Honda RC211V Group Build

Hmmm... will definitely do so. Agreed, it will make a big difference. Thanks for the feedback, Joel!
And no, I "cheated" on this one. The original plating looked very good to me and so I left it on. Most often nowadays I tend to take it off, though. But this was, as you can see, in good enough condition. Also, as you mentioned, the colour looked a bit different from the usual chroming. Why, I don't know... (and it's not just the pic!)

SeaBee: Engine looks great. Did you paint the frame? Seems to have a slight more pearl effect than the original plating. Only thing I could think of is that you should paint the silver rivets on the brake discs. Perhaps it's on is way but that would highlight the front.
best regards
Joel

I must just again say how impressed I am at Tamiya's effort with these kits. Glad this is the one kit I have several of! Everything went together well, despite my best efforts. The onlt small thing that did not give me a fuzzy feeling of warmth, was the fit of the cowling for the seat. Caused a very minor struggle with the rear cowling, but not a problem.

The highlight was their new invention - the next best thing since better defined rear wing element grooves on their more recent F1's... - a glueless "visor" window.

Anyways, here is how it looked during the week - hope it works. Busy decalling at this stage, will take a few days, then I'll be done.

A tip could be to mount the fairings on the frame/engine block so that you will get the exact position. Otherwise it works to tape them together on the back with masking tape. I too cut the decal whilst it is not yet fully cured. That way I can press the decal down into the crave.
best regards
Joel

Cheers for that guys. Will give that a blast next week. just letting the piant dry for afew more days before I do anything with them.

Will try and post some pics to show you how I get on.

Hey, waiting for my first alclad to arrive as well from the other side of the water. Won't be here for a while, though. Looking forward to it very much!

Mitch, I replied on your other thread. Basically, I agree with Daniel. But I cut it whilst still not fully cured. Sharp blade, hold onto both sides. That way you can get the edges conforming nicely to the contours. Also, you can move it around a bit for a better look, should it be needed. Sometimes I found it necessary.

Mitch- That's exactly what I would do. Just apply the decal over the crack and wait for it to cure. Then just cut it with a new blade. It's hard to judge where to make the cut if you do it before you put the decal on.

I got some alclad chrome the other day, so now I am getting back into my bike. I want to see how the stuff looks on my exhaust pipes. I've got to get some carbon fibre decal soon too, so I'll have to wait a while for that.

LOL. That's a good one SeaBee! I'm sure we all have those kind of moments from time to time. I know I have missed stuff like that before.

Looking for some advice on my decaling. Sprayed the fairings that I can (still waiting on the flourescent sprays to come through) and i should hopefully be decaling the front fairings shortly. Was wondering what you guys do when having to split a decal? I'm talking about the ones that sit across 2 different fairings. i.e the lower fairing and the side ones. I know of at least one on each side that sits across these 2 and I'm sure there is another on the rear seat cowl.

In order to take the fairings off in future these decals will have to be split. I'm sure you guys understand what I'm saying but just want to try and make it as clear as possible.

Before when I have had to do this I have layed the decal on and cut it after it has cured. Is this the best way or should I try and cut it before I apply? Or is there another method available. Want to try and get it looking as good as I can as all attempts I have made at this before have been a bit rubbish to be honest.

Any helpmuch appreciated folks.

Ehhrrrmmmm... consider part B18 attached (now!)

Now you can understand why I could see no attachment points for the tubing! Feel like a total idiot!

I have inserted the one end on the electrical box. Could not find the place to fix the other end(s) on the handlebar, though. Will check more thorough after work. Light will be better then, anyways! Thanks for the feedback.

Thanks fellas, your comments are much appreciated.

Seabee- One end of that "A" tubing goes to the small electrical box (part D2) stuck on the side of the fuel injection assembly in step 2. You'll see one end of the hoses in step 13. Then they feed over the frame and through the forks to the small knobs on the right hand handle bar (part B18 which is attached to part D53 in step 15).

Hope it helps you.

One for the guys that's allready finished one... I was about to install some of the tubing on the front side. Before starting on the new tubes, I had a look at existing tubing that has to be done. Ah, the "A" tube must be attached, seemingly below the right side.

Now this is where you guys come in. Where? I simply can't see any place to attach the A tubing anywhere? Am I loosing it? Are my eyesite going? Have I just missed something? Where does the A tubing attach? Can't remember the step number, but it's the one where you add a bunch of tubing on the front side, cutting B, C and D, if I remember correct. It's from the 03 Camel kit, if it makes any diffs.

Help will be much appreciated! Comments on my mental well-being and the state of my eyes will be carefully considered...

Pingtang, that's looking good! I will look towards adding a pic shortly.

Looking good pingtang! nice paint job on that engine and the fairings! Nice shine on those even before the clear coat. Get back into it as soon as you can mate. Looking forward to seeing these builds finished off.

Looking great Mitch. The engine looks well painted. Thanks for the pics.

Now, for my progress, which at the moment, isn't very much. I haven't done any work on my build for a few weeks. It's actually back in the box at the moment while I struggle with another (much more painful) build. I'm hoping to pull it back out again soon though.

For now though, here's a pic of where I'm up to. The bodywork pieces still need a clear coat over the decals and the engine needs the clutch cover added. Hope you like it so far.

Cheers for those positive comments. Hopefully will have some more updates shortly. Sounds like your getting on OK Seabee. Any chance of some pics???

On my own build. Had a not so good day yesterday. Put the decals on the swingarm before attaching the hugger, suspension etc. Left it over night to cure. So came back to glue the other bits on. Put them on, and whilst admiring my work noticed that the "unit pro link" decal on the chain side had come off! Argh! No where to be seen. Lost and don't have a spare. Will need to live without that on the swingarm.

If that wasn't bad enough i then sliced my thumb open with a #11 exacto trying to trim down the exhaust hanger! Not a good day at all yesterday. Think I need afew days off to recouperate!

Hope you guys are having more fun than me at the minute.

Hey Mitch, good stuff!

Mine is starting to like a bike - at long last. Just added the front fork last night and put it on the stand (which still needs a bit of work). Aaah, it just feels so much better!

Mitchgixer6, looks that you're up to a great start.
/joel

Hope that's better. I put the pics onto a different site.

can't see the pics :-(
/Joel

Got some progress pics. Hope they turn out OK as it's my first time posting pics as well as the first pics I've taken on my new digi cam. Here goes.......

Engine components before assembly



Some pics of the engine assembled









Some pics of the frame....







And some pics of the brake disks before assembly...



Hope these look OK. Might be abit dark so will need to get that sorted for the next update.

Got my carbon decals from Mediamix through this morning so hopefully there should be some good progress made in the next few days. Currently working on the swing arm , chain, suspension etc at the moment. Still waiting on my spray paints though.......

Mitch

QUOTE: Originally posted by AusLexusJapan Hey Joel.. I looked at the pic of the camel bike.. WHat am I missing?.. Dont worry.. I am truelly an idiot!

Don't worry Chris, you're not an idiot for missing out on what I wanted to say. Guess it wasn't very easy to get my point. What I wanted to share was the pic of a Camel bike with a slightly different livery than the ones I've seen during races. If I hadn't started on my own kit I would have built this one. Here's a pic where I've circled the area I'm talkning about. This yellow part is black on my other reference pics.

QUOTE: Originally posted by AusLexusJapan [Lastly.. The Pramac decals.. where do you get them?

They are Studio 27 decals. I got them from mediamixhobby.com.sg but you can try at hlj.com or rainbowten.co.jp as well.
best regards
Joel

Hey Joel.. I looked at the pic of the camel bike.. WHat am I missing?.. Looks normal to me.. Must be just me?... When I look at the Camel bike.. I always prefer the larger Honda eagle decal that takes up the whole tank, as they have on the Repsol bikes... Lastly.. The Pramac decals.. where do you get them?

Dont worry.. I am truelly an idiot!

Chris in Japan

thanks, as I said the red on the Pramac doesn't match the decals as you'll se on finished bike but overall it's satisfying. They will cure for a week or so and then get some clear. Heard today that my Rainbow10 order is being dispatched so soon I can put some paint on the Teléfonica again.
/joel

Looking very nice Joel. The bodywork turned out great.

Aah, the birthday bike! Looking good, Joel!

First my thaught and deepest sympathies with the Meoni family. Very sorry for your loss.

Next to some progress pics. As it happened I had the chance to borrow a digital camera last night and snapped some photos. They're taken inside and with a fool behind the lens so bare with me on the quality.

First is the cowling parts of the Camel bike. Done as the bike Biaggi used duing qualify of the Dutch TT at Assen.



Next is the livery of Makoto Tamadas Pramac bike from the Italian GP.
The front fender is missing as my putty job was below my level of satisfaction. The "red" paint on the seat cowl and lower cowl is not matching the color of the decals... It looked good after first coat but after three it is too red...



last a pictures of the frame/swing arm threesome. The Teléfonica set to the far left isn't decaled yet as it has to get some more AlcladII on the swing arm. Left the foremost section of the frames out as it's not visible and the foot protection is left out to be decalled with CF.



best regards
Joel

I second that. What a loss to the sporting world. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and close friends.

Open-ended will work for me in the sense that (like yesterday eve) I still have to do a lot of stuff around the house. And 3/4 being through one (and two other builds going) does not bid well for starting on a new one shortly. But Joel has a point.

Apart from that, I was just too stunned yesterday after hearing of the tragic loss of Fabricio Meoni. I was planning on doing a MTB ride the afternoon and just decided to rather leave it, after hearing the news; never touched my MTB yesterday. Thoughts to his family and friends, esp those that still have to complete the rest of the Dakar.

ok for me, doesn't really matter I guess even though it puts a bit of preassure on the participants to get going.
/Joel

open ending :) as i am so slow :)