Moto GP group build '05

Yes, I've got the Renaissance sheet, but several others are coming. There is that chineese guy at Crazy Modeler and as you say I think SMS is doing one as well plus one I can't remember so there will be to choose from. Renaissance sold a VERY large bunch of sheets and I reckon the market isn't filled yet.
Will be interesting to see how yours turn out Pingtang. Hopefully you can show some photos as SeaBee seems to let us live in the dark regarding his build...

After finishing off these two builds I have approximately 50 builds planned on my to-do list (I've only decided wich 8 to do first though) of wich I have kits for about 25. So as soon I finish my education next summer I'll stock up on them as well. 50...sounded pretty terrible now...but I will live long and steady handed...
/Joel

I'll agree with you fellas on those S27 'West' decals. They are some of the best I've ever used. I'm doing the Spiderman bike as part of this build too, looks like it'll be a bit challenging. I've heard some bad things about the Rennaissance decals, but I reckon I'm up to it (I hope I am anyway).

If all goes according to plan, I should have my new modelling desk finished tommorrow and I'll be back into my M1's. I've got the Gauloises bike all painted and decalled up. Now I've got the "Mechanical" bits to do. Might post some pics of my progress soon.

I added the Focus (and 911 GT1) pics on the auto forums. Now stop whining! Am out of town next week, will finish up this one next weekend only most likely and then put up some pics from this one.

Glad to see I'm not the only one. Will start working on 3 new kits shortly and there's still no dent in the heap... so little time! And then they tempt one with Ducati's and F40's (coming in Dec) to worsen the load. Fortunately I somehow managed to keep myself from buying a second M1!
Btw, do you allready have your Spidey decals? I see the guys over at SMS are also working on doing a set.

It's a tough project but it is a real stunner worth taking a shot at. Up til today I've yet to see a bad build up wich encourage me to try it. Unfortunately it is on 7th place on my to-do list wich with my standard pace will set the finish date somewhere late 2007... Lots of time to get more SOL...
Now, get going on those photos ;-)
/Joel

Yeah, that was the best set of decals ever! Strange how S27 did the R25 decals - maybe they'll look great once applied!

Spiderman decals... nooooo way! I have (a) enough other kits and (b) not enough sol in the country for that project! Okay, just call me chicken... Good luck on that one!

QUOTE: Originally posted by SeaBee But they really tried to make up for it with the decals! Very nicely printed and all. But they don't just fall into place like some of the other decals I've done on the RC211V's.

Wait 'til you get to the Spiderman M1... I haven't even thought of getting into that project yet...

QUOTE: Originally posted by SeaBee Best was (S27's) West scheme.

I'll agree with you on that! That bike was a real joy to decal up. The white portions had their destination made up ages ago. I just put some water on the sheet and they practically walked over to the kit by them selves.
/Joel

Now you tell me... *sigh*

That is the way I will do it from now on, for sure! I must admit, the bike practically fell together, even better than some of the other ones. Really no hassles.

But they really tried to make up for it with the decals! Very nicely printed and all. But they don't just fall into place like some of the other decals I've done on the RC211V's. Best was (S27's) West scheme. This one, though, gave me all kinds of headaches - and that's just with the yellow chequered patterns! Not much fun, but this will be the worst for this bike - hereafter plain sailing. But all is pretty much alligned (and it shows wickedly when not...) and in the capable hands of microsol and time!

Will have a look tonight and sort out irregularities (hopefully not too much!).

Do that SeaBee!
When decalling the cowlings I would suggest doing it on an early stage when you can use frame and engine as a jig for alignment on the top and side cowlings. Decals that go over side and bottom cowling I practically always decal them "off" the bike. I use some masking tape to hold them together on the back.
I don't think you get the right amount of preassure when the cowls are attached to a finished build. I tend to be too careful and can't work them down properly. That's my 2 cents.
/joel

Haha, Dave, we're almost in the same boat! I have my detail parts and the stand, but not the kit yet. Got the others with my R25 order and decided to wait for the duck to be released over here. And I just staerted on the Subaru as well (2004 Japan).

As for this one: a tip for anybody else building the Telefonica RC211V: do the Castrol decals (the big green ones on the bottom!) before clipping that section onto the bike. I tend to decal after getting it all built so that I don't get allignment problems, but had to hastily unclip that part. There is a part of the decal that need to fold over the top and cannot do so very well if allready attached due to engin blocking it...

Joel, soon as I can remember my password, I'll upload pics for the now-dirtied Focus from the WRC GB and another kit I've done in the meanwhile... Will add some here shortly as well.

Got my Tamiya Ducati Desmosedici kit today, with the front fork set detail kit and the stand set aswell. This will give me more motivation to get the M1 finished.....mind you I have a Subari WRC to complete aswell before......

Dave

So, finally got things going with my NSRs. I decided to do a VERY thorrough work on the cowlings, removing every visible sign of the glue line. Really hard to get down that recessed area on the tank... I think I'm on the third loop of putty/sand/primer and still have ugly putty marks left. See if I get it right soon.
I've drilled holes in the frame, rear chain sprocket and gear shift lever where Tamiya has left the areas filled with only a slight crave in the plastic.
To go with the thorrough work on the cowlings I set out to remove every glue line on the engine and air box. Looks really nice. Thinking of switching the XF-56 to some metalizer paint on the engine and put CF on the air box...will look good but take some time.
Frame is stripped from chrome plating and glued/puttied. Will get alclad treatment together with the exhausts as soon as the black base coat sets.
Both set of wheels are primed and painted.
My worst night mare regarding these builds will be to mask off the white section on the seat cowl of the Lucky Strike machine. I will probably stall this moment as long as possible as I have never done it before ;-)
Well, that's the story so far.
/Joel

PICTURES, PICTURES, PICTURES!!!

Awl-riighty, then... Progress, at last!

Got the thing on two wheels at last. Just this morning the front suspension was added to the rest. Just a few small things and the bodywork (decalling) to go...

Dunno if the S27 kit you are after is here -

http://www.hlj.com/hljlist2/?Maker1=S27&MacroType=CnvKit&GenreCode=Aut&Dis=2

Dave

Yamafreak: regarding the trumpet pipes I don't think you'll have any luck tracking them down. I have just been searching all of my sources for a complete check up on what's available on the bike after market. I didn't see them anywhere.
I don't have the layout of the Valencia mold tree in my head, perhaps there could be an idea ordering a spare tree from hlj or rainbowten?
/Joel

Looks good, Dave. One of these days, I'll get my pics resized and posted so I can show off my M1. Now on to my RC(s?). I just got another RC211v in the mail that I won off Ebay. Thinking of doing a Nicky Hayden bike, but I want to do the trumpet style exhaust. I'm not even considering of taking it from my Valencia RC, that would be pointless. So my question is, does anybody know of a source for Studio 27's metal upgrade set that has the newer pipes? I looked on Media Mix, and they're out. Did S27 discontinue once the Valencia model came out? Thanks.
Looking forward to the race at PI!

Nice Dave! I don't really look forward to that work as I like to do it on my comming rcv:s and M1:s. I have a really hard time with CF over larger areas. i think you've done really well and may I suggest that you scratch a control box on top of the airbox? Would look mighty fine now when you spent so much work on the decalling.
/Joel

Looking good Dave. The CF looks like it went on well.

I'm still working away slowly on my M1's. Got all the body pieces for the Gauloises bike polished and I'm happy with the finish. I'm gonna try and do some work on the engine this weekend.....

Hi all

Thought I would post a pic of the completed airbox as i spent ages on the CF. So heres the completed frame-airbox-engine assy...



Dave

Becareful when u use brake fluid! Certain BF will actually make the plactic become brittle. I've try using Gunze tools cleaner and dash it a lil onto cloth and rub it down. Then use tamiya sanding paper to smoothen it.

If you want to remove the paint itself completely, I've heard of people using varyious household product. I think brake fluid was one, but rather wait for somebody who's actually done it before!

If it's just a bit thick and you want to trim it down a bit, just sand it down (carefully, of course!) using fine and later ultra-fine paper and buff it up... (If that's a bit of a bugger-up, you can allways still go the "total removal" route!)

Hi guys

I have been using Tamiya TS and have sprayed a bit too much paint on the rear fairing so it is too thick. Is there a way I can remove the paint now its dry without damaging the plastic ?

Dave

I just spray it directly from the can. I find that I can get some really good finished that way. The best way to spray using the cans is to not try to get the colour depth right in one coat. I usually build it up over 5 or 6 coats. The first 2 or 3 coats should be very light mist coats (sprayed from abot 30cm away). Then start with the wet coats. It also helps alot if you warm the can in a glass of warm water before you spray it.

Pintang - do you decant from the aerosol and spray the paint through an airbrush or directly from the can?

I use TS paints mostly. I've been trying to find sikkens paints because some of those guys swear by them. If you can find TS paints you can probably find Tamiya fine white primer (in a spray can). I use that for all my priming for TS paints. Works really well too. I'd send you some of the TS paint in the mail, but it's illegal to send spray paint in the mail.

Telefonica blue itself has been renamed Racing blue, still the same number (TS51, I think). So that might be what's causing you not to find it. Or is your problem not being able to find TS paints at all?
In that case, I know of no other paint made specifically for that, but the guys in the UK tend to use the Sikkens(?) range of automotive paints a lot. In SA I am dependet on TS paints, though, but maybe you guys have something similar in Aus.

Getting ready to paint the fairings but having difficulty finding the Telefonica blue. Does this only come as an aerosol (lacquer) in the Tamiya range? If so I guess I can't use an enamel primer - is that correct? Help please!

THanks for the tip Joel - makes sense and sounds so simple when explained like that. I always wondered how it was done so precisely.

Joel, no, it was for the "weathering" - if you can call it that - on the pipes itself - the discolouring... I used a bit of Metalizers and transparent blue.

I agree with you - to put clear over Alclad will really defeat the purpouse. It would be criminal to do it!

All I could find was pics of the Repsol bike. They should be helpful though:

http://g025.spacelan.ne.jp/~moci/machine/honda/nsr500v/

http://www.bikepics.com/honda/nsr500/99/pics.asp

hope that helps you.