VW Beetle Dune

By Stephen Paul Hardy

Introduction

Won’t you stop and take
A little time out with me
Just take five.
Stop your busy day
And take the time out
To see it’s alive…
It only took five.

(With apologies to Iola Brubeck, Paul Desmond, Carmen McRae & Dave Brubeck)

Yes the backstory to Radscale Collectibles’ VW Beetle Dune released late last year in 99pcs each of three colours (gold, yellow and grey: # RM 0082, 0083 & 0084) spans no less than five years. But before looking at the model as it finally arrived, let’s take a quick look at the car that it models…

What was Volkswagen’s Dune Beetle?

For that we now have to reach back a staggering quarter of a century to the days of the then “New Beetle” and the 2000 DUNE Concept based on the then contemporary production saloon iteration of the original Concept One which was first shown in public in 1994.

A further DUNE Concept, the second,  was shown by Volkswagen in 2014, this time based on the then contemporary successor to the “New Beetle” and then finally the DUNE saw the light of day as a 2016 production model.

Radscale Collectibles modelling of the Beetle Dune is, like all its other 1:18 sealed resin models, just superb in terms of accurate body profile and wealth of authentic fine detail. Detail that includes Volkswagen’s retro  “feel good” inclusion of ski/snow board/sand board racks incorporated within the rear spoiler design that were a strong feature of the 2014 Concept image. These were a reference back to the much coveted ski racks used by owners of the original air-cooled Beetles back in the 1950s and 60s and now “essential” accessories on many of the treasured surviving examples seen a historic VW shows in both Europe and North America.

But it’s not just the quality of accurate body profile and wealth of authentic fine detail modelling that makes these Radscale Collectibles (and their DNA Collectibles predecessors) so attractive. It’s about the quality of the finishes themselves – from paintwork quality through to the differing textures evident on the matte, satin and chromed fittings.

A perfect illustration of this is with the wheels accurately representing Volkswagen’s 19-inch “Twister” style alloys sat under the satin black wheel arch trims and in front of clearly represented brake discs. Comparison between the Radscale’ 1:18 versions and Volkswagen’s PR photos just bring home the point.

Interior Matters

Moving on from the more obvious external delights of the models’ exterior and taking a look at the interior, we find the same attention to authenticity and minute replication. Again the point is best made by comparing photos of the model itself with Volkswagen’s PR photos of the actual car.

To my mind it is in fact the interior, as much as the exterior, detailing that defines the degree of attention and production quality that has been a hallmark of the manufacturing source behind the ‘Collectibles’ brands past and present. But why then has it taken five years from first sight of the pre-production Dune model in 1:18 to seeing it on the market?

Abandonment and Realisation

To understand that we have to look back first to the summer of 2019 when DNA’s market research and market testing strategy was quite inovataitive and drawing on a significant amount of social media based interaction with collectors and potential customers. These strategies included a fair amount of “testing the water” by polling. Responses at that time suggested that the Dune was amongst other future proposals a definite goer with the pre-production sample being shown on the modest DNA Collectibles stand at the fateful Spielwarenmesse 2020, along with a social media promotion of it being one of the four Volkswagen themed models scheduled for that year. Fairly soon after the Dune and the promoted T2 Last Edition Kombi were dropped amongst the chaos that ensued as 2020 unfolded concurrent with the closing hours of that Toy Fair.

Up to that point the evolving DNA Collectibles 1:18 range had been the subject of an almost hedonistic indulgence through its growing fan base and in magazine reviews. Rick Wilson, at that point Editor of DIECAST Collector, was a very big fan of the range as expressed through his reviews. At the same time my coverage from 2018 onwards through reviews in the former MODEL Collector and briefly in the emerging, market tester, issues of MODEL CAR & MOTOR CYCLE WORLD tracked a similar enthusiasm.

As with so much, in so many ways, though in 2020 the world that had been was starting to tumble. Events in May and then July 2020 saw Rick and I combining enthusiasm for a couple more years covering the latest DNA Collectibles releases until a disquieting (and unsettling quietness) fell as Summer turned into the Autumn. One of my recollections of things seeming not quite right came soon after reviewing a trio of Saffron Volvos in the Spring of 2022 at a similar time to disappointment of a related sort in August.  Lack of contact from the DNA Collectibles Team by onset of autumn heralded eventual grapevine news of company’s demise by  November. Formal confirmation coming soon after in January 2023 leaving a lot of, as it were, broken glass on the floor which I don’t intend to disturb retrospectively.

Instead I’ll focus on the eventual positive outcomes of the story that now includes the release of the Beetle Dune under Radscale Collectibles branding.  A real “Phoenix from the Ashes” tale thanks to the driving force and tenacious stamina of Fendy Hu. The man that has been at the development and manufacturing end of the whole Beetle Dune story since its inception and who finally brought the model from abandonment at pre-production to being a fully finished, series production item in the Radscale Collectibles catalogue.

One issue though that has fascinated me whilst drawing together the research prior to writing this article is that, rather unusually, on-line links are still live to both DNA Collectibles Facebook Page (coverage the period December 2017 to September 2022) together with its companion DNA Collectibles Model Cars and Coffee Public Facebook Group (created 11th July 2019 with last substantive posts effectively during November 2022).

Between them these two resources provide an amazing insight into the range of models as it evolved, their production, the various market testing polling strategies and much more. A scrolling through both is highly recommended before both are taken down at some stage almost inevitably.

Highlights include the release of the captivating Bond Bug on 2nd March 2018 and the photos from 21 September 2022 of the never-released the Saab Sonett III in four colours just ahead of Swiss based DNA Collectibles (DNA Group SA) folding.

The ongoing story of the continuation of some of the former DNA’ models being revived and new ones added can be followed through the current Fans of RADSCALE COLLECTIBLES Public Facebook Group.

Consistency

There is no doubt that, when DNA Collectibles entered into the market place with both 1:43 and 1:18 scale sealed resin models, it caused a few ripples on the market’s pond.

The 1:43 scale catalogue quickly ebbed away, but the 1:18 range rapidly gathered a strong following of collectors. In part that was due to the subjects model and in part due to the amount of attention given to pushing the boundaries of detail – often minute and only really showing up in full under the scrutiny of close-up photography. The range of automotive models covered was modest yet intense – particularly with its Scandinavian bias.

Now with everything under under Fendy Hu’s direct control across the whole process from conception to self branded marketing of the final product, the already detail intense hallmark of the DNA era has been further increased in terms of both authenticity and scope. This to the point of customers even being able to exercise paint/upholstery colour combination choice as well as wheel style choices on some models.

Whilst subject themes in the Radscale Collectibles range continue to feed the seemingly insatiable appetite of Volvo and Saab model enthusiasts alongside the recent introduction a 1994 Toyota RAV 4, some well established Subaru and Volkswagen themed offerings. With possible new North American automotive subjects being first shown towards the end of last year, the range continues to roll out.

Current highlights have, in addition to the Beetle Dune, got to be variations on the Saab theme and promotional model commissions of the Polestar 5 in 1:18 and arguably the most charismatic – a stunning 1:18 Diecast Volvo PV445 Duett. Whilst the large scale sealed resin market appears to be holding well for Radscale Collectibles as we move into 2026, I understand that the upsurge in Chinese interest in high end 1:64 models (as recent Editorial coverage has illustrated) is something many eyes in the industry in China are keeping a close watching brief on.