Cool, thanks... The bike build-up is pretty
straightforward by the book, but it's the decisions to veer off a little along
the way that I'm interested in.
well, lot of questions, I’ll do my best.
I tweaked the front discs on the Hayabusa I've got here (damn masking fluid) so
am getting a PE set. I had wondered if the PE sets are comparable and was gonna
ask about building them up, but the PE for the Ducati doesn't get as involved
in that area, so strike that.(But those chain links!!!) :)
P/E differs from kit to kit. The Ducati P/E was pretty
easy to work with, the chain was however tedious. Just be sure to wash in
lacquer thinner to remove dirt and grease etc and sand the areas to be glued or
painted to allow the glue or paint to stick. Use metal surface primer if you
have anyhow.
Did any of your build order differ from the 'suggestions' on the sheets? I am
trying to get the sub-assemblies along as far as I can before the final
construction. This follows the instructions mostly, but it looks like they want
you to integrate newly finished sub-assemblies into a 'whole' as soon as
they're done... I'd like some hedge room, just in case, so I've undone a bit of
work to keep options open. In your experience, any reason to do one or the
other? Any logical reasons to get away from the sheets? I snip a lot of plastic
off to paint similar surfaces together, so since the parts are sitting around
anyway...
Yes. By quite a bit. I hardly ever follow the kit guide
letter to letter. I built mine up in sub assemblies, but built the rear before
the front, and I’ve not attached any body cowlings yet, to allow more time for
paint curing.. Build your bike in an order that suits you.
One of the annoyances is the number of centerline seams I've had to deal with,
and being a somewhat less than skilled filler/sander (and not quite customizing
tools to get into tight areas as I'd like) how'd you tackle them? I have to
confess to having left a few too many seams around (especially on the engine
block) Is the Ducati the same? Engineering the parts for sprues may make it the
case for many of the bikes. Next time through, I need to be more patient with
cleaning up.
Sanding sticks, putty, time and surface primer. Seam
lines were all over my bike. It just takes time and preparation.
TS49... did you decant it for airbrush or shoot straight from the can? I was
going to try a work-around color, but damn if in your pics it doesn't look like
a great match, and it's what's called out here. I want to spray it straight if
I can, but I'm going to be really annoyed if the finish gets wonked. It'll be
double or nothing, as this bike is gun-metal over red. I've been over these
body panels a few times with Mr Surfacer (500 jar for some filling, 1000 spray
for proper primer... and seeing more gaffs, so back to the 500... gah!!!) It
WILL be worth these extra steps, right? Would you walk through your paint
order? It looks as if layers are your friend... but I don't know much about how
to tackle a proper auto/bike finish and I think it could be applied here.
No, I didn’t decant the paint, just straight from the
can. Applied over a white primer base, three mists, two wet sanded with 2400.
Then two more wet and decaled. Then washed and then cleared 8 times with X22.
Three mist of clear, two heavy ish coats, 2 wet and 1 VERY wet final gloss up
coat. Then compounded with course, fine and finish tamiya compounds when cured
in about 1 – 2 weeks and a good wax with either Tamiya wax or if you have any,
the last detail treatment.
Your metals look great too. I think I was a little too rushed with the alclad
application... much more has to be possible with them, a more realistic
appearance. Sticking with the 'two mist coats at 12-15psi' regimen, but maybe
some change will get better results next time.
Alclad II really needs a black primer base… I’ve not had favorable
results without a black base.. For chrome, this needs to be enamel gloss, for
polished metals TS 14 gloss black, for the rest X18 or standard lacquer satin
black works fine. I use 12 – 15 psi, and apply about 10 mists… I feather it on,
slowly building the coverage up. It’s tedious, takes time but if you try and
rush Alclad II the results are not good.
Anyway, compliments and questions... took too long to write this, so back to
the model. Hope to see your final touches soon, and please get on to another
bike kit. Good stuff.
You’re welcome… Next bike model is a YZF R1 street bike..