Date: Fri, 10 Apr 1998 04:41:40 -0700
Reply-To: "CARVER, JEFFREY D" <Jeffrey.Carver@AEROJET.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From: "CARVER, JEFFREY D" <Jeffrey.Carver@AEROJET.COM>
Subject: Scale Model Busses
I am in the middle of assembling and over-detailing a
scale model of a 1980 Westfalia. I found the Revell/Monogram
kit at a local retailer. The accuracy of the model is amazing
and here are some of the details that are accurate or not:
Its a 1980 California model based on the engine heat exchangers
and catalytic converter arrangement. The model includes a
decal to simulate a radiator in front, I guess for a diesel version,
but the engine is a gas type. The engine is otherwise very detailed.
Heat exchangers, heater channels, suspension stuff, interior
camper cabinets, wall panels, etc.
The rear bench is correct for an '80, as it includes a large door
on the front of the panel. The 1981 bus changed in that a heat
vent came through the front panel, and the door was eliminated.
The '80 version is much more useable IMHO.
The camper interior is the 'deluxe' version that would have been
found on an 'L' version bus, but the badge on the back of the bus
is a non-L 'Vanagon'.
The emergency brake is centrally located rather than against the
drivers side. The front table is missing. It does NOT include a
decal for the 'Wesfalia' label on the pop-top (thus the plea recently).
I'm a bit surprised that the outside camper electrical/water doors
are missing completely, I'll make something to simulate those,
probably to facilitate a non-camper model.
The model can be assembled with the top up or down.
The model is fun to assemble and paint, and with the detail I
intend to do, it'll be very nice.
I found another of these kits yesterday at another shop, if anyone
is interested in getting it, I can drop by on the weekend to procure
it for you. It ran about $15. It's a 1/24th scale model.
Anyone out there still reading have a light blue Westi, I'd like to know
the interior colors, rugs, fabric, curtains, dash panel, etc, so I can
make the model more accurate. The Ivory of my own bus is rather
boring, so I thought I'd dress it up a little and do a blue one!
While cruising around looking for the next model to build (sounds
a lot like owning a real VW bus) I found a 'California Roller' model
from Revell. Its a '63/'64 Custom '70's bus, much like the real
'66 in my back yard. Cut rear wheel wells, oversize rear tires, air
scoops, fender flares, Cragar wheels, Goodyear tires, nerf bars front
and rear, twin CB antennas, based on a panel van. This model is
molded in color, a lime green, so little painting is needed, just the
interior blue and chrome silver. I haven't opened it, but it appears that
the black components (nerf, CB, mirrors) are molded in black. The kit
was copyrighted in 1979. It has a CB logo in place of a VW symbol at
the front of the bus. I haven't decided what to do with this 1/25 scale
model yet. I'd much rather put together a model of a stock bus than
this customized one, Deluxe preferred of course. I'm already thinking
on how to bring this model back to stock!
The real bus I have is a Kombi, no CB's, no nerfs, but otherwise VERY
similar to this 'custom' California Roller. Still think it would be cool to
clean this bus up and enter it in competition, just to show how 'custom'
conversions become dated and look weird some years later.
- Jeff Iwanna21/23windowsunroofDeluxewalkthru!
to be used for daily driving
'80 Westi (2) BOTH FOR SALE
Sale pending on the non-driver, needs transport to Utah
'66 Bus, Kombi FOR SALE
see them at:
http://ebus.simplenet.com/Volkswagen/classifieds/classifieds.htm
'22 Piano, upright Kohler & Cambell FOR SALE
'67 Sqbk '64 Ford Crewcab
'87 Subaru 4WD '97 Nissan Quest
Grass Valley, California, USA
Jeffrey.Carver@Aerojet.com
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