Hi guys. What variant would I need to model a 1945 VW Beetle? I'm thinking of doing a small Vignette to recognise the work of Maj Ivan Hirst REME - who resurrected the VW factory in Wolfsburg after the end of WW2. He would have been 100 today. Any 1/35 models suitable?

Hi Ian,

On my other computer I have a photo of a bunch of Beetles lined up for acceptance as the first batch of these post-war builds. They are all hard-tops, but on the raised Kubelwagen suspension. (They used what was available...). I have a part-built one of these awaiting markings, built from some East European kit I found for a few quid, but I think they all hark back to Italeri.

Later ones were on normal Beetle suspension, and were used by both the UK and US forces in the 50s and 60s based on photos. No iffy emissions software back then!

Thanks Tom - any idea of colours? Would love to think they were olive drab with stars on... Would also be interested in seeing pictures of your build and the factory pics. I'm a serving REME soldier and have visited the factory twice in the past. barra733AThotmail.com

Thanks.

Colour and markings depended on end user from what I've seen. (Google "BAOR BEETLE" and a ton of pics come up!) Looks like they followed standard patterns - numbers on the bonnet sides, AoS and TAC signs, etc for UK, stars and serial nos for US, roundels for RAF etc. The factory pic had no markings, and in B/W the colour was simply "dark" so I've plumped for glossy SCC15 based on a Starmer mix for Tamiya acrylics - I'm sure the RAF ones were RAF blue and the US ones were gloss OD. Trouble with the past is the fuzzy info! There are some restored examples that do the show circuit - treat them as you would any other "restored" paint scheme as regards accuracy...

Will send you some pics.

Hello

If you're interested, you could do a lot worse than pick up this book:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Peoples-Car-Intelligence-Sub-committee-Investigation-Performance-Volkswagens/dp/0112905552

It's in two parts, covering the Kübelwagen and the Beetle.

CMK released a few variants (as did Azi**t but they're ). I think these CMK kits were released by Revell, too.
I thought at least one was a regular Beetle but those listed on their website are all 'militarised'.
It's a pretty straightforward conversion- just remove the reduction gears and adjust the suspension as you see fit.
You may have to source wheels though..

Cheers

Sean

PS @Tom... no software at all Things were where they should be.... engine in the back, water in the river.

According to the caption these are some of the first Volkswagen "Beetles" produced in West Germany (1945).



Another period picture :

"British drivers and the first run of Volkswagens outside the Wolfsburg plant. These are military style VWs mounted on a kubelwagen high clearance chassis" :



This one has been taken in October, 1945 :



Full size

There's a 14-page article dealing with this subject in After The Battle #12



H.P.