BMW Isetta 3wheeler.

This Isetta model at 1/16th will be the smallest kit I have built in years, and will be a strain on my old eyes, but I’m willing to tackle it.
I briefly considered the cartoon idea, but odd as bubble and micro cars may seem, they were quite normal runabouts in the 1950’s in Great Britain. I can recall cadging a lift as a schoolboy with my neighbour Mr.Springhall in his Heinkel, and thought of it as different rather than an oddity.
.....but I will be going for the three wheel conversion.....bog standard, for a change - or am I ?
.....and so it begins.

Captain’s log : Monday 7th.August 2023
My mission : to go where no man has gone before.
Subject : Isetta bubble car

I have to say I’m enjoying this, but far from looking into the future, it has brought back memories - as most things do these days.
I’ve decided on where this is going though : to make a good representation of the Isettas that I remember.
These cars were intended to be very basic transport, so no two-tone paints, just a three wheel configuration and certainly no whitewall tyres and accessories - that only came with restorers ‘over-restoring’ their vehicles.
I recall working on ‘Heartbeat’ for the chap who supplied the various vehicles. He found it so difficult to hire good honest period cars that hadn’t been over restored or polished to death, that he bought most if the background cars himself. Many were non runners that had to be trailered and positioned, most of which were well past restoring, but they look period correct.

I guess this answers the question on which model to build. Both...both is good.

I see Heartbeat still sometimes Ron, there's the odd car crash, glad to hear they were basket cases anyway.

I worked on the early Heartbeat series, with Nick Berry, from about 92- 95, when they used Velocette motorcycles, there were three. I reproduced the numberplates, police stickers for the bikes, Anglia and Minivan, and various signage. The vehicles were stored in a big barn at a farm close to Yarm in Teesside.

Ron234 wrote:The vehicles were stored in a big barn at a farm close to Yarm in Teesside.

Squirrel moment here..
How long would you think it would take to visit every pub in rural England?

And the answer is:

28,000-mile journey takes in all 24,727 of Britain's pubs – but a pint in all of them would take THREE YEARS. It's a mathematical problem that could give you a headache in more ways than one. Scientists have worked out the shortest route for a UK pub crawl – with almost 25,000 stops.

I’m glad somebody knew the answer , because that question lands on stoney ground for me. I gave up alcohol at 21 !

Not an Anorak, just good on Google is all. LOL

....if anybody is wondering how the Isetta is getting on......

Guido !

Never even saw this thread.. so far so good Ron, never seen one of these before either.
Question time.
How is the kit going together? I had not so good experiences with the revel kits and it’s kinda putting me off building one.
Rattle can for the body and the big pieces?
How long have you had the kit?
I imagine this is a decent size when finished, where do you display such pieces of artwork?

That’s it for now, until I think of something else

.....and a little bit further on this morning.

......sorry, meant to be in the last post.

I’ve had this kit about 3/4 years now Ash, and so far it’s all gone together well - but I know some Revell kits can be a bit weak in places, such as hinges - they have yet to come
I’m lazy, and usually use rattle cans......and yes, I’m running out of space to put my ‘works of art’ on display, but I have a decent sized loft/mancave where I can go missing for a couple of hours a day and out from under my wife’s feet.

Cheers Ron,

It looks brilliant from here, so different compared anything else. I’ve got a 1/12 revell mustang in the cupboard which makes more sense to use a spray can than try with an airbrush. I wanted it silver though and silver has been the worst colour in cans that I’ve ever used.

How good are your scratch building skills Ron?

A teardrop camper ? That would be an easy one Ash.....where would the challenge be ?

Ron234 wrote:A teardrop camper ? That would be an easy one Ash.....where would the challenge be ?

Really?? the challenge for me would be everything.

This is looking great Ron. The paint in particular looks spot on.

I think you should scratch a tear drop for it too. As you say it wouldn't be too much of a challenge and would look absolutely brilliant.

Go on.... you know you want to.

.....got to actually finish the Bubble Car first Al......then maybe ?

It might be for a Winter’s night build - making the trailer is easy enough - draw and cut out each side on fairly stout plasticard, fit them to a rudimentary chassis, and carefully glue the thinner plasticard over already fixed sides. An odd former or crossbrace could be applied before that, but generally that’s it. Where the problem lies, as it does with most models that I build is : where will I find suitable wheels....cheaply. All my models are purposely built to make them different from what anybody else would build - and many, I know, don’t quite match other builder’s thinking.....but even this little Isetta has it’s subtle changes....how many are built with three wheels as per the UK version ?

Wheels would be a problem and I don’t suppose you can make them and even if you did there’s no tyres.
You ever done a banged up thing with dents, windows missing no wheels and dodgy paint?
A chap called Nigel who was on here did things like that, I think he cut wings off and stuff then replaced them with tin foil and painted it.

The roof, is that like a vinyl top?

Yep, the roof was a folding fabric affair ....it was a safety thing. Without a reverse gear, it was also an escape hatch if the car collided with another and the front door was jammed shut.
I hoping I will have this finished today.

Incidentally, yes I have tried making a foil wing by using the original wing as the mould - then adding another layer until it is strong enough to hold. But ! ...it didn’t quite work out for me. I tried again using thin brass sheet, and still no joy. Sometimes, I have to accept that not everything is possible, and others have greater skills that are beyond my own. 🥴