Thread: 1964 VW Beetle - WIP

Yes, looking really good there Steve.

The shaping will be an interesting exercise.

Originally Posted by artme

Yes, looking really good there Steve.

The shaping will be an interesting exercise.

Thanks Arthur.
The shaping will be interesting. The best bit. I can't wait.

Originally Posted by crowie

Now Steve, Lets tie this down to Christmas 2013......

You caught me.
OK, this year it is.
(And I was looking forward to a nice slow build, concluding Xmas 2015.)

I have a question for all of the scale modellers reading this - has anyone tried using rifle stock checkering tools for details?

It's been in the back of my mind for a while - I'm thinking of buying some, for details like dashboards, mats, seats, vent slots etc

Back on the job at hand.

Before making the engine cover, I compared it to a real one and saw that it was way too short. On a real '64, the engine cover extends down to behind the bumper.

The existing parts didn't allow me to get it as long as I would have liked, but I extended it as much as possible, right to the lower edge of the flat surface on the rear spacer. Also moved the number plate light cover down a bit - it was too high on the plans.

az. Grey 64 - Rear.jpgay. Engine Cover cut out - test fit.JPG

I was just about to drill for that cover and the engine cover handle, as per the plans, when I realised that if I drill them at 90 degrees, they won't be at right angles to the surface after shaping. I'll try to work out the angles first and drill accordingly. I could drill them after shaping, but it'll be hard to mark their positions accurately then.

I'll start shaping it this afternoon.

Wow that does look tricky Steve. The shaping of the body is what I am worried about on my 32' Ford. Whenever I get back to it. Not sure how I'm going to make the body yet.



Bret

Originally Posted by bj383ss

Wow that does look tricky Steve. The shaping of the body is what I am worried about on my 32' Ford. Whenever I get back to it. Not sure how I'm going to make the body yet.
Bret

I'm looking forward to seeing it Bret. I'm sure you'll do it proud.

I'm in two minds regarding the shaping. It's what I'm looking foward to the most, but also the part that I'm the most apprehensive about. The plan is to just blunder along as best I can and hope it ends up looking right, especially in profile.

Since the guards, (fenders), are next, I just went out and selected the timber. I have some nice Merbau offcuts left from everything else, so both the guards and running boards will be Merbau. Maybe some other bits and pieces too. I haven't looked that far ahead. I like surprises.
The Merbau is 45mm thick, so I don't need to laminate up thinner pieces to make 7/8" and 1 9/16" for the guards. Another plus.
I drew up the rear guards last night - still need to work out the exact shape of the front ones.

ba. Merbau guard and running board stock.jpg

Edit: I drilled those holes at 2.2 degrees and 17 degrees respectively. Be interesting to see how close I went.

I've done as much rough-shaping of the engine cover as I dare using the disc sander.

bb. Engine Cover rough-shaped 1.JPG bc. Engine Cover rough-shaped 2.JPG

I'll stick it to a scrap with DS tape now and finish shaping it with the Dremel and by hand.

Slowly getting there.....

Phew. The engine cover is finished. Actually, it was easier than I expected and turned out reasonably well. It looks OK from the side, I think. I'll do the last tiny bit of blending with the vent panel after it's glued in place.

bd. Engine cover done 1.JPG be. Engine cover done 2.jpg


I made a couple of little templates to help with shaping it evenly, and just kept re-tracing the lines as I went, for reference.

bf. Engine cover shaping templates.JPG

Onward and upward. Now for the rear guards...

Damn Steve, that boot lid looks good....WELL DONE!!!! Cheers, crowie

Originally Posted by crowie

Damn Steve, that boot lid looks good....WELL DONE!!!! Cheers, crowie

Thanks Pete. I'm fairly pleased with it myself, and less nervous about the body shaping. I'll take the same approach. I've worked out a system - simply chop off anything that doesn't look like part of a Beetle. Good logic, I think.
Hopefully, by the end I'll be left with something that does look like a Beetle.

I like the use of the templates what a great idea. I will be using that. Looks good to me Steve. Keep um coming.


Bret

Originally Posted by bj383ss

I like the use of the templates what a great idea. I will be using that. Looks good to me Steve. Keep um coming.
Bret

I found that it helps a lot, Bret. I did much of the shaping with a sharp coarse mill file, so I filed in strips around between the lines, starting alternately from the left then the right, to keep both sides even. A bit of cleanup afterwards with 120 then 240 on a block and it was done.

I just finished re-drawing the rear guards to my satisfaction (again), so I can get into them first thing tomorrow.

Steve,

Excellent progress...

i sure like your idea of carving away everything that doesn't look like a Beetle. Seem to recall that DaVinci was the first to use that technique...worked for him...

As for the gun stock tools.....sounds like it could be a fine idea depending on the scale and how it fits the scale of what you use it for. (Duh.....sorry....sounded better before I typed it)

Cheers,

Jim