Progress Pics of new Beetle with body work.

Hello everyone,
Its me again with more pictures of that Pseudo RSI Beetle. It started out being a Wings West Beetle but I stumbled upon some RSI photos from google and its been evolving into more of an RSI than a wings west beetle. After completing several kits box stock, several people were politely encouraging me to do something along the lines of the supra that I made (ehem… FOTW). I hope this is not a let down. Here are some of the details so far:
1. cut doors and created hinges using brass tubing and musical wire
2. cut the rear window so that it can also be open and installed hinge
3. wings west side accents made with styrene sheet backed by putty
4. RSI type front end constructed with more styrene sheet
5. RSI type tail made and installed. More detail will be added soon
There has been lots of sanding, puttying, and a couple coats of Mr. Surfacer and this is what it looks like at the moment. I have no idea what wheels to use at this point nor do I know what color to paint the car. When im closer to that point, I will set up a poll.
Other info:
Its basically a hodge podge of body parts. It doesn’t look like any of the reference pics I have chosen as reference but is more like a combination of a few. The RSI has flared fenders which my model does not. And the rear bumper of the RSI is much more complicated than the one I have on mine but I will add more detail as soon as I figure out how to do that. Finally I’d like to add that opening the doors on a Beetle is a real pain in the ass since the door is so irregularly shaped. There isn’t much room for a hinge and the mirror just makes it even more complicated. I think it works ok but I will probably stick to opening rectangular doors in the future. Thoughts, Comments and Suggestions are welcome as always.
http://files.automotiveforums.com/uploads/272388frontangle.JPG http://files.automotiveforums.com/uploads/168220rearangle.JPG
http://files.automotiveforums.com/uploads/970936frontdoors.JPG http://files.automotiveforums.com/uploads/116303sidedoors.JPG
http://files.automotiveforums.com/uploads/686328passside.JPG http://files.automotiveforums.com/uploads/731603inside1.JPG
http://files.automotiveforums.com/uploads/689573inside2.JPG

kewl project!!! btb, isn't it the fenders of the RSI wider:confused:

Great work on the body Rob.
Like especially the open doors.
You seem to use a much simple system than what I’m use to see but it appear to be quite effective.

Looks great! Hope you are planning on the RSI spoiler as well, IMO that's the best looking part of the RSI.

I love the RSI Beetle!

And what you have so far looks truly excellent!

If you're looking for an accurate RSI, I believe the front bumper doesn't have the standard turn signal lenses. They've been relocated to just above the outboard vents in small slits.

Also the rear bumper has an area at the bottom made of mesh, and the exhausts I think are farther apart.

The fenders are a tad bit wider, and have a "crease" in them, compared to the standard smooth Bug fenders.

What you have right now looks like a regular Bug with aftermarket look-alike RSI parts, which is still cool!

Sean

Looks fabulous man, great job!

Dont know if you have these or not, but im going to post it anyways so people can see what your trying to do.
VW Beetle RSI (http://www.babez.de/pics/beetlersi.php)

UMmmm :confused: cosmo... you sure that's putty?

i know its not a true RSI. for now all i can hope for is for it to be a regular beetle with an RSI "type" bumper. to really make an RSI i think i would have to start from the original kit again since the doors are also different and it would be a pain to make them accurate after i have cut them. Once this kit is done, i will pick up another Beetle for the sole purpose of making an accurate RSI. i promise. for now you will have to bear with the 'pseudo' RSI.

and Integra818, it is mostly plastic styrene with some putty to fill in the gaps.

Looks very nice so far!

Looking fine !!! nice work done by you again!!! Keep it up and hope can see more progress pic coming up!!:D

i was expecting another supra or nice RX-7, sad to see u went with those hippy mobiles

i also notice your door "droops" when open. mine does the same.

you figured out how to fix that yet, or has anybody else? cuz i dontlike my door to droop down or "hang" lower than it should

Can't wait to see the end product - seeing what you did with the F&F supra!!!

Awesome putty work. Your doing a great job.

But I'm just not with that beetle.

Here is my opinion, IT IS UGLY. :(

But you are doing a great job on it. :)

Loks to be another great build from you!:)

Hurry up and finish it quick !!! :D :D
I want to see it finished.

I think some BBS rims would be cool on it. It would give a racing look.

Deedlit

looks great! I'm looking forward to seeing the next stage. ;)

Reference photos:

http://www.vwvortex.com/resources/gallery/vw/concepts/nb_rsi/index.html

I think chrome yellow with Equips or Fujimi Work Meisters would look tight.

Looking great so far, good luck on the finished project as this is a lot of work to complete. Can't wait to see it finished.

here are some progress pics of the rear bumper... im trying to make it more like the RSI rear end... let me know what you think... i still have to add a couple more pieces to it and figure out how to add the exhaust. there isnt much room to fit a dual muffler into the molded chasis... wish i had a pic of the RSI underbody

http://files.automotiveforums.com/uploads/115597tail1.JPG http://files.automotiveforums.com/uploads/172638tail2.JPG http://files.automotiveforums.com/uploads/936310tail3.JPG

Darn its looking good........cant wait to see more updates :cool: :cool:

Originally posted by primera man
Darn its looking good........cant wait to see more updates :cool: :cool:

Ditto!

Great project Rob!
Keep us posted!

This is just a quick drawing for reference, any questions, feel free to ask. I got this from a 1/43 scale VW Beetle Cup. Hope this helps.
http://files.automotiveforums.com/uploads/525722VWBeetle1.JPG

but i like that idea great work i believe you are by far the best at this site no joke

Originally posted by Modelcargarage
but i like that idea great work i believe you are by far the best at this site no joke

Thank you but there are quite a few people on this site that i totally look up to. too many to name actually. thats whats great about this site. I appreciate your compliment though. :)

Originally posted by mstngcobrasvt98
This is just a quick drawing for reference, any questions, feel free to ask. I got this from a 1/43 scale VW Beetle Cup. Hope this helps.
http://files.automotiveforums.com/uploads/525722VWBeetle1.JPG

thanks a million!! thats a very nice quick drawing you made;) i really appreciated it. i took a picture of the bottom of the model im working with to show how i plan to incorporate the dial exhaust according to your reference. let me know what you think by the way, it says "RED = Path of stock exhaust" in the picture

http://files.automotiveforums.com/uploads/737789exhaust.JPG

Maybe, if its possilbe, cut off the spare tire compartment and whatever that one thing is and fill it with flat plastic sheet and then build the exhaust on that, might be a bit easier than working around the spare tire. Otherwise, i think you've interpreted my drawing pretty good and have a pretty good idea. Anything going to be done to the interior? Good luck on the project.

not sure about the interior just yet.. i was planning on creating a more accurate RSI after i finish this model. i will flare the fenders on the next incarnation. this model is a bit of an experiment. plus, your next model is usually your best model.

looks awsome ...good work witht the styrene...u have any tips on how u mold the styrene and make the form stay as it is ...im new to this so any help would be great :)

again wow good looking project

I'm just wandering by to say 'nice work!' :)

hope this is helpful.


Originally posted by zangief
looks awsome ...good work witht the styrene...u have any tips on how u mold the styrene and make the form stay as it is ...im new to this so any help would be great :)

again wow good looking project

thx that helped alot :)

and one other thing! u do the rest of the bodykit by putting putty on the styrene after it takes the formand sanding and forming them into shape?

and looking forward to see some more progress pics

most of what you see on the surface is styrene... the putty fills it in underneath.

Hi all,
here are some more progress pics of the beetle. i'm working on the wing. its a bit more complicated than i originally thought. i couldnt think of how to bend a piece of plastic into the shape of it so i decided to do it the hard way. what complicates it is the curvature of the wing when you look at it from the top. its not like a simple straight piece that can be bent easily. it must be bent with a curve. I stacked cuved pieces of styrene like i did in the diagrams below and glued them together. i then went at it with my dremel to smooth out the "steps". finally i went at it with some low grit sand paper, puttied it and sanded some more. Its held in place with some double stick tape right now. let me know what you think
http://files.automotiveforums.com/uploads/927327DSCN2428.JPG
http://files.automotiveforums.com/uploads/657436DSCN2429.JPG
http://files.automotiveforums.com/uploads/939798DSCN2430.JPG
http://files.automotiveforums.com/uploads/693248DSCN2431.JPG
http://files.automotiveforums.com/uploads/673173wing0000.jpg
http://files.automotiveforums.com/uploads/662224wing2.jpg

:eek: THIS IS A PIECE OF ART !!!!

:eek: It's freaking fabulous!!

Awesome work!
That bodywork is so clean!
Olivier

Great Job on the wing, and nice explanation pics.. Looks like the kit is coming together very well. Have you started modding the underside yet?

Awesome work!!! :eek:

I still don't like beetles though.

damn man u seem to be good at everything huh first the kit then the bodykit then the step by step help and now even cad!....my god ur a monster :)

keep it up :D

here are some long overdue progress pics of the beetle. i've been quite busy with work and school. or should i say school and school since im working and studying as a teacher. anyways, i've taken some time to put the rear bumper together along with the exhaust. bear with me on the pictures, i know that things may seem a bit out of alignment, but nothing is permanently attached yet. it took a good three hours to do what you see in the pictures below but i think it came out pretty good. i took out the spare tire and placed a piece of styrene. i cut off the original muffler, extended the pipe a bit and attached a new muffler with dual tips to fit in the rear bumper. im not sure how accurate it is or if it is possible at all to have a muffler like the one shown. i scowered the internet for pictures of an RSI exhaust and came up with nada. so i based the muffler on the drawing kindly provided by mstngcobrasvt98. let me know what you think. soon i will be at the priming stage! oh wait, i have to work on moding the interior for the open doors... doh!
http://files.automotiveforums.com/uploads/518620DSCN2436.JPG
http://files.automotiveforums.com/uploads/390429DSCN2437.JPG
http://files.automotiveforums.com/uploads/345295DSCN2438.JPG

Power!

Great graphic illustrations and work details on this project.

Your getting very good at this;) Great work on the wing, that's not the hard way, that's the easy way!!! That's exactly how its done and the best way to create curves and contours.

Wow that one wild beetle.
I was working one a similar project but when the body work was almost done i dropped the damm thing and it broke to pieces:( :(
But keep it up cause this is surely going to be great.

i finally got the rims for the model. they are 18" Fujimi OZ Racing super Turismo Wheels.

http://files.automotiveforums.com/uploads/836827DSCN2439.JPG
http://files.automotiveforums.com/uploads/789283DSCN2441.JPG

Originally posted by Chip&Dale
Wow that one wild beetle.
I was working one a similar project but when the body work was almost done i dropped the damm thing and it broke to pieces:( :(
But keep it up cause this is surely going to be great.

i've lost a model that way too. made me angry:mad:

Im sure i've seen them wheels somewhere before ;) ;)right about......
HERE !! (http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?s=&threadid=18918&highlight=finished+pics)

Originally posted by primera man
Im sure i've seen them wheels somewhere before ;) ;)right about......
HERE !! (http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?s=&threadid=18918&highlight=finished+pics)

great wheels for a beetle arent they. here is a pic of the RSI that has similar wheels
http://galleries.wheels24.co.za/motorshow/Frankfurt2001/images/43.jpg

Your beetle is gonna be sweet

that thing looks sick!

Welcome on the pic. Looks like its all coming together pretty well. Any idea on a completion date?

Great to see its coming along according to your plans and those rims cant get any better.

Will check back again on yur progress.

I dont know if i missed something, but did this project ever get finished?

sorry guys but school has been rough this semester... the car is sitting right next to me not looking much different from the last picture. all that is new is the inside of the door. i put some epoxy putty in there to fill in the gaps between the chassis and the body. in a couple of days. the semester will be over so i hopefully will have a chance to do something productive with my models. cross your fingers

some nice body work you go goin there!

My God, it's like that guy who combined the New Beetle and the Porsche 911GT1, except not, and cooler, and stuff..... I got nothing.

Even still, this is a stellar little bug. Keep at it!

Looking good man, but the rims, even in 18" are too small for those huge guards.....TWENTIES maybe? :D

Semester's been rough, hei? I know exactly what you mean :rolleyes: For VW Beetle RSi pictures, just go to www.vwvortex.com (http://) -> Resources -> Gallery -> Volkswagen Gallery -> New Beetle - > New Beetle RSi and you'll have about 28 pics. Hope this helps