Andrew D Charger Chaser Posted August 18, 2021 Report Share Posted August 18, 2021 On to project #10: Hughie Hogg's Volkswagen! The first thing I discovered was that it was NOT repeat NOT a true convertible. Rather, it was a chop-top, as evidenced by the sedan-style windscreen, and the bottoms of the window posts still remaining. The second thing I had to learn was the difference between the classic Beetle and the Super Beetle. Some of you already know this, but it was new to me. Although the differences are easy to miss at first glance, I now see clearly that Hughie's ride was most definitely a Super Beetle with the roof cut off. After much more research and guidance from folks at an automotive modeling forum, I realized (after much frustration) that I was going to have to kitbash THREE different kits to do this. 1) Aoshima Beetle 1303S for most (not all) of the body and the bumpers 2) Revell '68 Beetle for the chassis, engine, windscreen, rear body vents, tail lights and much of the interior 3) Revell VW Cabriolet for some of the interior and some of the body details I should also mention part of my research was to go through every Dukes episode in which this vehicle appeared, pause the DVD whenever a good view appeared from any angle, and photograph the scene. I then had the photos made into prints to use as I build. Maybe low-tech, but it works for me. Spike, RogerDuke and Skipper Duke 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew D Charger Chaser Posted August 18, 2021 Author Report Share Posted August 18, 2021 The excellent Revell '68 chassis actually fit the Aoshima body *mostly* well. Only two issues to face. First, it needed widening on both sides with a .040 strip (easy fix). The bigger problem was that the aft wheel wells and engine area didn't fit. So I took a saw and cut partway into the plastic at that area so that the aft area could be bent upward, and then fit quite well, considering. RogerDuke and Spike 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew D Charger Chaser Posted August 18, 2021 Author Report Share Posted August 18, 2021 Final step for now was scratchbuilding the large McPherson struts, a vital item for the Super Beetle. The struts themselves were made from plastic tubing, then the springs made by wrapping metal wire around an appropriately-sized plastic rod then trimmed to shape and installed. Spike, Hobie Hartkins and RogerDuke 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hobie Hartkins Posted August 18, 2021 Report Share Posted August 18, 2021 You've got a lot of talent there bud! Great job!! RogerDuke 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HossC Posted August 18, 2021 Report Share Posted August 18, 2021 As with your previous builds, I'll be avidly waiting for updates, and I'm already looking forward to seeing the finished model. Hobie Hartkins and RogerDuke 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RogerDuke Posted August 19, 2021 Report Share Posted August 19, 2021 Another project! Coolness! I'm out of reactions or I would have hit more likes. Did you see that Hughie just turned 70? I posted it a few days ago. Skipper Duke 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew D Charger Chaser Posted August 19, 2021 Author Report Share Posted August 19, 2021 Thank you! Yep, I saw, Jeff is already at that age...still amazing to see.... RogerDuke 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hobie Hartkins Posted August 22, 2021 Report Share Posted August 22, 2021 I STILL think they should've had him ( Hughie) take Boss' place on the reunion movie! RogerDuke 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RogerDuke Posted August 22, 2021 Report Share Posted August 22, 2021 I'm not a fan of the reunion movies but Hughie would have been the best choice. It would have made Boss's death just a little easier to take, knowing he would have approved of Hughie taking his place....even though Huggie drove him nuts. Skipper Duke 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hobie Hartkins Posted August 22, 2021 Report Share Posted August 22, 2021 (edited) 50 minutes ago, RogerDuke said: I'm not a fan of the reunion movies but Hughie would have been the best choice. It would have made Boss's death just a little easier to take, knowing he would have approved of Hughie taking his place....even though Huggie drove him nuts. My thoughts exactly! Me and Hughie are enjoying some Pale Ale right now at this moment as a matter of fact! Edited August 22, 2021 by Hobie Hartkins Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spike Posted September 14, 2021 Report Share Posted September 14, 2021 Any updates? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew D Charger Chaser Posted April 16 Author Report Share Posted April 16 Howdy folks, I must apologize for being away for a couple of years. Had my hands full with MANY things, including a wedding, some health stuff, plus got really burned out on this project (FAR more difficult than originally thought). Time to get it off the back burner and finished. Hope y'all are doing well and blessed! Ok, let's see where we left off. Major body modifications. Had to take pieces from the two Revell bodies and graft them to the Aoshima to reflect the correct vents, trims and such. Flat windscreen framing on the hardtop was too narrow, so I widened it with an insert of plastic, above and below. I'll worry about the windscreen itself later. The hood was a nightmare, part of the upper section being scratchbuilt. RogerDuke 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RogerDuke Posted April 16 Report Share Posted April 16 Great to have you back. Even better: You have a new project for us to watch unfold. It's going to be a fun spring! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew D Charger Chaser Posted April 19 Author Report Share Posted April 19 Thanks for the kind words! Got to splice the chopped door posts from the classic body onto the Super's convertible body. Always better to cut and graft too much, then cut it down to size. Then a bit of grinding and sanding to blend it all in. RogerDuke 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew D Charger Chaser Posted April 19 Author Report Share Posted April 19 Now the interior. The Classic's side panels seemed best, except I liked some of the details on the Revel Cabriolet better. Solution: graft the details onto the better panels. The Classic's seat bottoms are terrific, but the Revell Cabriolet's seat backs are the closest to the real thing out of the 3 kit choices. Again, graft them together. RogerDuke and Spike 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RogerDuke Posted April 19 Report Share Posted April 19 HazzardNet's Cooter is busy in the garage working his magic again. Thanks for sharing Andrew. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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