Comparison of 1-32nd Scale Volkswagen VW Busses Transporters Kinsmart V Uni Fortune Which is More Accurate?

 June 16, 2023

#468

Gentle reader,

My previous article on 1/32nd scale Kinsmart diecast model cars dealt with my entire collection and the various brands being sold in stores in lieu of Kinsmart-made cars and trucks. At least in my part of the United States. Here is a link to that article: The Robb Collections: Highly Detailed 1:32nd Scale Diecast Model Cars for Six Dollars! Kinsmart Found A Niche and Filled It. And Volkswagen Buses!

These are the three VW busses I currently have in my collection in 1/32nd scale. I have numerous 1/64th scale VW diecast cars of many eras and countries of manufacturer of their real counterparts. I also have a 1/18th scale VW Bus seen "in situ" with it's fellow 1/18th scale cars below.

There are six of these cars which represent real ones I once owned. Starting at the forth shelf down: Black 1967 Chevrolet Impala SS. Mine was an off-white convertible with a more humble 300 horsepower 327 cubic inch small-block V8 engine compared to the "Rat Motor" 427 C.I. big-block in that hardtop model houses. I also had a 1974 Triumph Spitfire 1500. Red paint, black interior. That green one is a Mark IV with a smaller engine. The funny looking car to the right of the Spitfire is a 1970's Audi 100 Coupe. A model not sold in the US. I had a 1975 100LS four-door sedan, silver-blue in color. Fifth shelf down holds a JDM Subaru WRX STi wagon. I had the non-STi version. The STi models did not reach these shores for a few more years. Same color but not as powerful. The red Porsche 924 to the right is a 1985 model. I had a 1987 924S. Which was a completely different car beneath the shapely skin. Black in color. To it's right is a 2000 Audi TT. That model is a FWD model which was produced prior to Audi finding out that their TTs were unstable at Autobahn speeds. They added various aerodynamic aids including a rear spoiler. Mine was the same color with blue leather interior and an AWD quattro example. If you would like to learn what differentiates a Porsche 924S from the original 924, watch this video: The Porsche 924 wasn't born a Porsche. It became one. | Revelations with Jason Cammisa | Ep. 09 - YouTube

The golden car beneath the Subaru represents a 1964 Pontiac GTO convertible I test drove when I was seventeen and a senior in high school. It had the top 389 c.i. V8 engine with three two-barrel carburetors, four-speed manual transmission and positraction differential. The owner wanted $250 for it, which I did not have!

The VW bus represents one of the three my parents once owned, each newer than the previous. The color red is not what I have seen, but it works. In front of the Bus is a 1963 Ford Falcon, which was my wife's first car. Hers was a humble four-door sedan, light blue in color. It was two years older than she was! Lastly, the blue car to the right of the Falcon is a 2004 Australian-built Pontiac GTO. They were made for only three years. And, I WANT a real one.

These two period film photographs are what we are going to use to determine which of the three VW busses are the most accurate. My little sister and brother in the wooden VW bus the dealer gave to my parents when they bought the attached real Bus.

Same sister making a sassy pose beside Dad and one of the two early model VW busses we had. Can't tell, of course, whether it is the red one or the blue one. And, I just noticed those things beneath the side windows. What the heck are they, Bob?

Let's start with the two Kinsmart models I have. The white over blue represents the two we grew up in riding around the western United States. One was white over red.

The white over green one is a double cab pickup truck. It states that it is a 1963 model. Made on February first, 2016. It is 1/34 scale. The bus is called 1962 Volkswagen Classical Bus. "Classical"? NOTE the difference in the windshield wipers placement. It was made in Qingyuan, China and has these number: 04221103. Funny looking date. I am convinced that the Bus model is very recently made. The entire stamp on the pickup reads: Kintoy Die-Casting Mfy., Ltd. Mfg in Shenzhen, China Mfg. on 02/01/2016 Batch #02001H96-22.

The bus is appears to be slightly taller than the pickup. Which makes sense since it is a slightly smaller scale. Read on for more on that specification.

I just measured the bodies with calipers width beneath the taillights. They are exactly the same width, at least at that point on the bodies.

The front doors on the pickup open, of which almost every Kinsmart model I have ever handled has had opening front doors. Yet, on the bus, they are molded shut. 

I measured the open passenger door on the pickup and it is 28mm at the paint demarcation line. The bus's door is about one millimeter wider there.

As I pointed out in the previous article, the Chinese designers probably are not aware that the engines should be at the BACK of the models, not at the front. Oops!

Now, I am not a Volkswagen expert, which is why I am counting on my buddy, Bob Berne, to tell me the differences between a 1962 and 1963, especially concerning FRONT lights. 

I measured the pickup from the bottom and it is 133mm from the center of the front bumper to the center of the rear bumper. The bus is 132mm long at the same place. They are identical in height at 46mm. So, is one truly a different scale than the other?

Now, let's look at two busses. Apples verses apples, so to speak. You've met the one on the left already. So, let me introduce you to a uni FORTUNE® model 5025 Volkswagen T1 Transporter. No model year noted on the chassis.

Note, again, the types of windshield wipers. 

Both model's bodies are molded (die-cast?) in two pieces, so different colors are easier that way.

Yet, if you look closely at these photos, the Kinsmart demarcation line is above the rounded silver painted piece on the Kinsmart. 

Hard to tell in this photo whether that is the case on the real cars or not. Note the chrome VOLKSWAGEN script beneath the hatchback handle, above.

Hmm, again, hard to tell from these pictures. Bob?

On the Kinsmart model, only the front passenger area door opens. Both do on the uni.

Both the rear hatchback doors open, but the Kinsmart does not like to stay up.

The uni model has this odd protrusion from behind the front bench seat. 

In this period photograph, Dad has taken the middle seat out and turned it around so that it faces to the rear. He was installing seatbelts in our cars long before they were required by US law. So, yes, we were still belted in no matter where the seat faced.

Both models have cutouts in the front bench seat to allow for enormous hinges for the side door(s) to open and close. I only remember separate (but equal) front seats which we kids could walk between if we were allowed to ride in the front passenger seat. Which I frequently did. They knew that I liked to look around as we travelled.

As I pointed out above, the Kinsmart chassis has the drivetrain at the front.

Closeup shows the error.

The uni FORTUNE® has some engine details behind the cover of the spring motor. It also has semi-detailed exhaust system, while the Kinsmart has none. And, it is an Official License Product. At least the holographic sticker indicates that.

The Chinese have proven that they can make anything that other countries can as in this fake Rolex watch including the holographic sticker. I sold all my fake watches years ago. Well, they were real watches, but not made by the real companies.

Below is the bottom of a wooden desk organizer that VW made at some point in time. I find it interesting that they made the bottom having a photograph of an actual bus. Note all the crossmembers for strength. 

It must have been a kit. As you can see, it is made of wood. The various pieces are held together with black "O" rings.

I love the Tartan paint job. No, that is not plaid. A "plaid" the the tartan blanket a Scotsman wore over his shoulder which matched his kilt, see below.

And another thing, the only thing that should be called "Scotch" is Scotch whiskey. It's not Scotch tape, it's Scots tape. Not Scotch Shortbread, Scots shortbread. Just saying.

Ah, this is a 1962. It does have tiny lights, see them? Also, note how the windshield wipers are on the "real" one.

It's now packed with all kids of desk items.

A closer look at that feature. Even cooling fins as the real engine has.

The engine/transaxle details are not bad on the Kinsmart, just at the wrong end.

Front ends clearly show the demarcation lines between top and bottom pieces.

The uni FORTUNE® model has the front turn signal/parking lights which the Kinsmart lacks.

Well, that covers the obvious differences, except one. The VW emblem on the uni FORTUNE® model is painted silver. The Kinsmart's is chrome plated and glued in place.

Lastly, I decided it would be fun to share some period VW "Station Wagon" ads. While it has been called a "Microbus", Transporter or simply a Bus, there is no mistaking it for anything else on the road. 

Truly, a Microbus here!

This is the later version, minus the classic "V" shape on the front end. Still has the large VW emblem, chrome, on the front.

Thank you, once again, for taking the time to read this very long article on VW Buses and pickup truck models in 1/32nd scale. 

Scott Robb

June 16, 2023

#468.

Highly Detailed 1:32nd Scale Diecast Model Cars for Six Dollars! Kinsmart Found A Niche and Filled It. And Volkswagen Buses!

 June 15, 2023

#467

Gentle reader,

For as long as there have been automobiles and trucks, there have been toy versions of them made of them for children around the world. 

At first crudely made of cast metal. Later of stamped steel or tin. Then, plastic molded and later diecast metals. Slot cars which could be raced from tiny HO all the way to 1:24th scale have been made in droves for decades. R/C or radio controlled cars and truck abound to this day. 

This is a wide-angle shot of my (nominally) 1:32nd scale Kinsmart* diecast cars. Top row and continuing on the bottom right, are street cars. Bottom row, starting on the left are race cars and/or decorated ones. 

But, here's the thing. Most of them I have found locally in grocery and drug stores, sometimes in gas stations too. Yet, when I turn them over, I have found that some do not have "pull-back" spring motors. *Some are different brands altogether. That got me to thinking...

This image is from a while back, when I was redecorating this room. The very first car seen is an Alfa Romeo 4C, which is a tiny car in reality. It is the one of a very few, which is actually 1/32nd scale. The smallest size car is a Ford Crown Victoria generic black and white police car. It is 1:42nd scale. 

Like Mattel's famous Hot Wheels which are made to fit their iconic orange track cars and trucks are all made to FIT the track's width. 

Kinsmart decided upon 125mm or just under five inches LONG. That way, they could put TEN cars or trucks in the same size displays, as seen below:

There could be ten school buses, or ten dump trucks or ten Volkswagen Beetles, they ALL fit, regardless of scale. Kinsmart puts the actual scale on the bottom of (most) of their cars.

Top shelf has Kinsmart KT5366 Alfa Romeo 4C 1/32, Welly 43624 Aston Martin V12 Vantage (no scale), Kinsmart KT5016 2000 Audi TT* 1/32. Bottom row is Kinsmart KT5397 2016 Chevrolet Corvette C7.R GTLM 1/36, Kinsmart KT5427 1966 Ford GT MKII #2 Winner Le Mans 24 Hours 1/32, last, same car #1, 2nd place. *I owned a real one. Blue inside and out.

Top row, above, is Kinsmart KT5316 Audi R8 1/36, Kinsmart KT5331 1955 Chevrolet Nomad 1/40, Kinsmart KT5358 1963 Chevrolet Corvette 1/36. Bottom row is KT5427 1966 Ford GT MKII #5, 3rd place, JADA 2021 Ford GT homage to the 1966 Ford GT MKII in which Ken Miles won the 1966 24 Hours of Daytona race 1/32, Kinsmart KT5361 2012 Lotus Exige S 1/32.

Top shelf is Sunnyside SS 5731 1967 Chevrolet Camaro 1/34, Kinsmart KT5363 2013 SRT Viper GT3 1/36, Kinsmart KT5332 1932 Ford 3-Window Coupe 1/34. Bottom is Kinsmart (no#) Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VII 1/36 decorated as a WRC car, Kinsmart KT5328 2007 Subaru WRC Rally Car 1/36, same car post-rally race.

Top shelf is an ARKO 1963 Ford Falcon Sprint* supposedly 1/32, Kinsmart KT5386 2015 Ford Mustang GT 1/38, Kinsmart KT5346 1954 Mercedes Benz 300SL 1/36. Bottom has a muddy Kinsmart KT5330 1955 Chevrolet Step-side Pickup 1/32, aforementioned Kinsmart (no#) Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor 1/42.

Kinsmart KT5302 Porsche Boxster S 1/34, Kinsmart KT5352 2010 Porsche 911 GT3RS 1/36, UNI Fortune 5049 Porsche Macan S no scale. 

Top shelf is a UNI Fortune 5020US (Toyota) Scion FR-S no scale, UNI Fortune 5025 Volkswagen T1 Transporter no scale, UNI Fortune 5023 2012 Volkswagen (final) Beetle no scale. Bottom has Kinsmart KT5060 1962 Volkswagen "Classical" Bus 1/32, Kinsmart (no#) Volkswagen Bus Double Cab Pickup 1/34.

Volkswagen busses have fond memories for my family. Our parents first bought a Beetle in the late 1950s which was sufficient to carry my older sister and I. As the third child (middle sister) arrived, they switched to VW Busses. First, a white/red one, then a white/blue one and the last was the newer style and was white/beige in color. 

I can't blame the Kinsmart model makers, they probably have NO idea that classic Volkswagens have REAR engines. Or, perhaps, someone, in adding the spring motor portion did not know that. The details are correct, just on the wrong end!

This is the chassis of the red/blue Uni Fortune. Both it and the red last Beetle have these VW Official Licensed Product on the bottoms. Again, there seems to be some confusion. There is what appears to be a transmission next to the left screw hole. The rear has part of the flat-four VW engine with muffler/tailpipe.

Some photographs from our childhood. These were all made when we lived in Kansas in the early 1960's.

Gag-photo of tiny VW bus the dealer gave us when they bought the blue/white one shown. 

That's me on the left, I'm second of five kids. Girl, boy, girl, boy, girl. These group shots were from prior to leaving Kansas and driving WEST to California.

Middle sister striking a sassy pose with Dad. I don't know which bus this was. 

This photo is a crop of the photo at the very bottom.

April 1964 date relates to the time the film was processed. 

My parents were cool, often letting me ride in the front seat. They knew that I liked to look around as we travelled. Note how the middle seat has been reversed so that we could put a folding table dad made between the two seats with a cushion also made to fit there, making room for us to sleep if we needed to.

Thank you So much for taking the time to read this article and view my photographs. I began blogging many years ago as something to do. I had NO idea that anyone would read it! But, you all surprised me!

Scott Robb

June 15, 2023

#467.

Feel free to leave a comment below, or on Facebook. Thanks again!