Blitzer/Monster Beetle: why no rear “glass?”

[Smokescreen38 204]

Where’s the rear window glass on these bodies? I interpret this as one more customization to the stock VW Beetle body but it seems like an odd choice.  Also, I can swear that I have seen Blitzer Beetles with the rear window glass in place.  Did earlier versions have this piece? 

I am a huge proponent of mass reduction modifications for any car but often, internal combustion vehicles need the rear glass in place to prevent exhaust, swept up in turbulence and eddy currents, from coming into the passenger compartment and knocking everyone out from CO poisoning.  Obviously this isn’t any concern for our injected molded driver figure but I don’t care for having a bad idea represented in model form. 

[Re-Bugged 11952]

I imagine is stems from the the original version of the body shell on the Sand Scorcher as the rear body clip is inside the top of the rear window, so had to be open to get a finger in to remove the body.

The Monster Beetle & Blitzer Beetle share the same shell with the extra holes for the side posts punched out. (The Re-Re Sand Scorcher has just dimples on the inside for them) Tamiya being Tamiya obviously just carries on with the same window glass mould leaving the back open.

[RushRebel 105]

I don't understand this as well as why they produce ALL the beetle bodies with Sand Scorcher body holes. You have to fill and sand those suckers if you want to paint it anything other than box art. It just seems lazy on Tamiya's part.

[Saito2 8337]

The Monster Beetle and Blitzer Beetle had rear glass originally I believe. When the Monster Beetle returned in re-release form, it inherited the window glass (with missing rear glass) from the re-re'd Sand Scorcher this time around. 

 

I'm also not crazy about the fact the re-re Scorcher got the chopped fenders of the Monster Beetle (Tamiya modified the mold evidently) or the re-re Monster Beetle inheriting extra body holes from the re-re Scorcher.

 

[Re-Bugged 11952]

I cut out a sort of spoiler from a water bottle on a couple of bodies to detract it a bit..

[Frog Jumper 4254]

I tricked someone on TamiyaClub (*cough* @Saito2) into selling me a MB Body with OG windows (ie rear glass).

Muahahahaha! (evil laugh)

Terry

[jonboy1 3755]

I thought I remembered seeing it too, and low and behold:

[Guest]

Now I want this for mine. It would finish it off rather nicely. But they're as rare as rocking horse poo. 

[Frog Jumper 4254]

48 minutes ago, NUFCRc said:

Now I want this for mine. It would finish it off rather nicely. But they're as rare as rocking horse poo. 

Almost as rare as the Ranger clear glass for Ranger/BF bodies…

ETA There’s a used one ebheyz right now.  Too rich for my blood…

[kataplaz 375]

My MB has a window

[Guest]

58 minutes ago, Frog Jumper said:

Almost as rare as the Ranger clear glass for Ranger/BF bodies…

ETA There’s a used one ebheyz right now.  Too rich for my blood…

Good lord that's expensive. I think I will try and fabricate one myself. 

[Starky_UK 166]

Definitely had the rear windows on the OG MB and Blitzer. 

I found a NIP #9005219 MB parts in a box of old stock I bought years ago. Unfortunately it has heat damage so just got thrown back in the parts bin. It will do for one of my runners if a window brakes. 

[DearHighRacingClub 44]

Do any of those cars actually use the glass for the rear lights?

Also, very much not a fan of the open back window. Perfect place to pick up your car (NO, it's not!)

I think I'll combine a DIY spoiler like the one pictured above with a nice net (like the type used in the Hotshot). Actually thought about cutting out the side windows and net them as well

And get a second driver ... And maybe some jerrycans .. and centered servo  ... and ... and !!!

Oh, and the MB boxart is terrible. So is the name, too much on the nose and pales compared the beetle before

But I'm on a Baja trip lately (lots of good stuff on YT) and there's just so many cool looking ones to beb inspired by

Cheers,

Ole

[kevinb120 491]

On the scorcher you really can't use one and get the body off.  But the shape there is so simple and the C-pillars are so large I would imagine a 2L bottle or scrap lexan would work, maybe with just a little bit of basic heat shaping to de-stress it.  Problem is if you have tinted windows it adds a layer of difficulty.

[Kowalski86 4795]

4 hours ago, Frog Jumper said:

Almost as rare as the Ranger clear glass for Ranger/BF bodies…

ETA There’s a used one ebheyz right now.  Too rich for my blood…

Does it come with the rest of the truck for that price? Seems like something that we should start 3D printing.

[kevinb120 491]

They kind of have you by the #$*!s with clear plastic.  And typically they're going to be quite scratched up as they were back in the day just flying around in the box with hardbody parts.  I've chased more than a few Ranger body sets years ago.  And they're uber brittle, you can crack them installing them.  Same with the original chrome grilles, even if kept in a vacuum chamber their age has the chrome flake off incredibly easy, good luck masking the light buckets and grill.   In the past 10 years or so Rangers have become impossibly expensive to chase down restoration parts vs waiting on a full body set or unicorn salvageable complete truck that isn't ballistic.

[MadAnt 769]

Just to help the readers.

The re-release Sand Scorcher body was made from a modified Monster/Blitzer Beetle mold. That is why you can find Monster Beetle post hole mold markings and molded in features on the re-release Sand Scorcher bodies, even before the re-release of the Monster Beetle and Blitzer Beetle. The lack of a rear window on the re-release Monster Beetle I would assume is a cost saving method. Because why add more complexity to manufacturing when one mold can be used for multiple applications? It just makes sense, it cuts costs down and also makes the products more affordable for the consumers, which makes it easier to sell. 

Another positive (or negative) is that Tamiya did not completely de-value the OG vintage cars in our collections that we worked so hard on to restore and track down parts for. Although I did feel like I overpaid for my Original Monster Beetle after Tamiya re-released it, but mine still has some other differences from the re-pop. 

[Frog Jumper 4254]

7 hours ago, NUFCRc said:

Good lord that's expensive. 

Let's be honest here.

Who hasn't spent $100 on something stupid in this hobby???

Terry

 

[GToddC5 2658]

Perfect place to drop this 

 

[Guest]

4 hours ago, Frog Jumper said:

Let's be honest here.

Who hasn't spent $100 on something stupid in this 

Oh I know, but 100 quid for a windshield. I'd have to draw the line there I'm afraid 

[Otis311 416]

My brother put some metal screen in his. I like to think the 1/10th scale driver and co-driver found the engine ran too hot in the desert and they needed more air flow.

 

[Frog Jumper 4254]

On 2/12/2025 at 7:21 AM, Otis311 said:

My brother put some metal screen in his. I like to think the 1/10th scale driver and co-driver found the engine ran too hot in the desert and they needed more air flow.

 

This is a fantastic idea!

Terry

 

[Guest]

On 2/12/2025 at 12:21 PM, Otis311 said:

My brother put some metal screen in his. I like to think the 1/10th scale driver and co-driver found the engine ran too hot in the desert and they needed more air flow.

 

Now that's what I'm talking about! 

[jonboy1 3755]

if anyone is in the Blackpool area (or fancys a drive there) there is a nice glass set in this for a crazy good price:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/186963047220?_skw=tamiya+vintage&itmmeta=01JMC9BEC4V7YFT3G5KZS8J1TX&hash=item2b87ddb334:g:kRcAAeSwVQFns3Km&itmprp=enc%3AAQAKAAAA8FkggFvd1GGDu0w3yXCmi1ccCwWkUH034I%2BpCy2x5RRjUQze5SkQsIIORu9Qt5aWB2beppLv5FeVZ0YKUNxiu5PYSJ%2FMt4T1vGxpoIY2FiHP196hJhZQ7YZJST%2FdK%2BsArzu3hvxpJKrXk2f4Ivtmd2c6n4miWy3b%2FOQMi7j16HTqa3jP71%2FnnjXWM3xkmlYUAYTJWr4GwoLq1lNZ1M8SH5J8PU3KFkQqzDrewClpzrgNXgdRp7TF2VFoKbkbdWq81AkyfyhRnNwWpNjDW2i7%2F2fFLSLrSS54MGc9mFPW%2BYy5JCv0Ual3sMao%2BrMYkh8VEw%3D%3D|tkp%3ABk9SR67mrYmjZQ