VW model build topic

[Hacksaw-BoB]

Undis, a great set of custom built Type 64 (60K10) Berlin - Rome
race cars from 1939/1940. Congrats
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Hacksaw BoB

http://www.VintageVolkswagenModels.com

Collector of Vintage VW Toys

BoB's Restor-Version Shop

[Blue Baron]

[jack1448]

[Undis]

[jack1448]

As the ad states, the record run of the “Spark Bug” was set on January 13, 1973 when David Deal and Don Earnst raced down the Baja peninsula to set the Tijuana to La Paz speed record (others put the date at February 13, 1973). Of course, this is the same Dave Deal whose drawings (and likeness) were immortalized in the Deal’s Wheels line of models; and Don Earnst, the marketing manager for Revell, had already introduced a suspiciously similar Baja Chopper in 1971. It was this kit that was reissued in late 1972 as the Champion Spark Bug, just prior to Deal and Earnst’s record setting run.

Why this history lesson, you ask? Well, this post is for a refresh of a previously built Champion Spark Bug model that found its way to me. This is one of the many variants spawned from Revell’s 3 in 1 kit (Inch Pincher Too!) that came out in 1968. I don’t remember either the Spark Bug or Baja Chopper from my childhood modelling days, but had likely transitioned to other interests by that time.

While the kit was received mostly intact, a few pieces were loose or broke off shortly after its arrival. It did not take well to handling and more pieces broke off over the coming months as I pondered what to do with it. Before it was finished, nearly early every piece was apart at some point, either intentionally or not, and reassembled as part of the refresh.

There were not a lot of changes to the body – the biggest change was adding the flames to the fenders and doors. Rather than use the Revell’s box artwork, I used this vintage picture of Deal & Earnst’s Spark Bug when adding the flames:

I also polished the glue from the rear window but side windows were too far gone to save, so they were replaced with a pair from another Revell kit. I could not remove the front window to polish it as it was too solidly attached; but of all the windows this had the least amount of overglue. I also added the BMF to widows & trim and did some minor touch up on the decals.

As I was finishing these changes I kept going back to the engine – it was painted flat black against a flat black firewall and despite a few daps of silver on the generator and fan belt it was, well, just blah. So many things were wrong about it that I ended up disassembling the engine and rebuilding it. I use this vintage picture when rebuilding the engine:

Here is my finished Spark Bug engine. I made the regulators, fan guard, and modified the rear skid plate from the 3 in 1 kit. Note that Revell based this kit on their existing dual carb setup so I stuck with that rather than the single carb used by Deal and Earnst.

Finally, here are pictures of the finished model:

Once again, I need to thank Blue Baron for his help with this model and for filling me in on the background of this important and historical model. I’m generally a stock-type guy but really enjoyed working on this build once I got going on it.

[volkaholic1]

wow - amazing work, i love how you copied a real life car, very cool
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Volkaholic

[tcoop1100]

Great work, it turned out really well.
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Aloha,
Tim
January '57 Sedan with 40hp big bore

[Blue Baron]

It is more like life imitating art. The actual Spark Bug was built to closely resemble a previous Revell Baja Bug model kit, so it could be marketed as a reissue of that kit. (See page 2 of this thread for my build of the first kit.) Revell also had sponsorship from Champion sparks plugs. Only after the kit was issued did the real car set the final Tijuana to LaPaz record before the Trans Baja Highway was completed.

It looks like Don has another great addition to his collection. I like his custom belt guard and dual coils, but especially his hand painting of the flames. The kit actually came with instructions to the builder to hand paint them because they couldn't be reproduced as a decal!
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We are striving for perfection, to make our cars run forever, if possible.

Heinz Nordhoff

[Fish]

Thank you for the history lesson. As I was reading the first advertisement I thought to myself, those names sound so familiar but didn't place them until you explained it. I was a big Dave Deal fan in the late 70's. He did all the art work for the Jackman Wheels catalog. My inspiration for my Baja Ghia build. Your model looks great. Good work.
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Prosit!

.·´¯`·.¸. , . .·´¯`·..><((((º>
.·´¯`·.¸. , . .·´¯`·..><((((º>

# 303 and #156

Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery!

[Blue Baron]

Petersen's Complete Volkswagen Book 3rd Edition has a long article on the Champion Spark Bug and its record run.

The Spark Bug gets air!
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We are striving for perfection, to make our cars run forever, if possible.

Heinz Nordhoff

[finster]

champion job bb
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"we're here on Earth to fart around" kurt vonnegut

nothing lasts, nothing is finished, and nothing is perfect...