VW Beetle – Bali

About This Project

A scale recreation of a Volkswagen Beetle discovered during a trip to Bali with my girlfriend. Inspired by a photograph taken while exploring the streets of Ubud, the project captures a memorable travel experience and transforms it into a lasting keepsake. Presented on a small diorama, the model recreates the atmosphere of Bali and character of the original car as we encountered it.

Full Story

This project was inspired by a trip to Bali with my girlfriend. While walking through the streets of Ubud, we came across this beautiful Volkswagen Beetle parked along the roadside. Both of us have always had a soft spot for old air-cooled cars, so it immediately caught our attention. After returning home, I kept thinking about the car and its unique color combination, which eventually led me to recreate it in scale as a birthday present and a memory of our journey.

The model received several modifications and scratchbuilt details, including reworked interior door panels and a small storage shelf beneath the dashboard made from copper wire and fine mesh, soldered together by hand. Engine received ignition wires, an oil filter and some other minor updates. Chrome parts were refinished using Alclad Chrome over a gloss black base, while the body was painted with Tamiya paints, clear coated and carefully polished through multiple stages using sanding cloths ranging from 3000 to 10000 grit and Tamiya polishing compounds.

To make the project more personal, I made vintage-style luggage from styrene and printed photographs from our trip inside the car. The diorama recreates details commonly seen around Ubud – rough concrete surfaces, cracked pink sidewalk tiles and uneven pavement that constantly forced us to watch our step while walking through the heat of Bali. At the time those sidewalks were frustrating, but over time they became part of the memory itself, which made them important to include in the scene.

A traditional Balinese daily offering was also added beside the sidewalk, inspired by the small handmade arrangements of flowers and incense found throughout the island. It was one of the many small details that made the atmosphere of Bali feel unique and memorable.

Model: Volkswagen 1300 Beetle 1966 Model (Tamiya 24136)