Van model kits?

[goblingilmartin]

Hi folks! This is my first post on RPF, and I wanted to ask about car models. specifically vans. Are there any good van model kits that, when assembled, are about 2 feet long front to back (sorry, I don't quite get model scales yet)? I'm also hoping to find one with a sliding door that actually opens and closes, which would save me a lot of trouble. I'm working on a prop for a sci-fi series I want to work on with my friends, and I need to turn a van into a space ship. This will be my first hands-on experience with kit bashing as well.

 

[robn1]

Most car kits are 1/24 or 1/25 scale, a van would be about 5 or 6 inches at that scale. The size you're talking about is more like 1/6, like a Barbie sized vehicle. There may also be RC vans at that size, I'd look there.

 

[portland182]

I've been eyeing the Bratz Rock Angelz Tour Bus[/h]for a similar project - it doesn't have sliding doors but it opens up all the way.
You should be able to get one from a yard sale or ebay

Jim

 

[division 6]

Scaling works like this.

1/ 48 = 1 model lined up 48 times equals actual item.
1/6 (GI JOE, Barbie, etc) 1/6 of a 6' tall person (12") females are usually scaled a bit under 6' so Barbies are shorter than 12".

There are scale calculation programs out there for figuring it out in both Metric and Imperial.
If you Google Scale Calculation there are lots of them on line.
I have this program on my computer.

 

[JMChladek]

Only thing about a lot of the vans sized for Barbie figures is they tend to be a bit "chunkified" in the dimensions. So the roof line is taller relative to the front to back proportions. Plus they are made out of that soft polypropylene plastic which tends to be impervious to gluing or sanding (it can be cut, but you have to be perfect with the cuts).

A 1/12 scale body from a Tamiya Lunch Box (RC van monster truck) might be close, although a little on the small side (15.2 inches from to back). The body on that thing is high detailed scale looking styrene/ABS and is a pretty good representation of a late 1970s Dodge van. But, it would have to have a sliding door added to it. It also represents a short style van. So one would have to graft two bodies together if you want to represent a longer van. Thankfully, Tamiya Lunch Box bodies are still available and don't cost too much (and you can order just the bodies without having to get the whole RC car). But if we are talking something for an effects shoot, more than one could be built if one is needed for a pyro destruction sequence.

Now as far as Van model kits with opening doors, the largest scale one I know of is MPC's 1/20 scale Ford Econoline van. Most versions of it have opening side doors and it was recently reissued as the "Highjacker" (not sure if it still has the side doors though). It would probably be too small for your uses, but here is a link to some images of it:

http://modelkitreviews.proboards.com/thread/18/20-69-ford-econoline-vans

 

[JediMichael]

Scaling works like this.


I have this program on my computer.

I wondered how to figure out scale, not being good at math, I needed something like this program. Now to real trick is knowing about how big a syfy model is suppose to be.