Airfix 1/32 Bond Bug (M10C) - Restoration

[PaulinKendal]

Love this. I'm watching. When these came out they were right up there with beach buggies as my idea of cool.

For all things small and sexy, the Bubble Car Museum near Boston, Lincs, is a must-see. They have a Bug, of course.

[davecov]

You have made happy as I have never made or cannot afford one now I know its a bit late but the steering linkage is slightly wrong the part you have attached to the steering box is actually located on the left hand side as I own a reliant Robin and they share a few parts.

The linkage has been attached in accordance with the Airfix instructions. Right or wrong, they are good enough for me but thanks for pointing that out. :thumb2:

Dave

[JR]

Great thread Dave, never seen this kit before either .
You've put a lot of effort into this and it shows .:thumb2:

[davecov]

Thank you all for your comments, likes etc. so far. It is nice to see how others are enjoying this restoration as much as me.

Dave

[adt70hk]

Apologies just realised I forgot to comment.....as others have said an interesting build......

Keep up the good work.

Andrew

[papa 695]

Just seen this one Dave, great work so far. Loving it.

[davecov]

More progress to report on this restoration.

The rear light clusters were painted red and orange. Front indicators were also done:


The back of the headlights were cleaned up and painted silver. The surrounds were painted lime green:


The radiator was glued in place on the underside of the bodyshell:


The strip at the front was painted black as were the seats and the panel on the back:


The scratchbuilt exhaust was glued to the manifold and chassis. The chassis was then glued to the bodyshell:


The steering wheel, handbrake and gearstick were fitted:


The rear light clusters fitted along with the rear number plate:


Another view:


Front indicators and number plate fitted:


That is all for now.

Dave

[adt70hk]

Great work Dave!!

[LeytonO]

I saw one of these catch light, burnt out in no time at all and went up like a flare.

[Tim Marlow]

Nice progress Dave.

[davecov]

Thanks everybody. :thumb2:

Another little update.

I tidied up the green inside the car where I had been a little over-enthusiastic with the black and putting that to one side I fitted the glazing starting with the windscreen:


Unlike the windscreen which was a breeze to fit, the rather bendy roof and door pillars meant that I had to glue the doors in place with the roof taped to the car. Only the top part of the doors have been glued to the roof as I still need to fit the driver inside:


Talking of the driver, here he is undergoing his paint job. That lime green paint gets about a bit...:


That is all for now. My next update should be the final one as I only have a few things to do, including varnishing inside and out, applying decals and fitting the driver and rear window.

Dave

[davecov]

Final update now.

A fiddly job was putting individual letters on the number plates:


Slighty wonky:


I used decal strip for the bands around the rear of the body:


Dodgy "Bug" decals applied. I had to paint over the yellow background. The whole car was given a coat of light sheen varnish:


Mr Driver has been placed in the car now. After this photo was taken, I gave him a coat of matt varnish:


It is now finished:








More pictures can be found here.

Dave

[Tim Marlow]

Cracking job!

[outrunner]

Great restoration job, well done.

Andy.

[JR]

Brill work , like the drivers hair as well , very fitting .