Meet Daniel Joanisse and his amazing LEGO® Volkswagen Campers
29 May 2018
We exist thanks to you, our customers and fans. For many of our fans LEGO® is not just a hobby, but a passion. We often receive pictures of beautiful MOC sets that our customers have built and they are a real inspiration for us. We want to share this inspiration with you and we are going to write stories about our LEGO® fans and their amazing builds. This time we proudly present you the story of Daniel Joanisse from Rockland, Ontario Canada and his passion for LEGO® Volkswagen campers.
Toypro: Daniel, you are a real fan of building LEGO® Volkswagen campers. When and how did this passion start?
Daniel: I took an interest in building the iconic Volkswagen camper from the moment I saw it on the LEGO® website in 2015. The moment I saw it, I just had to get one. I loved the details in this model, like the opening doors, the fold down seat that turns into a bed, the small fridge under the sink, the engine compartment, the pop up roof and of course, the distinctive lines and VW logo on the front of the van that have become known worldwide. I really enjoyed building this model and watching it all come together.
Toypro: But you weren’t finished after building one LEGO® Volkswagen camper.
Daniel: No, it didn’t stop there. About 6 months after building the first VW camper, I ordered myself another one. Once I received my second model, I decided to take out all the red LEGO® pieces and replace them with black pieces. Because the LEGO® VW camper only comes in red and white, I would now have a "one of a kind" black and white model. I also changed up the colors in the interior so that both models, although the same models, would be different in color decor. The model turned out awesome, I was now hooked and I needed a new project. So in late fall of 2015, I purchased another LEGO® VW camper and then Christmas came and I received another 2 more VW campers.
Toypro: What do you do with the finished LEGO® Volkswagen campers?
Daniel: Although these models are toys, they are not played with. In fact, I have them all displayed on a shelf in my bedroom, all 7 of them. You might notice that some models have only 1 mirror on the outside of the driver’s door and some have a mirror on both doors. This is just an added feature that I've included while building. All replacement pieces I need for all of my VW campers have been bought online at ToyPro.
ToyPro: Why did you choose for ToyPro?
Daniel: ToyPro has by far the largest selection of pieces and a huge variety of colors.
Toypro: Are the LEGO® Volkswagen campers built completely from original LEGO®?
Daniel: Yes, however I paint the red pieces that I do have to the color I need and it really turns out well. Every model I have, except for the black and white, the black and red and the all white models, have some painted pieces. All of the pieces on the light blue model have been painted and you really couldn't tell that they were originally red. Painting LEGO® pieces is pretty easy to do, but should only be done outdoors and by an adult. I find the best paint for the job is called Rust-Oleum, it works really well on plastic. You will find a large selection of colors at hardware stores. 2 coats of paint will be needed and once fully dry, a light coat of clear gloss. The pieces turn out really nice. Make sure your pieces are fully dried between coats and before you use them. Because LEGO® sells only the red and white VW camper, any model that is built using different colors become a one of a kind model.
ToyPro: Are you working on a new project right now?
Daniel: I am currently working on a new VW camper, a lime and white which I know will also turn out pretty awesome. I am however waiting for more pieces from ToyPro and I have to paint some red pieces lime. Once I have completed my lime project, I will be looking to build a VW camper in purple and white, light beige (sand) and white, light green and white, the possibilities are endless. As long as I have an interest in building and painting these LEGO® VW campers, I will continue.
Are you a real LEGO® fan as well? We would like to hear your story too! Please feel free to contact us via legofans@toypro.com.
Do you also want to build a unique LEGO® Volkswagen camper? You can find the pieces of the Volkswagen T1 Camper Van here.
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