SEARCH FINESCALE.COM

Enter keywords or a search phrase below:

This is one funky motorcycle............

4649 views
20 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    January 2003
  • From: Washington State
This is one funky motorcycle............
Posted by leemitcheltree on Monday, February 21, 2005 12:26 AM
These are images of a 1/12 scale Britten V-1000 that I completed some time ago. It was a labor of love - and I think I went a little overboard at times.....I spent almost a year (on and off) building this model - seriously modifying or replacing much of the original kit parts......I added individual clutch plates, wires, hoses, a fully wired battery (which you can't see - oops), detailed Brembo GoldLine calipers from a Ducati 888, scratchbuilt steering damper, and vacuum formed windscreen. I think all the effort was worth it.
What do you think?





Looking forward to your thoughts........

Cheers, LeeTree
Remember, Safety Fast!!!

  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Monday, February 21, 2005 12:41 AM
I can do that... in 20 years when my skills catch up! Nice bike, it's truely inspiring.
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Monday, February 21, 2005 12:43 AM
Damn Lee, you went all out. I like how you textured the case.....that is a great technique!!! That is a fantastic build, thanks for sharing!!
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Monday, February 21, 2005 5:56 AM
Great build of an unusual make of motorcycle.
All the details are there and I will use a few on my Harley chopper once finished.
Thanks for sharing.
Simon.
  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Piedmont Triad, NC (USA)
Posted by oldhooker on Monday, February 21, 2005 12:08 PM
That REALLY looks nice, Lee!!! Looks like it belongs in a showroom.. thank you for sharing it!! Smile [:)]

Take care,
Frank

  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: Tochigi, Japan
Posted by J-Hulk on Monday, February 21, 2005 12:28 PM
Wow, nice bike!
The pipes are very visceral...
~Brian
  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: USA
Posted by 2000-redrider on Monday, February 21, 2005 12:44 PM
You've built an awesome model of an awesome bike. Who produced the kit?
  • Member since
    January 2003
  • From: Washington State
Posted by leemitcheltree on Monday, February 21, 2005 9:44 PM
Hey - thanks for the kind words, guys.
The bike is actually a resin copy of the original kit (heavily modified and detailed) and was produced by The Britten Motorcycle Company in New Zealand. If you want one for yourself or are interested in Britten merchandise, go to:
http://www.britten.co.nz/store.php3
The kit was like $300AUD (the proceeds went to help support the factory racing budget) and it was made of pewter - all the original masters were carved from brass by master modeller Jim Wylie of Christchurch (I think that's where he's from!) - and then the pieces were cast using the lost wax casting method.
I figured the kit would be a collector's item one day, so I made RTV latex molds and cast copies in resin - the screen I vac-formed using a home made vac machine. I didn't think ahead - and ended up spending a fair amount of money for the RTV and the resin necessary to make my copy. Oh well......
Many original bits were rather awful - like the exhaust - so I cast multiple copies and cut the individual pieces apart, cleaned them up, and reassembled them.
The clutch basket is a case in point - as are the handlebars, footpegs, shock absorbers - the bars were originally a two piece affair in the kit - I ended up with 42 individual pieces in my handlebar assembly. Visually, it makes a real difference.
The paint was mainly Tamiya acrylic and Metalizers - with a Tamiya Laquer for the seat/tank/fairing - and the pink was a Gunze acrylic paint - fluoro pink - all coated with Future. The brake rotors were rubbed with graphite from a pencil using an artists smudger.
This project was really quite an obsession for me.......I love the bike - it's an incredible machine - weighs 300lb and pumps out more than 150hp - I've seen one race (an earlier type) at a BEARS race here in Melbourne - it kicked the crap outta all the other competitors.
Anyway - glad you like it.
Thanks again.

Cheers, LeeTree
Remember, Safety Fast!!!

  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Monday, February 21, 2005 11:13 PM
Tat's one groovy bike, thanks for the pics....
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Monday, February 21, 2005 11:54 PM
Wow! Beautiful. Here in the States either Motorcyclist magazine or Cycle World magazine recently did a nice feature on Britten and his bikes. The model is fantastic. Congrats.
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, February 22, 2005 12:27 AM
The bike is quite amazing.
What is more amazing was it's creator, John (I think) Britten.
Too bad he is no longer with us.
  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Lower Alabama
Posted by saltydog on Tuesday, February 22, 2005 8:41 PM
VERY impressive work Lee!!Thumbs Up [tup]
Chris The Origins of Murphy's Law: "In the begginning there was nothing, and it exploded."!!! _________ chris
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, February 24, 2005 2:13 AM
very cool bike there!

Great work fella!Cool [8D]Big Smile [:D]
  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Third rock from the sun.
Posted by Woody on Friday, February 25, 2005 6:17 AM
Wow, Lee you are a master of the art. Great model and resin casting!

" I wish to have no connection with any ship that does not sail fast; for I intend to go in harm's way." --John Paul Jones
  • Member since
    January 2003
  • From: 40 klicks east of the Gateway
Posted by yardbird78 on Sunday, February 27, 2005 1:40 PM
That's a beautiful machine. One has to look very closely to tell if it is real or a model. The mark of a truely great model.

Darwin, O.F. Alien [alien]

 ,,

The B-52 and me, we have grown old, gray and overweight together.

  • Member since
    March 2009
Posted by Zoolander on Wednesday, August 26, 2009 7:31 PM
Hi what did you use to finish the front number board. I am thinking of extending mine down lower also. The number board seems to be a sort of an off white colour. Did you just paint it then clear coat over top? What colour and brand of paint did you use as it seems to be a very good match. Thanks.
  • Member since
    January 2007
Posted by the doog on Wednesday, August 26, 2009 7:46 PM

Hey isn't this the same one as "dioramator" has in the thread right next to this one? It looks the same!

You did a nice job too!

  • Member since
    May 2009
  • From: Brizioland
Posted by Brizio on Thursday, August 27, 2009 1:46 PM
Looks good!
  • Member since
    November 2008
  • From: Biding my time, watching your lines.
Posted by PaintsWithBrush on Thursday, August 27, 2009 2:00 PM
Your extensive work pays a great tribute to John Britten, who was one helluva engineer.
Outstanding.
Regards, PWB.

A 100% rider on a 70% bike will always defeat a 70% rider on a 100% bike. (Kenny Roberts)

  • Member since
    July 2009
  • From: North Carolina
Posted by Back to the bench on Saturday, August 29, 2009 10:46 PM
Very cool bike and a very cool model. Ignorant question, what is BEARS?Blush [:I]

Gil

  • Member since
    November 2012
Posted by dioramator on Sunday, August 30, 2009 8:53 AM

 Back to the bench wrote:
Very cool bike and a very cool model. Ignorant question, what is BEARS?Blush [:I]

British European and American Racing Series.

 

JOIN OUR COMMUNITY!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

SEARCH FORUMS
FREE NEWSLETTER
By signing up you may also receive reader surveys and occasional special offers. We do not sell, rent or trade our email lists. View our Privacy Policy.