Tamiya Volkswagen Beetle - Baja Herbie

[StokeModels]

Here's another recently finished build. I imagined this as an old Herbie replica that someone had found and brought back to life with a bunch of new Baja-style parts. Kind of a mix of old and new. It started as the excellent Tamiya Beetle kit but has been modified a bit with 3D printed front and rear suspension, headlight buckets, bush bar, engine, engine guard, seats, steering wheel, roof rack and wheels and tires. That leaves the body, glass, interior tub, rear seat, door handles, mirrors, wipers, dash and floorpan as the remaining kit pieces. 

I filed the trim off of the body to smooth out the sides and trimmed the fenders back to clear the tires. I also removed the side windows and replaced them with a piece of 0.2mm clear styrene to simulate a rolled down window.



The body was painted with a light grey lacquer and then I cut the stencils for the graphics on a Cricut cutter. Once masked, I applied salt as a mask to provide a chipped and weathered look to the numbers and stripes. Salt was then applied to the whole body and light coats of white and light brown were added for a faded and dirty look. Vallejo and AK washes were used to add a bit more depth around the door edges etc.



I downloaded the engine files from blackboxstl on Cults3D and added some wiring and modelled and printed my own Baja style exhaust.



The interior has new seats and steering wheel and I added some seatbelts. I also cut out the speedometer and added a piece of clear plastic over a decal robbed from another kit.



The roof rack is a 3D printed basket and legs but I added small pieces of styrene and Meng bolts for the feet. Cargo is a 3D printed hard case and a rolled up piece of tissue paper for the tarp.



Thanks for looking.

Martin.
 

[Oldriginal86]

Well done!

[Joe Nunes]

Great looking model. Well done!  ?

Joe

[Calb56]

Wow

[SpikeSchumacher]

As usual, another outstanding model from you! ?☺️

Cheers

[Ace-Garageguy]

Beyond "well done". WAY beyond.

When you really have to look carefully to determine a model IS actually a model, that says more than anything.  

[jaymcminn]

Great use of weathering and excellent detail!

[Dave Darby]

Concept and execution are both exceptional. Very well done.

[Keef]

Amazing detail and realism! The pics look real!! ?

[Bainford]

Way cool Bug! Love the concept, and excellent execution. Detailing and weathering are top notch. Wicked build. 

[grodudulle77]

Very realistic, outstanding work !!! ???

[Gustavo Reis]

Great model. Amazing details.

[Spottedlaurel]

Perfect in every way! It's amazing.

[catpack68]

Outstanding work!?

[Zippi]

Yeah Buddy....that's a nice looking Bug.  Great color choices and attention to detail.  Really nice pics. 

[cheyenne93]

Fantastic bug!! So realistic.???

[58 Impala]

Nice build.

[TonyK]

That's a real car. Seriously, this model and the setting and photography are perfect. So much great work!

[Anglia105E]

That is such an extremely realistic model that you have built Martin . . . At first glance, I thought you were showing a photo of the real vehicle that your model idea was based upon, so that is how good this is  !  Your model building and painting skills are top notch.

David

[Gluebomber]

Dang, Martin, that is some OUTSTANDING work!  Great details and weathering.

Well Done!

[Phildaupho]

I continue to be so impressed with the quality of your models and photography, both absolutely top notch.

[restoman]

No fair!

You've taken pics of a real car and passed them off as a model.

Seriously, this is hands-down the best looking Baja Bug I've seen.

[Classicgas]

6 hours ago, TonyK said:

That's a real car. Seriously, this model and the setting and photography are perfect. So much great work!

X2!!!

[AMT68]

Incredible build. 

[PappyD340]

OUTSTANDING!!