MOD: 10187 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible

[Lasse D]

The Beetle has a lot of fine details inside, and with the drop-top version being almost as iconic as the car itself, I just had to make this MOD:

Everything still works, but you can't close the top (I have only built the cover)

The wind screen has been made more accurate, being taller and with frames for the small windows in the sides.

It has been some time since I built the original model, so it has begun to rust in the corners.

Some additional shot can be found inside the BrickShelf gallery.

And here is a review of the original model (in slightly different colors).

Set number: 10187

Price: $120 (999kr. in Denmark ~ $200)

Ages: 16+

Pieces: 1626

Theme: Creator

No box or rant about the colors or materials this time. The model is built using the bricks in the colors I had available. I only have the wheel arches in black and red, but far from enough red bricks to complete the model, so black it is!

The real model is dark- and light blue.

Building

Just as with the 4955 Big Rig, the bottom consists of plates and Technic bricks. You will quickly notice the lack of steering.

The front is the first part to be constructed.

This is how the head lights are angled

The model is turned 180 degrees and the interior, engine and rear end is sculpted.

The roof, doors, bonnet and engine cover (or is a bonnet only referring to the engine cover as well?) are built separately and the build is finished quickly and easily. It is really easy to build using the instructions because of the new highlights of bricks to add.

Details

This model is filled with details (as long as you don't look at it from below)

(The glove compartment opens)

There are stickers for the license plates, Volkswagen decal, gauges and a display with info about the model. It doesn't make much sense to build this without the sticker.

Conclusion

9/10

This model is almost too nice to be labeled as Creator. It really deserves to be in the old sculptures line. The price is fine, and you don't feel any heavy licensing fees.

There are some negative points in the lack of a working steering mechanism and the frame for the front windscreen is a little too blocky compared to the rest of the model.

The many details and nicely shaped curves makes this model a must-have for the true collector.

Brickshelf gallery

[Eilif]

Well done. Both the alternate color scheme, and the convertible mod are very well executed. I'm a big fan of dark blue, but I think that black and white looks even better.

[Guss]

really nice modding, and nice review, I like your convertible version of the car, and your colour scheme is nice too!

[Lego12]

Good review! I actually like you MOD better than the actual set! Good job!

[Freddie]

It was just a matter of time before different variations of this car would surface. Hippiemobiles, mexican taxis etc. The cabriolet looks fantastic though, altough they say that LEGO's windshield-design was mastered by VW's own engineers.

Excellent review, too. I've been planning on buying it, altough by the looks of it there's a chance I might get it for "free" in exchange for some voulentary work.

[slimninj4]

I love the rust on the car. That really add detail to the kit. I look forward to seeing the MOCs from this. I wonder if this is a one time deal for a creator or TLC will make more cars/ trucks. I would love to see a school bus and transformed into a filipino taxi.

[Lasse D]

It was just a matter of time before different variations of this car would surface. Hippiemobiles, mexican taxis etc. The cabriolet looks fantastic though, altough they say that LEGO's windshield-design was mastered by VW's own engineers.

Excellent review, too. I've been planning on buying it, altough by the looks of it there's a chance I might get it for "free" in exchange for some voulentary work.

I got mine for free by scavenging some other models lying around - It is only hard for the psyche!

Regarding the windscreen. I always found this to be the weak part of the design. It seemed a bit too low and the lines didn't flow with the wedges IMO. Compare it to the real thing:

[Zorro]

That little Volkswagen beetle of yours looks very good, a collector/fan of Beetles in my town still drives one, I like them too (but not enough to buy a real one)

Maybe a Lego Beetle would do it for me .

Your detail level is very high, and I think the car radio looks neat as well; A cool Moc !

[Captain Green Hair]

That is a very cool MOD Lasse, i like it!

Does the roof go up when it rains?

[Ralph_S]

I bought my 10187 just last weekend and completed it today. Making a convertible out of it seems like a very obvious thing to do, as I've mentioned a few times in various circumstances (on LAML radio, for instance). There's something funny about the roof and the engine cover on the set and turning it into a convertible solves the first and obscures the second issue. That said, looking at the finished model, I have to say that it looks better in the brick than it does on most of the photographs that I've seen of it. I'm tempted to tinker with it a bit (make it into a convertible myself or make the roof rounder, add a chrome strip to the sides), but I'm more tempted to take it apart and use all that lovely dark blue for something else.

I wasn't aware that it is placed in the creator line. That doesn't make sense at all.

Cheers,

Ralph

[Lt. Col. Thok]

Those are some beautiful Bugs! Keep up the good work!

[Siegfried]

Thanks for posting your review and mod! Did you re-enforce the base when making the convertable? I know someone who chopped the top of a real one and decided not to do that. The car worked for a while but ended up snapping! I still haven't decided about this set; I'll probably just make one from parts like you,

It doesn't make much sense to build this without the sticker.

That's even more funny than the rust!

[Lasse D]

That little Volkswagen beetle of yours looks very good, a collector/fan of Beetles in my town still drives one, I like them too (but not enough to buy a real one)

Maybe a Lego Beetle would do it for me .

Your detail level is very high, and I think the car radio looks neat as well; A cool Moc !

Thanks, but just to be clear. This is only a "MOD" - I have only made the soft top... and rust. The rest is completely stock, as in "Buy it from S@H for a bargain of a price with those colors"

Does the roof go up when it rains? default_look.gif

Yep. That transformation only takes about half an hour

Thanks for posting your review and mod! Did you re-enforce the base when making the convertable? I know someone who chopped the top of a real one and decided not to do that. The car worked for a while but ended up snapping! I still haven't decided about this set; I'll probably just make one from parts like you,

That's even more funny than the rust!

I believe the frame of the model is more solid than on the actual car!

The info display is pretty pointless, I know... but I didn't really realize that until it was built. At least it earned me a title!

For the next MOC I will try to be funny intentionally.

[Buttons]

EDIT CGH: please do not quote entire posts containing a lot of pics!

Coulden't have done it better...

[Holodoc]

This is a very nice MOD of the VW Beetle (Käfer)!

Good color choice and nice details (rust).

How much did it cost you to make it? Did you have all the bricks needed in your collection or did you buy all new?

Coulden't have done it better...

Well, you could have refrained from quoting the complete pics again.

[Lasse D]

This is a very nice MOD of the VW Beetle (Käfer)!

Good color choice and nice details (rust).

How much did it cost you to make it? Did you have all the bricks needed in your collection or did you buy all new?

Thanks.

I did have all the bricks in my collection, but had to scavenge parts from some display models, such as the wrecker (8285).

It does take a lot of 2x3, 1x2, and 1x4 plates, but you can optimize the built quite a lot while building.

Unfortunately I didn't do that.