled up the system less mufflers and tips.

Hope to hear from some more of you dropping in for a peek.

What did you use to make the exhaust?

It looks good.

DMK,

 It's aluminum rod, tubing and plumbing solder.

Thanks.

Whittled up some mufflers and the tailpipes. It all tucks up into the body and then exits in the stock locations.

Moved back to the new dashboard. When you remove the real dashpad there is a 'lip' underneath it. To replicate this feature on my smoothed off version I beveled the upper edge and then laid in some styrene rod which was sanded and contoured finally.

In the engine components I saw a rather softly molded oil filler cap coming off the generator stand. It's a rather obvious feature of the engine so I turned up an aluminum replacement.

Moving to the front bumper I replicated what my old bug had. Recessed turn signals which got rid of the stock units atop the front fenders.

Looking ahead to wiring the engine I just didn't see working with the kit distributor. So I made a new performance dist. from aluminum and styrene. Sorry for the borrowed camera which just won't get crisp shots on the small stuff.

Also whittled up a new coil, alternator and modified the kit pulley a bit.

Velocity stacks (on the carbs) look cool but aren't very practical on a street car. So I took a spares box unknown part and fashioned some air cleaners.

The kit engine has no mounting flange/surface to mate with the transaxle. This not only differs from the prototype but makes for a sloppy joining and appearance. Some styrene and brass fixed that and now slides into a union with the transaxle.

Although I had spent some time dressing up the cast axles I still didn't like their looks. Some aluminum tubing for drive flanges and then some whittled up styrene tubing for CV Joints/boots, now mate to aluminum tube axles.

I hope that some of you might enjoy following along and welcome comments or critique.

Looking outward from the transaxle I never did like the axle shafts or where they reached the backing plates. Old Revell kits seem notorious for pieces being concave. Most likely to help them be released from the molds, but it adds to that soft look of details and components.

So out came the tubing and replacements were made while the backside of the backing plates were simply sanded flat and then made more circular overall..

Looks Great, Squid!  I always enjoy watching you put stuff together.

Watchmann

Looks Great, Squid!  I always enjoy watching you put stuff together.

Thanks Watchman!

So, who saw this one coming: Even though the starter is up and out of the way I found the kit 'lump' offensive in it's own fashion!

The lump was removed and styrene used to fill the new gaps. Then a starter, solenoid and mounting bracket made up.

I like it   nice work on the upgrades

Will there be anything left of the origial kit?  Perhaps only the emblem.

That's looking good, mate.  Can't wait to see more!

Duster, Watchman "Lee",

Thanks for the kind words gents. A thread is more fun when folks take the time to comment- So I appreciate it.

And yes, I masked off the VW emblem atop the hood just to save it from getting clogged with primer. Revell did a nice job on that!

BUT,

There was always something that bothered me about where the front fenders met the front quarter panels. It simply wasn't 'right' and tried as I might I couldn't reshape it to my own satisfaction. At some point I realized if I had the hood out of the way I could better reach these areas.

Although it was cut out carefully with a lil PE 'saw' after recontouring I had new gaps to plug.

Another reason I opted to open the hood is that the kit gives you a basic trunk to work with.

It's hard for my borrowed camera to capture the new contours, but they are better.

So there's some progress and meanwhile I'm working on the trunk rain gutters and front apron. It looks promising and should allow a spare tire in there too!

Thanks for dropping in and as always comments and critique are welcome.

You're doing a fantastic job!

Thanks Dogfish. I appreciate it.

Set about to mate the trunk to the body. I found the kit trunk width just a bit narrow so I carved the sides off and widened the platform first.

Then fashioned new side walls from styrene sheet.

And so far it looks like this now.

You might notice the new apron area with it's hood/trunk,,,,um,,whatever, latch.

Nice body work also!

Thanx DogFish and as we all know the bodywork is never done and still continues!

Though there are many spotting diferences in the years between Bug parts one thing I've never favored was the later 'crash bumpers'. Well some whittling can improve that and then getting rid of the clunky mounts.

That's the rear bumper as a comparo.

On the real deal those flatstock bumper brackets pass through grommets. I first tried covering the kit bumper mount holes with some 'grommets' but they were out of proportion so I filled in the holes some and it all looks a bit better.

New brass bumper brackets on reshaped bumper through kit holes:

First attempt at making grommets that covered up the kit holes didn't work so those holes were filled in thus:

And the results:

While it took a while I'd like to think it was worth it.

MrSquid2U

 

 

While it took a while I'd like to think it was worth it.

 

Well Yeah -for sure

Thanks for following along Duster!

So turning attention to the rear I set about to modify how the kit mounts the engine/trans package. First the square block 'firewall' had to be cut down. Then some additional inner quarters needing adding and finally the chassis horns which actually support the real drivetrain were rebuilt so a strap 'peformance trans mount' could be added.

"Slow but steady, makes for a really long build!"

Also fab'd a new rear apron for the decklid to sit upon as well as the driprails.

So I'm looking at the interior and realize that it being a convertible, things will be easy to view. Then it hits me that the seats have a decent shape but are of course simplified. A lil brass, some soldering and styrene helped that along though.