Rupp roadster- first build using airbrush.

Cool little bike. I never air brushed and do not build enough to make it worth trying. I will secretly admit that ever since I was a kid the air brush  kits always fascinated me when I saw them in toy and hobby stores.

Nice job on a classic mini bike .my dad almost bought me that same bike but in lighting blue metallic . Why dont you like chrome if I may ask.

Cool little bike!  Welcome to this side of scale modeling.  Lots of car guys strip the chrome and paint.  Alclad makes airbrush ready paints in all sorts of metallic shades.  Some more recent kits have much more scale chrome/aluminum look.  These were from a Fujimi mini cooper I did last year.  

Thanks Glennh- for several years i was going back and forth whether to try it out or to forget it.  Santa left me an amazon gift card under the tree this year. After 3 days of mental anguish (i love hobbies ) i decided to give it a rip. 

Crown- thanks for the comment.  The boxart includes a picture of a blue one.  

Maybe i could have searched a little more about cleaning up chrome parts, but there's a spot on the gas tank and "elsewhere".... yeah, where it attached to the sprue, that doesn't look as good as i hoped.  

I mentioned having started another kit.  It's the amt plated tanker. The box shows the frame as being painted.  But upon opening the box discovered the frame is 2 pieces of 19" chrome.  I have no more desire to try chemical stripping after several different methods attempted over the past 2 weeks.  It's like it just laughs at some of the nastiest stuff and won't let go.  

In a nutshell... that's why 

T e d

keavdog

Cool little bike!  Welcome to this side of scale modeling.  Lots of car guys strip the chrome and paint.  Alclad makes airbrush ready paints in all sorts of metallic shades.  Some more recent kits have much more scale chrome/aluminum look.  These were from a Fujimi mini cooper I did last year.  

Thank you. 

A funny part of my whining is that i want to try alclad and metal foil.  

Your wheels look good by the way.  Thanks for sharing. 

T e d 

I love that kit, but have never been able to find one.  Hope someday to find one at flea market or show.

Cleanup isn't bad, but I sure go through paper towels.  I now buy them for family, since I am main user :-(

Nice job on the mini-bike, Ted. Congrats on your first build!

BTW--I hate chrome too. The problem that you describe is typical. And like already mentioned, it is why builders usually strip chrome off. My other peeve is that to me, model chrome is gaudy looking, and it needs toning down. I have not met a model chrome that I have liked. I always strip it and repaint.

Thanks for sharing your build!  It's a fun one, and I look forward to your next!

Bakster

Nice job on the mini-bike, Ted. Congrats on your first build!

I second that.

I remember a bike like that at the local hardware store. Neat memories.

To remove chrome, I have always had good luck, soaking the parts in a solution of Windex and ammonia.  No scrubbing needed.  It takes a little time, but the chrome magically disappears, and you can't see it in the solution.  I wonder where it goes????

Cadet Chuck

I wonder where it goes????

Welcome to scale models and the wonderful world of airbrushing. As far as decals go, now that you are airbrushing you may be able to simply paint them on or at least some of them that are easy to make masks for. Have fun.

Cool !

Indeed wecome to airbrushing too.

Chrome: try some clear satin on chrome, matts too.

Thanks for the welcomes and kind words, guys.  I appreciate the tips. 

T e d