Busdriver 6207 Posted December 6, 2019 (edited) This is the begining of something I've been planning for a while. The idea is to start with one kit, A rally Beetle, and see how many different cars I can produce from the one chassis. Wheels and tyres can be changed as well as mounting posts but other than that not a lot. OOps forgot yes different body spacers.L/M/S none. I have the beetle along with a WW body set and a Pumpkin set to start with.The beetle is going to use a set of "Herbie" stickers I bought a while ago, so a nice easy white paint job!!! The only problems I have is the wheels and the colour? The kit wheels are not right at all. Herbie had banded standard vw wheels. Sometimes with hub caps sometimes without.The tamiya VW wheels would be good but too narrow., and banding them too much aggro. Any suggestions. The colour is another issue. In some pictures he looks very off white? (Apparently its called VW pearlweiss) He also has a sun roof!!!!! Edited December 6, 2019 by Busdriver more info 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Juggular 4914 Posted December 7, 2019 Sounds like a fun project. I can tell you that Tamiya's Pearl White doesn't look like that. Tamiya's is basically pure white (but pearly) no other tint to it. I wonder if you can do 1-2 layers of Tamiya Pearl White and then spray Corsa Gray under it? Just a thought. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Superluminal 3729 Posted December 7, 2019 Does it take m-chassis size wheels or standard touring car size? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Busdriver 6207 Posted December 7, 2019 I think they are m class. What are m class diameter wheels and Ill measure. They look like 1.5". It can take bigger as the Jiminy uses the same chassis and set up but they might look a little weird on the bug. I have a set of 1.5" beadlocks with mickey thompson tires on (very expensive) which I intend to use with the Pumpkin body. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Busdriver 6207 Posted December 7, 2019 12 hours ago, Juggular said: Sounds like a fun project. I can tell you that Tamiya's Pearl White doesn't look like that. Tamiya's is basically pure white (but pearly) no other tint to it. I wonder if you can do 1-2 layers of Tamiya Pearl White and then spray Corsa Gray under it? Just a thought. Hopefully. Its strange some of the stills from the movie look white and some look as you say a whiteish Corsa grey??.I think I will end up with a white rather than a grey as as its what most people would expect. Ive got to craft a sunroof though and interestingly the stripe runs across it in all the pictures? 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Badcrumble 4181 Posted December 7, 2019 It definitely isn’t a pure white in the first film (watched it the other day with the family) and the stripe does run across the sunroof. would you craft one in styrene and shoo goo it on the the shell? 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Busdriver 6207 Posted December 7, 2019 Thought I'd get the cutting out done then its out of the way. I know I have critisised Tamiya Polycarbonate bodies and a general dislike of them compared to hard bodies but I must admit this is a work of art. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Busdriver 6207 Posted December 7, 2019 10 minutes ago, Badcrumble said: It definitely isn’t a pure white in the first film (watched it the other day with the family) and the stripe does run across the sunroof. would you craft one in styrene and shoo goo it on the the shell? Interesting may have to re think?? Still not sure how to do it, difficult to make it look like fabric, maybe styrene with either tissue or very thin fabric cover then yse i think shoo goo a good idea. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Busdriver 6207 Posted December 7, 2019 Also noticed the chrome will need dulling down. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Busdriver 6207 Posted December 7, 2019 2 minutes ago, Busdriver said: Interesting may have to re think?? My own quote cos I couldnt edit but may have to get the airbrush out and mix a colour. Does anybody still make non aerosol Polycarbonate paint? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
OldSchoolRC1 979 Posted December 7, 2019 18 hours ago, Busdriver said: ... The idea is to start with one kit ... and see how many different cars I can produce from the one chassis.... This is what I love about Tamiya. So much part interchangeability and you can go in all kinds of different directions starting with just 1 kit. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Badcrumble 4181 Posted December 7, 2019 Some suggestions for paint here As for the ragtop, some flat clear might differentiate it from the body, could also dull the chrome. Or you could use acrylic washes? 2 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ruebiracer 1024 Posted December 9, 2019 Ah, Special love bug thread, totally my Kind! Keen on your methods and progress with this one. I´ve done many Herbies over the years with Tamiya white PS1, but 2 years ago I wanted to match the Pearl white a Little better and get a more "dirty white". I used waterbased Airbrush colors (Createx wicked), which where no problem to mix. I used White, some Drops yellow and black and reached a color quite close to the Dickie Key holder. In General I would say it´s a bit to greenish for the original, but as it was a race body I didn´t bother too much. If you want, I can also look up my mixture. (I noted somewhere) I did it with "Drops", so it should work with every airbrush color in principle. Another method I still want to tryout: Use an original Automotive rattle can with "VW Pearl White", and use Tamiya flat clear as a primer. I read this tip in a german forum. That would give the 100% color match I guess. For the wheels you could look up some 3d printing Shops, some do good replicas of the VW wheels without cap. You can find more pics of "Race Herbie" in my showroom: https://www.tamiyaclub.com/showroom_model.asp?cid=132856&id=34024 Good luck for your Project, really keen on the results! Br, Matthias 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Busdriver 6207 Posted December 9, 2019 Thanks for the tips. Will keep it updated. Here are a few build pictures along with I beleive all the possible combinations of the chassis, although there may be more. Obviously they all need different drive shaft lenghts, 3 being standard. I'm going to order one of each of the aluminium ones and then use the kit one to possibly produce 2 short ones. Have also included the first 3 bodies that I'm working on. The Beetle(Herbie) A Pumpkin and a Willy. The last picture is me returning to my trusty screwdiver. I have to say I dont like the tamiya one from the set. This old one has interchangeable heads, has a ratchet and a big handle. I use my fingertips to tighten screws unless they need real torque when I hold the handle. Bits are De Walt. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wolfdogstinkus 1876 Posted December 10, 2019 The VW camper has the ragtop moulded into the lexan. I'm not suggesting that you cut one off a camper, but cut one off a camper. Lol. Only joking, someone made a canvas roof for a Wild willy, that might give you a few ideas if you can find it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Badcrumble 4181 Posted December 10, 2019 The 2CV is another potential donor for a rag top. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Busdriver 6207 Posted December 11, 2019 Managed to basically finish the chassis. No dramas to report .. My real issue now is the wheels, well apert from the roof and the colour. The kit wheels look too small. The other wheels in the picture are 1.5's with Mickey Thompson crawling tires. Would be ok for Jiminy or the Pumpkin when I do it but too big for the beetle. Wondering if touring car size with rally blocks would be more scale? 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Busdriver 6207 Posted December 21, 2019 First body nearly done. Still a few bits to do like trime the body posts neatly,finish painting the lights, do the sunroof and some other stickers. Also need to check out the number plate and get some made. Took it for a run outside on wet pavior bricks. What a hoot with the front diff all but locked and the rear with AW grease its great fun to slide around. Tail hangs out like a rear engined car should. Strangley enough it doesnt feel like 4wd. Once all the final bits are done Ill move on to the next body. That will be a Pumpkin body on the short wheelbase chassis 7 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Badcrumble 4181 Posted December 23, 2019 Looking good! I fear a copycat build if my my son catches me looking at this thread. For a plate, type 6 of these would appear to fit OFP 857. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1-43-1-5-scale-custom-license-plate-set-any-brand-RC-model-car-California-tags/223462514035?hash=item3407675d73:g:JMkAAOSwTexZywvv Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
yogi-bear 2299 Posted December 23, 2019 only just found this thread. If you are interested, I can send you the artwork scaled for the Herbie numberplate if you want to print it out for yourself. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Busdriver 6207 Posted December 23, 2019 16 hours ago, yogi-bear said: only just found this thread. If you are interested, I can send you the artwork scaled for the Herbie numberplate if you want to print it out for yourself. If you'd pm me that would be great. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
yogi-bear 2299 Posted December 23, 2019 13 minutes ago, Busdriver said: If you'd pm me that would be great. sent! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Busdriver 6207 Posted December 28, 2019 Herbie rides again. Finished with help from @yogi-bear who provided the artwork for the number plates. Particularily pleased with the sunroof. Made with some sticky bandage I found in the medicine cabinet painted then the sticker added then washed with colour to fade it out a bit So thats the first body on the MFX 01 chassis. Next is going to me a little trail truck with Pumpkin body and Micky Thompson tyres. Have to drop the chassi size but I have all the propshafts so shouldn't be too difficult. I set the electrics up so they are all on the front section so when its shortened its just the spacers and prop to change. If I get really adventurous I might make a propshaft that I can use with no spacers at all. This is not a kit option but should allow a willy body to fit I think @JennyMo did this..Or a Kamtec Sunbeam Stilleto? 9 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Badcrumble 4181 Posted December 28, 2019 Yay! I like the sunroof! Really makes it a Herbie and not a stickered Beetle with the roof and the plates. Looking forward to the next variation! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites