Marklin KdF restoration

[Blue Baron]

Thanks to Bob Gilmore (Hacksaw BoB) for the generous trade of this broken Marklin 5521/9 KdF-Wagen body. Bob prefers to work with tin toys, so this was a good project for me.

This was the first 1/40 scale diecast VW, and these prewar models are difficult to find in good condition due to problems with metal fatigue. This particular body had the nose broken off. Bob had it media blasted.

The problem with the casting was with the metal. Modern diecast cars are made from zamac, which is a mixture of zink and aluminum. But these early Marklin cars were made of cast zink, which grew brittle over time, eventually degrading. These old bodies are as fragile as ceramic.

Hours were spent repairing the nose. The main repair was done using JB Weld.

Here's the primered body on a tempory chassis I built.

Thanks to Tom Eitnier (Blauchen L331) for helping me find a donor chassis for the body. Tom speaks fluent German, so he was a big help communicating with sellers in Germany. Tom found a Marklin on German eBay with a terribly degraded body but almost perfect chassis and wheels.

Here's the chassis fitted to the painted body.

Here's a photo of the body from the donor. The zink was so badly degraded that the body appears swollen. It's not restorable.

And finally, pictures of the finished model. Bob likes me to push the envelope, so to be a little different yet preserve the integrity of this historic model, I went with a fresher shade of blue and added white tires. (The axles and hubs are the originals.) Despite my poor photos, the repair work in undetectable.

The license plates on the front bumper and rear decklid read "111-A - 9" which stands for the prewar Stuttgart license plate (111-A) and the model number (9).

On the rear, KdF is cast into the bumper.

BB
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We are striving for perfection, to make our cars run forever, if possible.

Heinz Nordhoff

[vwtoyguy]

Such a fantastic job on that car! It must be nerve wracking trying to work on a car that is made out of old brittle material like that.
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1957 Karmann Ghia
1960 Beetle
1965 Mexican CKD Beetle
1967 Beetle Volksrod Project
1967 Beetle Ratrod project
1971 Super Beetle
1971 Squareback
1971 Bus
1972 Beetle
1973 German market standard Beetle
1974 Super Beetle Baja
1988 Scirocco

Home of the most knowledgeable Herbie The Love Bug enthusiasts on the Web

[Blue Baron]

I'm careful not to drop it!

Aside from the broken nose, this body was in very good condition with no other signs of fatigue. With its new paint, it should display great for a very long time.
_________________
We are striving for perfection, to make our cars run forever, if possible.

Heinz Nordhoff

[Hacksaw-BoB]

A GREAT job GreG in bringing back the life in this 1938 era Marklin KdF Wagen
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Hacksaw BoB

http://www.VintageVolkswagenModels.com

Collector of Vintage VW Toys

BoB's Restor-Version Shop

[Blauchen L331]

Hahaahhaha thanks for the props, that Märklin KDF looks like the bomb!

I love the color (as you know I really like blue) and the white tire treatment is very nostalgic, I really like the results.

Yeah, that one KDF looked like it exploded outwards, the "zink pest" really got both donor cars, I'm glad you could save the chassis.

I just got a Quiralu Porsche 356A coupe in from England, which needs some attention to the roof and both front windshield pillars, I'll send you some photos, I want to shoot that Porsche a interesting non Quiralu color.........

Enjoy that cool new Märklin KDF!


Tom
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OG PAINT L331 1957 TYPE 1 OVAL WINDOW
(US Navy In Germany/ Special Ordered Car from MAHAG Munich)
Delivered with Semaphores - German "Puntchen" Cloth Polkadotted Interior -
USA RAM Protection/Export Overrider Bumpers - MPH Speedometer -
Sealed Beam Headlights and Bullet Front Turn Signals!
99.9% ORIGINAL PARTS WITH ONLY 36,500 ORIGINAL MILES/ GARAGE FIND/ UNRESTORED CAR

[vwtoyguy]

Strange as it may sound, I would love to have the body from the donor car. It would make for an interesting conversation piece.
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1957 Karmann Ghia
1960 Beetle
1965 Mexican CKD Beetle
1967 Beetle Volksrod Project
1967 Beetle Ratrod project
1971 Super Beetle
1971 Squareback
1971 Bus
1972 Beetle
1973 German market standard Beetle
1974 Super Beetle Baja
1988 Scirocco

Home of the most knowledgeable Herbie The Love Bug enthusiasts on the Web

[Hacksaw-BoB]

Actually, I repaired a donor car similar to this one a few years back.

I painted the inside of the body with super glue to hold the body all together.

Put some body putty on the outside, a little repairs, sanded and painted.

Looks great from about 2-3 feet.

Sent it to my friend in Japan.
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Hacksaw BoB

http://www.VintageVolkswagenModels.com

Collector of Vintage VW Toys

BoB's Restor-Version Shop

[Blue Baron]

BoB and Ray, the chassis donor is in terrible shape. The distortion is horrendous. It looks like a sponge after you soak it with water. The chassis is now too small to fit. It must look better in the photos than it really is. I can restore just about anything, but this one is too far gone for even me.

The good news is that I was able to use the chassis for the restoration. It's like I said to Tom, for every body in need of a chassis, there's probably a dozen chassis in need of bodies.
_________________
We are striving for perfection, to make our cars run forever, if possible.

Heinz Nordhoff

[Blue Baron]

[vwtoyguy]

Oh, I understand just how bad it is, I would just put it on the shelf as-is to show folks why some of these old toys are so hard to come across.
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1957 Karmann Ghia
1960 Beetle
1965 Mexican CKD Beetle
1967 Beetle Volksrod Project
1967 Beetle Ratrod project
1971 Super Beetle
1971 Squareback
1971 Bus
1972 Beetle
1973 German market standard Beetle
1974 Super Beetle Baja
1988 Scirocco

Home of the most knowledgeable Herbie The Love Bug enthusiasts on the Web

[plasticman1432]

Wow, just wow...I wanted to say 'good save,' but that hardly seems to cover it.
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Organized people are just too lazy to look for stuff

'68 Meyers Manx: M1689D815E

http://public.fotki.com/VWDave/

[Blue Baron]

New photos.

_________________
We are striving for perfection, to make our cars run forever, if possible.

Heinz Nordhoff

[finster]

very nice! brilliant resto job and what a great piece to own. given that the bodies can perish what is the best way to avoid this happening or getting worse?

blauchen - one of my favourite 356 colours is burnt orange, this must have sung out amongst the early muted colours and even later pastel shades

ps If anyone requires assistance buying from the uk I speak fluent english (jive not spoken)
seriously, if they don't post to usa etc or accept your money contact me and I'll help where I can
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"we're here on Earth to fart around" kurt vonnegut

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

[Blue Baron]

[finster]

thanks - makes collecting exciting if they can just crumble at random. I thought that humidity, central heating etc might play a part
_________________
"we're here on Earth to fart around" kurt vonnegut

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

[Hacksaw-BoB]

Do Not Sneeze

_________________
Hacksaw BoB

http://www.VintageVolkswagenModels.com

Collector of Vintage VW Toys

BoB's Restor-Version Shop

[finster]

oh man! that crazy patina!
_________________
"we're here on Earth to fart around" kurt vonnegut

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

[Blue Baron]

Still a nice display piece, despite the distressing. ^^^^^

[jack1448]

[Hacksaw-BoB]

Photo says it all

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Hacksaw BoB

http://www.VintageVolkswagenModels.com

Collector of Vintage VW Toys

BoB's Restor-Version Shop