AirDave's Kool Wheelz Collection

[airdave]

Next up...

This KoolWheelz model was inspired by a recent conversation in which we discussed the lack of Beatles paper models.
Turns out there are a few, but no vehicles other than the Yellow Submarine.

Recently Mattel Hot Wheels did some cool diecast Beatles vehicles with special paint schemes and packages.
Made me realize that being a life-long Beatles fan, I should at least do something for my KoolWheelz collection.



The Magical Mystery Tour was, at one point, my favorite Beatles album.
Its not now, but there are still a few tracks that I really really like.
I've never seen or heard the actual original MMT 2 Disc EP Album.
Living in Canada, I only got the American release LP...but it had most of the MMT tracks.

And thinking about the Magical Mystery Tour, I remembered seeing the original film....sort of. It was a long time ago....

I was 15 years old...in a Band (lol if you want to call it that)...and listening to all kinds of music including the Fab Four.
My bandmates and I attended a one time special event at a unique Toronto Movie theater called "The Original 99cent Roxy"
(The same little movie theater that showed Rocky Horror Horror Picture Show at midnight, for more than 10 years)

For 99cents, they featured every Beatle movie, or movie that contained a Beatle, or was somehow Beatle related.
(I don't remember any actual concert films in the bunch. But it included an XXX-rated film starring Ringo called "Candy")
I can't remember how many films there were, but they played in a row, back-to-back...and it ran for 16 hours.
Started 8pm Saturday night...ended Noon the next day.
Obviously I slept through some of it, but it was an event to remember...I loved the 70s!

So, I didn't know anything about the actual behind the scenes Tour (Magical Mystery),
but thanks to the Internet, I have now seen the MMTour documentary film
and I now know much more about this rented Bedford VAL 14 Tour Bus.

Its a modified tour bus, with a Plaxton body...the model is the Panorama.
A twin-steer six wheeled Bus, it seated about 50 people.
There are repro-Buses around today offering Beatles themed tours, but I decided to focus on the original and its original artwork.
Reproduction Buses don't seem to have the same artwork as the original.
Unfortunately the lower "hippy" graphics were all stick-on vinyl, and most were torn from the bus (by fans) during its various stops on the tour.
As a result, clear photos of the decals are very few and hard to find.
I scoured the video footage from the documentary to create screengrabs, in an effort to copy as much as possible accurately.

Having said all that, I must admit its a pretty simple model... Beginner level.
Literally only ONE part, folded and glued.
So don't get too excited.
Its larger...by KoolWheelz standards...but only to keep it in rough scale with KoolWheelz models and my other Tour Bus model (Buckaroo Banzai).

You can download it now...its in the Specialz section at my website.

[Don Boose]

Got it. Thanks.

[gotham]

Great looking coach. A model doesn't need to be complecated to be cool (kool) What about the Italian Job coach ?

[airdave]

Did you know, the coach used in The Italian Job, is the same type of coach!!
Well, almost.
It is a Bedford VAL 14 TwinSteer, but with a different body modification.

Not a Plaxton Panorama Body.
According to the Bedford VAL wiki, it a Harrington Legionnaire body.

Basically, Bedford sells the VAL 14 Chassis (frame, wheels, suspension, engine, drive, etc)
to a Coach Builder who add on the Body, Glasswork, seats and Interior, etc

Unfortunately this doesn't translate to making the model design any easier.
since the paper model is just an empty shell of the Body.
Only thing I can duplicate is the wheels and wheelbase length.
I still have to design an entire new body from scratch.

BUT...
this suggestion has made it on to my to-do list!
Because I will always love the original Italian Job!!!

Word of warning...don't ask me for Minis. lol
and do NOT mention that blasphemous remake!

[gotham]

Metrokab done, many, many more to build yet !!

[Don Boose]

Nice! I missed that this one had become available.

Don

[airdave]

yes...very nice job!
The Metrokab is not a difficult model, is it?
Its a tricky body shape, but not too hard to assemble...do you agree?
Or did you have any trouble?

........................................
sorry...have not had time to prepare the Goodyear Grabber for release yet.
I promise tomorrow.

[Don Boose]

Had to check Gotham's 3/4 rear view image to figure out where the pink gadget (meter?) goes.

Will finish tomorrow morning.

And so to bed.

Don

[gotham]

Had a problem with both the roof sign and the little box for the rear deck, but that was me and not the design. There's an annoying white piece on the sign that I'll need to cover up. Yes, not a difficult model, but not a 'throw together' either. Now I have 3 taxis for my SF taxi rank - Prisoner Moke, 5th Element taxi, Metrokab. Johnnycab when it comes out. ( Still holding out for Judge Dredd Land Rover taxi &#128591

[airdave]

Not a huge fan of the original Judge Dredd movie.
The costumes were really silly.
I liked the remake.

But I have to admit, that is an interesting vehicle they produced for the original film.
The Petrol Stop: Judge Dredd Land Rover City Cabs

Did you know they made a few of them? lol




I can probably say I won't be doing that car...its a bit too complicated in shape anyway.
I don't even remember the movie.
Maybe I'll watch it again to refresh my memory.