VW camper van made of matchsticks

[wolfdogstinkus 1893]

At the start of lockdown, I decided to open this.

Unfortunately I was only off work for a few days. But I made progress anyway.

Floorpan started.

Floorpan finished

One side almost complete, and floorpan and rear door. Chassis modified to accept RC running gear.

the rear corner windows were a challenge.

 

Got there in the end. Much tidier.

 

[mud4fun 1696]

Blimey, I thought I had problems cutting a corner out on a polycarbonate shell 

Interesting project, don't think I'd have the patience for it. Look forward to seeing it finished! 

[wolfdogstinkus 1893]

I used clothes pegs and cable ties to hold everything while the glue dried.

The wasn't any instructions for the front window so I had to make a template.

 

The floorpan was "tubbed" to allow the running gear to fit. Running gear isn't fitted properly at this stage, just mocked up. Its a FTX mini crawler as I'm sure most of you will know.

[KEV THE REV 2318]

Looks great , very time consuming , but rewarding . I used to make Gypsy 'barrel' style caravans , and Haywain / Dorset carts from plywood and Ramin etc , where everything had to be cut to plans . I still have one of each .

[wolfdogstinkus 1893]

This was my 2nd attempt at a VW badge, 

The first was 2 matches wide and too far out of proportion.

[wolfdogstinkus 1893]

Made a plinth to mount it on.

[wolfdogstinkus 1893]

I decided to make runners for the sunroof. The instructions just have it closed, what's the point of a sunroof if you can't open it?.

Roof is held on with magnets to allow access to RC gear and battery.

Also made a steering wheel that is connected to a mini servo.

[wolfdogstinkus 1893]

So that's where I am. 

It does drive but I do need to adjust the length of the driveshaft. 

There are still loads of details to be made and added.

Door handles

Lights

Bumpers

Roof rack. (Possibly a surfboard!?)

And still loads of sanding, but I put it on hold for a while and left it for a while until recently when I did the VW badge.

[wolfdogstinkus 1893]

I must add that I have never made anything out of matchsticks before, the kit comes with card templates with the match direction printed on, so you just stick them where they go. 

The instructions weren't brilliant, they don't tell you how to join all the panels together and there is nothing for the front window surround, even though the picture on the box shows safari (opening) windows.

So it's not perfect and it's not perfectly scale. 

If I build another one, I've learned a lot but it took ages so I'm not planning another one anytime soon.

[stuhas 269]

Look like a lot of work,  But at the same time very rewarding especially when the running gear is in and running. Just don't put it into a kerb on its first outing 

Great work,

[wolfdogstinkus 1893]

33 minutes ago, stuhas said:

Look like a lot of work,  But at the same time very rewarding especially when the running gear is in and running. Just don't put it into a kerb on its first outing 

Great work,

Its actually fairly strong, I've painted it with watered down PVA so the glue should be well distributed and soaked into the wood.

The window frames are all reinforced on the inside, I think they're 4 matches together, with extra in places.

It was only ever supposed to be a static model, but where's the fun in that?

[stuhas 269]

 

4 hours ago, wolfdogstinkus said:

It was only ever supposed to be a static model, but where's the fun in that?

Very True 

[TwistedxSlayer 1290]

That is so very cool

[wolfdogstinkus 1893]

On 10/30/2020 at 12:24 PM, stuhas said:

Look like a lot of work,  But at the same time very rewarding especially when the running gear is in and running. Just don't put it into a kerb on its first outing 

Great work,

When I showed my work colleague a photo of what I'd done, he said he wouldn't have got that far without setting fire to it, but he is a pyromaniac. Lol

[wolfdogstinkus 1893]

I traced round all the templates onto fresh card as I built it, so I should have a good guide if I needed to replace a part, or build another one. 

I had to extend the roof to fit and you can see the join so I'm tempted to redo the roof. But then I'd have to redo all the other bits I wasn't 100% happy with so I might as well start again. Lol

[KEV THE REV 2318]

Looks excellent . Any things 'you're not happy with' will soon be forgotten once you complete it . You're being too hard on yourself as you look at each individual part you build . It is a hand made model and it looks great , keep up the fine work . 😀

[wolfdogstinkus 1893]

Dug this off the shelf again.

Stuck the badge on.

Had to shape the back to get it to fit better.

[wolfdogstinkus 1893]

Even started a new roof last night, and made good progress..

And some light clusters

 

[wolfdogstinkus 1893]

Shaped the rears a bit and glued them on,.. kept the lump at the top to resemble semaphores.

[wolfdogstinkus 1893]

Started the inside of the new roof.

[wolfdogstinkus 1893]

Willy's waiting,........

He's been in there waiting for a while..

I'll let him drive it again soon 

Stuck the front "lights" on purposely at an angle..

[ACCEL 2014]

Quite the under taking, some waterproofing and side pontoons and heck you'll have a house boat also

That is time i can respect. I had been following this for quite some time when i first viewed it on the "Other Makes" thread.

I dig scratch build.

Just think what you maybe sparked in some one else's imagination?

[wolfdogstinkus 1893]

Haven't really done much more with this but did take some pictures along with the magazine which I originally saw the kit advertised.

 

 

 

 

 

Of course, my model is better. It's RC!!!!!

[Superluminal 3750]

Amazing! What drive train and motor arrangement does it have?

Edig to just seen it  for some reason mot all rhe pictires are loading

 

Edited December 30, 2021 by Superluminal

[wolfdogstinkus 1893]

3 minutes ago, Superluminal said:

Amazing! What drive train and motor arrangement does it have?

Its a stretched mini FTX .  Two chassis rails bolted together so I just had to get a longer propshaft for the front.. 

No messing about with the 4 or 3 link suspension set up..