Designer and engineer Keith Dickson with Mechka in the driver's seat of his prototype model Volkswagen car. One of his earlier cars, a Bugatti Type 35, is at the rear. Photo by Gerard O'Brien.
A simple love of making things led him to build his first model cars - a Bugatti Type 35 and Peugeot 19-3.
More recently, he started making Volkswagens, because they had a better sales market.
The cars, which took about 12 hours to complete, were made from fibreglass, with leather upholstery and electric motors, and were suitable for children aged between about 4 and 8.
If they took off, he envisaged getting a business partner, shifting production from his home to a small factory and employing staff to help build them.
Mr Dickson was not aware of any patent issues with them and believed imitation could only be a good thing for car companies.
