This one's been slow coming, but with the onset of the warmer weather, I'm feeling the urge to get back out in the shed more, so it's time to continue.
I had a few different VW Beetles over the years, the last was a 'SuperBug', but always liked the old '64, my first.
This build is based on the Gatto plans, but like Yonnee, I'm changing the lines to make it look more like a Beetle. The plans were really crappy in the areas of the roof/boot lines and the front and rear windscreens.
I'm using some old waste Tas Oak for most of the body, filling cracks with epoxy as I go. I'm not sure what I'll use for the guards, running board etc, but probably Merbau, to use up some other offcuts I have laying around.
I like the way Yonnee did his, so took the same approach with the roof line, breaking it up into shorter lengths for a more realistic curve.
The original plan looked like this:
Attachment 283616
And the modified version looks like this:
Attachment 283617
I'm still not really happy and would have preferred one continuous piece, but that's a bit too tricky.
This is where I'm up to so far. The sides & roof are just sitting there - nothing glued yet.:
Attachment 283618
I still have a bit of cleaning up to do on the edges of some bits, some inserts to go into the dash for speedo etc, then the steering wheel needs final shaping.
When that's all done I'll continue with the next roof piece. I've cut it over-length so I can have a couple of goes at getting the angle right for a tight gap, if necessary. Each piece is at 97 degrees, giving a 194 degree dropoff from the middle of the side, rear window.
Mostly self-explanatory so far, except the steering wheel. It's made from 3 layers of 2mm Basswood ply laminated together, then hand-carved with a scalpel & small chisel.
Attachment 283615
It's supposed to look like this when done.
I won't worry about the horn, though.:
Attachment 283621
Like my last build, this one won't happen quickly. I'm working it in with a few boxes and other stuff.
Fun, fun, fun.....
Edit: I forgot to say, the Gatto plans are really for a later model, so I've collected a heap of pics of the '64, to convert things like taillights, bumpers etc as I go. The old bumpers, with overriders and the extra tubing, should be much more fun. :D