Der Beetle Bus XL-Pressing Forward-01/05

[BorgR3mc0]

Very interesting build. I like all those modifications, this is going to be unique!

[mustang1989]

Thanks Thomas and Borg. I started applying body putty today to hide all the seams. We'll see how that all goes.

[mustang1989]

I'm going to try something out here. I was brain storming for a different look than the vehicle being "jacked up" in the back. I want more of a lowered looking stance so I've got this spare '54 Chevy Panel Wagon body and decided to check something out. What if I cut the rear wheel opening out like so:



and then trimmed the bottom up so that it evened out at the body line on both sides of the wheel opening. I think I might be able to flatten this out a bit to get away from the body curvature, thin it out some to where everything is flush on both sides and graph this in because l like the way this is lookin' so far.

[Thomas_M]

I am not really in cars, but your creativity makes this build so interesting! Whenever I find a new post there is a completely new idea from you.

[mustang1989]

First off , thanks for that comment Thomas. Secondly , there's a story behind cars for me in regards to the last couple of years. I'm an aircraft guy plain and simple. I love building WWII subjects and have had, and continue to have, a ball in building aircraft because they are not only interesting but they are something that's not seen everyday by the average person which puts them in the "unique" category for me. Two years ago when I built my 1970 Dodge Challenger( that I have a WIP of here) I had no intention of going as far as I did. It was November of 2014 and I had a two month gap between aircraft builds. I had just gotten through with my Revell Corsair build and was slated to build a 1/48 Eduard Bf109G-6 starting in January for my own 109 Group Build over at FSM. I brought down the 32 year old Challenger from the display area that was pretty well beaten up through the years to touch a few things up, replace the missing pieces and return it to the display area. No more than two weeks time and would fill some of the two month void I told myself. What happened next was something I never saw coming.................I got hooked. So much that I didn't even build a 109 for my own freekin' Group Build! Once I got started I literally could NOT stop because of my automotive background which help drive me to become better than ever before at detailing and seeking out the much sought after that "Perfect Gloss Coat" that everybody in automotive building wants to achieve. What started out as a "two week quickie" turned into a four and a half month long total makeover/ restoration project. Building automotive subjects has taught me to think waaaaaaaaaaay outside the box due to my desire to build custom builds that require that trait. IMO factory stock cars and WWII aircraft have a lot in common because there are guidelines to how they are "supposed to look" in regards to use of color and equipment and the like. Custom builds have no such boundaries or limitations and my interest started trending that way because custom vehicles are in that "unique" category where imagination soars. I guess that's what keeps me coming back to automotive stuff now because I get to use my imagination to no limits and watch it come to life. That............is just plain out fun right there.

[mustang1989]

I've got the R/H side graphed in. I still have to do some body work and trimming but it's in there. I've got it mocked up here with my spun aluminum Weld Draglites. I may have to order a 5 lug version with a deeper offset in the back for that deep dish effect.Although initially not trued up , I'll get it all ironed out in the body work process. I think I've got my color selection down too. I'll be going with GM paint code 79U- Mystic Teal Metallic -a.k.a. Chameleon. Yeah...............this look suits me a whole lot better!







This picture captures the Mystic Teal Metallic paint color change fairly well. The sides look green and the hood has a purple hue to it. Other areas will appear blue. I've always liked this color and can't wait to put it on this van.

[Thomas_M]

Such a perfectly clean car in winter landscape! Is this a Camaro?

[mustang1989]

Hey Thomas. That there is a 1997 Pontiac Trans Am. I used to work on those things when they were new back when I lived just north of Dallas. Beautiful cars.

[Thomas_M]

And you will hear their engines running! The cool sound of a large engine!
Not what we have here in Germany... These days small cars are even build with 3 cylinder engines to meet ever new environmental rules! So sick.

[mustang1989]

I've seen a couple of 3 cylinder engines that we used to have in our smaller GM cars a few years back. So far it hasn't caught on here much. What the priority seems to be is electric cars. IMO the Chevrolet Volt is a work of art!