Hard to Find Parts - Hard to Contact People (Long Post, sorry)

[89audiQT]

I don't post much here anymore since the new job, new car, new house, but I see things are boomin' as usual. Yes, I did run a few searches.

I need your help guys. Having recently acquired 15 Tamiya VW 1300 Beetle kits and 5 1966 Karmann Ghia kits, I see a need to build a model of my recently purchased '73 Standard Beetle. I've started converting/modifying the stock engine to look like a Type IV block (as i have in my bug), and am scratch building a DTM (aircooled technology) fan shroud. This is where i'm stuck now.

The Berg 52mm IDA carbs on the car (real) are excellent references (having one on the desk helps alot) for my failed attempt at scratch building them. I came across a post (here), but Best Resin seems to be down for the count for a while, and RND Unique's carbs leave a bit to be desired. I've looked around for Sakatsu's Weber carbs, but now that they're discontinued, they seem to cost conciderably more than what they're worth (as far as detail's concerned.) I was also told that Miniatures and Replica's Company of Maryland had something similar to what i'm looking for. However, i've searched to no end on google and never found anything so much as a product line-up, site, catalog, or price-list.

Would some kind soul help me in my pursuit of some bad-ass carbs for my German Look Beetle? I have plenty of resin casting materials, so I only need 1 to get me started. Details are what i'm after, but if it's minimal (like the Sakatsu carbs), i'm positive I can make do with or modify to my needs.

If anybody has any links, leads, spares (for sale) or information that'll get me headed in the right direction, i'd be most appreciative. And, seeing as i've spilled the beans on the first new model of the year, I promise to start a progress thread. I saw alot of the Beetle models in the "VW Meet" thread and hope to contribute (and possibly inspire) along the way.

Thanks in advance for any help you fellas can offer.

[tonioseven]

Try sending a PM to the AF user "deedlit"; he's a V-Dub guru.

[deedlit]

Originally Posted by tonioseven

Try sending a PM to the AF user "deedlit"; he's a V-Dub guru.

When Bat-signal appears in the sky, I come at light speed

I have the same problem as you, find decent carbs for a Type1 or Type4 engine.
I also found the same sources but never bought any, so if I need carbs, I'll have to steal some from a kit or build them from scratch. I know, it's a disappointing answer but there are not lots of parts for Vw models. Also, I don't know in which kit I could find nice carbs.
I'll continue to search and keep you informed if I find them.

PS: you bought 15 bugs and 5 KG what will you do with so much, an aircooled meeting in your living room? (just kidding ) If you don't know what to do with 1 or 2 of them, you know where to call

[deedlit]

I now remember that I had a link in my favourites, check this page:

http://www.scaledreams.com/R&MOFMD.HTM

Hope it helps

[89audiQT]

Originally Posted by deedlit

I have the same problem as you, find decent carbs for a Type1 or Type4 engine.
I also found the same sources but never bought any, so if I need carbs, I'll have to steal some from a kit or build them from scratch.

I kinda figured. Only model i've seen with decent looking Webers was the Porsche 356 kit I built to look like a Beck Speedster. Unfortunately, I don't have the heart to pull it apart and cannibalize it. One of my nicest builds ever. That kits been pretty hard to track down as well.

I know, it's a disappointing answer but there are not lots of parts for Vw models. Also, I don't know in which kit I could find nice carbs.
I'll continue to search and keep you informed if I find them.

Thanks a bunch. I'm going to keep my search going as well. If all else fails, i'll just model one in SolidWorks and see if I can run it through the CNC and make a few myself, then mold about 1000 of 'em in resin. Matter of fact, i think i'll start on that tonight.

PS: you bought 15 bugs and 5 KG

Not bought, a friend of mine from my VW car club gave 'em to me. For some odd reason, he's got a few hundred of each. He gave them to me under the condition he sees each one after completion. Not bad, ehh?

what will you do with so much, an aircooled meeting in your living room? (just kidding

That's a fantastic idea! I could just run shelving around the living room and . . . Nope, i'd better not, lol. I need to keep my ideas to myself, but, i'll be doing a coupld of drag bugs and a drag kg, my car (in progress) and maybe 2 others.

If you don't know what to do with 1 or 2 of them, you know where to call

Your name's at the top of the list should I choose to offload any in the future.

Originally Posted by deedlit

I now remember that I had a link in my favourites, check this page:

http://www.scaledreams.com/R&MOFMD.HTM

Hope it helps

Thanks for the link. The Side/Down draft carbs aren't bad. The Stromberg carbs kinda look like Kadrons, so those could pass on one of the models.

This morning before heading out the door for a while, I think i've found something useful

http://public.fotki.com/empinut/models/vw_parts/

This guys got some awesome lookin' parts. Unfortunately, I'm not too familiar with Fotki, and this guy doesn't have a guestbook. Any idea on how to contact him? The carbs and wheels look amazing.

[evo8owner]

He's on the Model Cars Magazine Forums!
Just search empinut and you'll find him

http://www.modelcarsmag.com/forum/index.php

[89audiQT]

Right on!

Thanks a bunch for that evo8owner, that oughta get me going in the right direction.

[89audiQT]

Ughhh. I knew it was gonna be harder than it seemed. Appears as though my e-mail address is banned at that site. Never even been there before. No registering, so I can't contact Empinut.

evo8owner - If you're a member over there, can you help me contact him?

[deedlit]

He is also on 'The Mad Modeller' forum. If you contact him before me, I'll need the same parts as you ;-)

http://themadmodeller.proboards101.c...ead=1161399684

[89audiQT]

right on deedlit. Having seen This Post i'm led to believe he's very open and willing to help out.

joining the board now (As I love the fact they have a VW section) and will let you know what I find out.

[ESCORTSPORT]

Hi there,

Replicas and Miniatures of Marylands 48IDA's Look good, check out this link.
http://public.fotki.com/davetoups/af...as_and_miniat/
If you are modifying your block to type 4 are you going to resin cast it?, if so I would be interested.

Also porsche style fan for the type 4?

Hope this helps.

Matt

[89audiQT]

Terrific link ESCORTSPORT

Yes, i'll be busy for a while working to build and casting resin for the following :

CB Performance-Style Turbo/EFI Kit
Type IV block
Type IV Cylinders
Type IV Remmele Heads (DOHC)
Porsche 901 5-Speed Tranny (no german look is complete without it)
Raby-Style DTM Fan Shroud
Bergmann-Style Fan Shroud (with both types of fans, 911-style, Linkage behind the shroud)
Misc Parts (Malory Unilite Dizzy, Coils, things like that)

That's about it for the engine stuff. I've already started working on other things from scratch:

Early Fuch's Wheels - 15", 16", and 17"
944 Turbo Wheels (Teledials, Phonedials, whatever)

Standard to Super conversion:
Front End Restructuring for Struts and Strut Supports
944 Turbo Discs, Calipers, and Narrowed IRS Trailing Arms

And, the most difficult part . . . a late model/Super windshield/trunk/dash conversion. I started this about 2 weeks ago. i'm trying to minimize the hacking of the body to get this done. If the need arises, i'll master these and make a transkit (that'll include the crescent vents behind the rear 1/4s).

I've got some serious work ahead of me, but i'm setting up a site to show my progress on these so people can follow along and possibly make it into a DIY conversion so I don't need to sell anything. Thing's are looking good so far, so i'll keep up with those interested and update regularly.

My biggest obstacle to overcome so far is the carbs. I've mocked up the rough shape to model around so far, but until I get them, it'll be a while before I get some pics up.

Thanks again for your guys' help.

[deedlit]

Impressive modifications you started on the kit
You really need to start a thread about this, I want to see it

And, of course, if you cast all these parts in resin, I'll be your first customer

[89audiQT]

Originally Posted by deedlit

Impressive modifications you started on the kit
You really need to start a thread about this, I want to see it

And, of course, if you cast all these parts in resin, I'll be your first customer

I had a feeling you were gonna say that, lol. I think that once I get a few things outta the way, I can get going full bore on this stuff 'til all of it's done. I recently quit my job so I could take a few months off to recuperate since I had a few 'on the job injuries' that nearly had me in pain all day.

My thoughts are this : If I go ahead and get all these things mastered, i'll make a hundred or so of each piece. Once it's done, i'll clean up the flash and stuff, bag 'em, and sell them as transkits. Full engines with 2 different fan shrouds, the cylinders, the heads, 2 different pulleys, carbs, stacks, intake manifolds, exhaust, and trannys. It'll be like, a GL transkit (more or less.)

I'm in the process of ordering some of Replicas and Miniature's 48 IDAs so it may not be so long.

In the meantime, i've started a drag bug which you can see HERE.

When/if the carbs come in, I should be finished with the other parts and decide how to cast 'em then.