Glas Goggomobil t250

I am starting a side project for a little fun. All you hard-core racers better look away...



This one should be familiar to most of you, at least if you are of a certain age!
Sold rather well over here as well in the late '50s, but was maybe not quite as glamorous as the photo suggests...



I'm starting with the usual piece of wood.



Trawling the web, it is easy to find good reference photos, but more difficult to find reliable blueprints.
I have found a very good side view (as you can see) but not much when it comes to front and tail projections.
If anybody knows about a good source I would be very grateful!
If not, I will lean against photos.

Kind Regards
Carver

Oh wonderful!
My first question: Which wheels/rims/tyres? It will get quite small in 1/32, isn't it?
Kind regards Torge

Very small, Torge, very small...



I am hoping to use PCS classic 10“ wheels, 15,5mm diameter, available from Pendleslot (UK). Another idea would be using something from a smaller scale.
For me, this is an experiment, I am making up plans underway. I have never made a car as small as this one.
Did some work this morning.




Too early to put on the critical glasses, I am still searching for the soul of the car...
Kind Regards
Carver

I love the idea of the Goggo in 1:32.
Looking forward to the final result!
Best regards
Thomas

Having come this far with the piece of wood I have to use other materials to get the forms more precise.
One step backward...


to take two steps ahead.








Next will be the side screen frames, which will be more complicated. I want the screens to be almost in level with the body, I don't like them to sit deep.
I have hollowed the shell out. It weighs only 11g, but then it is a very small car.



Kind Regards
Carver

Hello Carver,

although the bodydesign of the -Goggomobil- looks simple at first sight fine details define it´s coachwork.
You do a mixed material construction to create.
Not bad...... but be aware when you do paintwork (different materials at the surface of the body tend to create fine cracks)
What´s about wheel-rims and tires ? May be you can find these right in dimension looking at 1/43 slotcars.
I would try to get these spareparts now to adjust body with chassis..........

I am looking forward for next steps !

vbr, claus

Still fascinating!
I think I proposed already on another project on Slotforum to switch from the carved body to a resin copy to a certain point of time. I remember well that you answered something like that you would go on with your working method because this is what you like and love to do!
I'm looking forward to the result. In the last Car-On-Line publication there has been an article about such small and also a Goggo scratch-build from plastic sheets. I can send you a copy via PN if you like.
Best regards
Thomas

Hello friends,
To begin with, I have wanted to do a micro-car for some time. Ever since I saw a beautiful BMW Isetta and a wonderful Messerschmitt Kabinroller made by two gentlemen, well-known to this forum... I am not much of an engineer so I went for a four-wheeler!

@Claus: As you say, this one is rather difficult to capture, as hard as any leMans prototype...
I have made mixed material cars before and sometimes have had cracks. I think the solution is several layers of Schellack and primer.
I agree, it is soon time to get wheels and chassis made. I can work with the top of the body a little more, but wheel arches f.ex. will have to wait until I have a rolling chassis.
I know absolutely nothing about 1/43 cars, I have ordered PCS 10“ wheels, 15,5mm. Just about the right size, I will know when they arrive...

@Thomas: Yes, this is just having a little fun and seeing how far you can get with a piece of wood... I would very much appreciate seeing that article, thank you! Once I have started looking at those small cars I find them more and more interesting.
Best regards
Carver

Hi carver,

very very nice project!

Just a little fun fact: Back then, due to its success, the name Goggomobil accomplished becoming a generic term for "microcar". At least here in Bavaria... (the Goggomobil is a bavarian car from Regensburg).

Ich dachte immer, das Goggomobil kommt aus Dingolfing.

Autsch!

Wie komm ich nur auf Regensburg?

However, next one will come from Sweden, right?

It can never be wrong with a geography lesson! Jeden Tag etwas Neues lernen!

@hito: Can you read people's minds? This is next on the list!



If I don't change my mind that is, I often do... Comes from Göteborg btw !

Carver/Schnitzer

As expected, this turned out more difficult than expected...
While working, I have been thinking this would suit the 3D guys better than my medieval methods.

The Goggo has gone through many phases, here are some of them.
I have created the side screen frames from brass and styrene strips.




Trying to find the subtle forms of the panels...



Here we are today! Still a very rough model, still lots to do.















I am trying to capture the overall shape before going into details.
I would appreciate any kind of constructive criticism! It's been a while since I saw one in real life.
There is yet time to make changes. Sometimes I listen to advice...
I will soon put it away for some time and later return with fresh eyes.

Once the rough form is settled I will do the detailing, chrome trim on top of the wings, along the roof edge, and below the side screens. And bumpers, of course, and much more...

Best Regards
Carver

P.S. Porsche 917K has absolutely nothing to do with this! D.S.

Hello Carver,

you talk the body is ready for further steps going into detail work. Isn´t it ?
( ....some parts looks rather well other are still in status of work....?, I could see some parts where sanding isn´t done well or not finished.
To rate ? quality of (coach)-work the surface of the body should have a uniform (grey) surface without any differences in coloring.
Therefore I always try to do a fine base-layer (grey-colour) all over the mould . This helps to see where work isn´t well done.
(also have a look at -shutlines- of the body these seems to be different in width and look...., e.g. door and bonnets

best regards, c.

I like the irony of this tiny model on the Porsche 917 base.
I my childhood a Goggo was always the synonym for a very slow car.
Best regards,
Thomas

Don't worry, Claus! Detailing work is far away in the future!

Maybe I did not express myself quite clearly! It is still a work in progress trying to find the basic proportions.
I feel that sometimes it can be a good thing to show up unfinished work for other eyes.
Sitting with a small model you get sort of blind after a while... Fresh eyes may see things I am missing.

However, I am not yet totally blind! Today I found that the front side panels (front wings) were too rounded and clumsy.
I have done some sanding and also flattened the roof a little.


The changed, now flatter wings suddenly (in my eyes) made it more ”Goggoish”.

I totally agree about grey primer! I use it a lot when carving a new body. So far I have primed it 3 times... To get a view of what to do next.
A bit to go until it is time for the final coat.

@Thomas: When I was a boy, in the early '60s, this was a car to make fun of, so far from our dream cars!
The ultimate dream was, I still remember, Mercedes 300SL gullwing...
Now I have gone wiser and can appreciate the Goggo charm as well...

It will be a very slow slot car!

Best Regards
Carver

Hello Carver,

Don't worry, Claus! Detailing work is far away in the future!

I am relieved to read that.... .... so I am looking forward to see your next steps.

very best regards
claus

Struggling on with the Goggo! This will take some time...




I have started with the bumpers to get a better total view.





All this is a bit beyond my skills. But who cares as long as I am having fun!

Cheers
Carver

Hello Carver,

All this is a bit beyond my skills

Who had told you this nonsense....?
My impressions are entirely different. When looking your work you do a fantastic job.
The -Goggo- is on the way...... to become a fantastic slot-car-scale-model.
The bumpers are made from ? (wood?)

cheers, claus

Well, it does not come easy! This may be the most difficult model I have tried to do.
But thanks for your trust and confidence...

The bumpers are made from 1mm and 0,5mm styrene sheets glued together in different configurations.

Best Regards
Carver

Your work is amazing. Each time regarding the pictures I have to scroll to the pic where the Goggo is placed beside the BMW, to remember it's real dimensions. I love it - and I love to watch it "growing"

Back to work after a break! I have reworked the tail once more and tried out some glitter.









Looks like it will be a well-used second-hand car...

Cheers
Carver

Hello Carver,

finish line within eyeshot.......: the body and it´s details looks nice !
But please tell me: why do you do this -chrome-work- before you start final paintwork ?
(I think both bumbers (front/rear) are removable.... but this small borderlines..... )

greets !

claus

Yes Claus, the bumpers are removable. They are chromed with Bare Metal chrome-foil.

For the chrome trim on top of the wings and beneath the side screens, I have used silver thread.

These are glued down in shallow slots with super glue. I prefer to do this before the final painting, it gives me a chance to remove glue spots.
If this was done later it might have ruined the paint.

When the final paint is done, some light polishing brings up the chrome to the surface.

Also, I plan to take a mould for resin casting before finishing. Nice to have the chrome trim from the start.
I can then make one second-hand Goggo and one new! And why not a ”Kastenwagen”?



Viele Grüsse
Carver

The special method with the trim under the lacquer is interesting.
The production of a mold is a nice idea. Maybe copies of this shell will be available?
Best regards
Thomas

Hello Carver,

using shallow slots for mounting such fine chrome lines... good idea... !

greets, claus

Gentlemen, I am happy to share any idea that could be useful!
I don't remember where this idea comes from, probably stolen...
Those threads come in many sizes and can be found at jeweler's suppliers.

Hold on a while, Thomas! There are no shells yet...

Best Regards
Carver

Hello,

after having carved a few bodies years ago I stopped doing it and turned to casting.
Since then there is a block of Jelutong lying around here yet. If you are interested, I could send it to you.

Regards,

Roland

Thanks, Roland, how very kind of you to think of me!
But I feel I already have a very good stock of different kinds of wood, enough to keep me busy the rest of my life...
Maybe someone else would give it a try, it is great fun!

Meanwhile, the Goggo-build has stalled, all I have done in the last two months is a simple interior tray with a reworked Airfix soldier as a driver.




Too much to do in the 1:1 scale world. But I will be back sooner or later.

Best Regards
Carver