This project has been "in progress" since the casting was released in 2018. I'd seen a lot of images illustrating other peoples' creations where they replaced the big engine with a proper lid, and I wanted to give it a try. Every now and then, I'll pick it up again and start in, but now I'm determined to finish it once and for all. This is version 4, and probably not the last. I learn a little bit more with each car I destroy.
Versions 1 through 3 in the back row. Version 1 is tarnished from being handled so much every time I need inspiration over the years. The idea was to fill in the opening and mold a lid. Turns out I'm not good at sculpting small details like engine lids, and I never liked the angle of that rear window so the obvious solution was to replace it. Versions 2 and 3 show my failed attempts to merge the two rooflines smoothly.
Tip: Handling a stripped zamac piece too much can actually damage the detail in the casting, as you can see in what's left of the licence plate light on V4 above. Some of the fine detail in HWs castings is "indicated" by the fall of a shadow and can be lost to enthusiastic wire brushing when stripping. Sometimes, the thickness of the paint Mattel uses makes it tough to strip it in one go, but it can also protect the little details until you've got things just so.
I've already sacrificed another HWs Beetle for the roof/engine lid piece and I'm leaving the paint on it until all the trimming is done.
The Donors:
The Tooned Beetle is really hard to find in battered condition suitable for projects so I'm only using ones with crooked tampos or other defects. The "regular" beetle is somewhat easier to locate but both castings are considered desirable in any condition, so there are some ridiculous asks out there. But, I'm always looking to pay/trade for more of both.
Edited to add: Versions 2 and 3 mid build. On V2, the roof section didn't go far enough, on V3, it went too far and required a lot of grinding and filing to make it blend.
Edit No. 2: the journey of Version 4 has come to a end, mistakes were made, fingers were pointed, and the decision was made to move on and get it right the next time.
Versions 5 & 6 have already been started.
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