Moto GP / GP bike enthusiasts

Dustin

It's out already.  I think it was released in Feburary if I'm not mistaken.  Of course, Pedrosa's bike is on the box top.  I think Tamiya is under Honda's thumb to favor Danielle as they do. 

Today I've decided to enter the Studio 27 Kawasaki ZX-RR 2003 bike along with the Spiderman M1. Have to cut the stack of transkits and this one seems like an interesting and fairly easy start.

/Joel

Started the ZX-RR build yesterday evening and it seems to be a fairly easy task to complete it in reasonable time. I will try to take some photos but here are some inputs to the kit:

Engine is a nightmare for a rivet counter. Engine block and front end of the exhaust system is moulded in one piece. Thinking of removing the pipes and scratch build some from styrene rod instead. Engine is of coarse not that visible after assembly but I will know what's undernieth those cowls.

A lot of white metal as always in the S27 kits. I don't like the stuff but that's what they've left me and it's just to dig into it. Will not use the metal look on the frame but repaint it using Alclad. Airbox and engine is one piece so I'm left with either splitting that part up or assemble the frame around the engine. Think I'll go with the latter. Top, side and lower cowl comes in two halves to be glued together. Will make painting fairly easy. Seat cowl and tank dummy is moulded in one piece too.

Instruction sheet leavs a lot to ask for and you have to guess where several of the parts are to be added. That's common when it comes to PE sheets in my opinion and this kit have the same issues. PE sheet has a lot of small parts that I don't really know where they shall go. Hope I'll figure that out further down the road.

I'm about to order some Ninja green paint from Hiroboy. Black parts of the cowls will get SMS CF decals.

Kit needs donor parts from a Yamaha M1. We're not talking the full kit, far from it. You'll need the tyres, the rimbs, front forks and discs and that basically it. I'll take the forks from the Spiderman base kit as I'll use the Tamiya fork set for that build. I'll just order a spare parts tree and tire bag from Rainbow ten for the wheels and discs.

I'll try to show some pics of it during the week.

/Joel

Progress on the Aprilia 500....using an Airfix Biaggi Yamaha M1 as a base.Yes you read that right ! Came across a sale where they were flogging them off for a tenner, so picked up a few. The detail compared to Tamiya is, well, not in the same ballpark at all. And the plastic is quite soft. Anyway, the wheels are practically identical to the Aprilia and the overall shape of the fairing isnt a millions miles away. Its going to take ages, mind.

Did a bit of chopping and moulding of the frame and swingarm, some pics attached. Ive included the original Airfix pieces (white) alongside my own altered pieces (grey).

swingarm:

frame:

Im currently experimenting with spraying a carbon fibre effect on the swingarm using the wifes tights (let me clarify that Im putting the tights on the swingarm - no funny ideas there ). Hopefully get some more pics up soon.

Looking good Nick, I really admire you scratch builders. Does anyone know what happened to the aprilia cube that someone was scratchbuilding on the other group build, it was looking good but I lost track of it.

Joel I will be very interested to see how the Kawa turns out, was thinking of building one myself. Will wait for your expert opinion before laying out the dough! So thats 2 kits at once plus the Ducati's on your webpage, some people just don't know when to stop!

As an aside, a problem I have is where to display these bikes once finished, my wife thinks the garage is just fine, how do the rest of you tackle this?

My furniture arrives in 2 weeks then I can get going with my build, can't wait

Dustin, yes the idea of this build is to keep it pretty open ended and use it more as a forum to share ideas, frustrations, tips and comments on current kits etc (and of course to comment on the 1:1 scale races going on in the various categories of motorcycle sport, the inspiration for all of this afterall!)

 Happy modelling

Nick: Looks really really nice. I admire that swing arm, your work on it is great.

Bushpig: I think you mean Roca. When I last heard from him he was a bit tired of the project as it took a lot of effort and time from his other projects and he put it aside for a while. Hopefully he'll get back to it in the future as the decals he made for it is really great and the seat and frame was coming along real nicely.

Regarding my own builds I tend to have two builds going on seperately. The two ducs are finished except the stand wheels will need an extra layer of clear blue. Hopefully completed photos will be up in the weekend.

Took a deeper look into the Kawasaki last night and took some photos. Will upload them tonight to give you an idea of what's it all about.

/Joel

Here´s a link to what I use to display my model kits. Link is from Swedish Ikea but I guess the image speaks for itself.

http://www.ikea.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10103&storeId=2&langId=-11&productId=47149

I get 15 bikes in there. Perhaps to small for you that do larger kits as well but for bike purposes this is perfect.

/Joel

Completed the Cretto Yamaha YZR500. The bike and the kit is very different from the current bikes and kits. For fun I put Cretto's Yamaha next to the 2004 Fortuna Yamaha M1. Interesting comparison include the tyre width, wheel diameter, front cowling design, discs and brake systems all very different, yet in an appealing way the Yamaha of 25 years ago wasn't that bad, it is still I think a pretty bike.

Well done Ragged Edge Designs on a good decal set

Aerodynamics and graphic design has changed a lot though Nice to see the two kits next to each other! I really like the Cretto build and you've done a really nice job with it.

So, what's next...??

/Joel

Hello Joel

Busy with the Dexter NSR500 1986 Moriwaki so far so good. Ready to spray a clear coat and then try the Dexter decals. Have had some difficulties a while back with a Ducati 916 Senna decal sheet so hoping all will go well

Barros YZR500 NSR should be next. I have all the parts ready for spraying but I keep putting it off since is is a complicated spary job, think I am just being lazy with that one

Have recieved the decal sheet for the 98 Lucky Strike Honda NSR 500 so I may give that one a try next looks great in red and white, but..... the Lucky Strike embelm decals are presented as a single decal so that will need some careful cutting up to safely apply it to the bike. Still thinking about that move?

Andrew

Time to start my builds up. I'll begin with the Kawasaki ZX-RR bike and here comes an introduction to the kit.

The Kawasaki ZX-RR transkit uses a Yamaha M1 as base but I would say there are quite a few parts needed. You'll need tires and rimbs along with brake discs and front forks and that's nearly all. I have the forks from another build but I think I'll just order the B tree from the M1 along with the tire bag instead of wasting a whole kit.

One of the nice attributes when buying S27 kits is as you all probably know, THE BOX.

Let's have a look inside it, shall we?

Here are the white metal parts (just some of them actually)

Resin parts layed out.

Seat and tank dummy is molded in one piece. As it will all be green this will ease the painting. I've ordered some Ninja Green from Hiroboy to use on this kit.

Here is the bottom side of the same part.

Engine leaves a lot to wich for. There are a lot of moulded in details that will be hard to pick out and give some life. I'll need to figure out if some parts will be replaced or if I shall just close my eyes and remember that all will be hidden undernieth the cowls...?

As you can see the front section of the exhaust system is...well, crappy...to say the least.

Here's a closer look at the side and top cowl part. Looks pretty well detailed and molded.

Unfortunately, when you put the two halves together what you get is this...

A very poor fit... I'll decide if cutting the insert pins will lessen the problem or if I have to pick out the old epoxy putty and starting filling away.

Anyhow, in general it's a fairly decent mold with just a little flash and some mold edges to take care of. No air bubbles what so ever from what I have spotted so far and the resin is very hard.

Kit comes with a PE sheet and decal sheet that both looks rather promising.

best regards
Joel

I'll check the M1 pipes out, may be something of use. I got the Kawasaki Lime green base color from Hiroboy today together with some 2K Clear from Hiroboy. Will be intersting to try something new.

There is a vacuum formed wind screen included in the kit.

/Joel

Progress on the Aprilia V twin 500....started testing various combinations for the carbon fibre swingarm. Two things were important here - the pattern of the CF weave and the colours. I had found a few pretty good reference pics on the internet, so I began test spraying with pieces of tights streched over scraps of plastic. Found that the pattern came out really well when the tights were stretched very taut. Also did a few different colour combinations until I was happy with the effect. Base coat is gloss black and then oversprayed with a pearlescent grey (both just standard car spray cans). Quite pleased with the result, given its my first try. It does actually look better with the naked eye - its was quite hard to get pics showing the cf weave, maybe its just my snapping skills.

Mounting the swingarm in the frame was a bit fiddly as Id lost the original mounting points on the frame when I was converting it. Its not easy trying to put in new mounting points so the swingarm is both vertical AND in line with the frame. After much squinting and cursing, I got it though.

Next up is finishing off the engine & frame. Will have to make new exhausts, radiator and a few little electrical gizmos that go on the frame. And an instrument cluster. Oh, still have some work todo on the fork legs & calipers as well. Then comes the REAL work - the fairing, which Im both looking forward to and in some ways dreading.

You guys have it easy with your builds

Hi Nick,

         nice work on the 500 'prilla, we modelers must be the most versatile people alive. When the rest of the world makes a mountain out of a mole hill, we build a Aprilia out of a matchstick, lol.  Keep up the good work mate.

Rod. 

Cheers Rod,

Funny you should mention matchstick - theres one holding the rear wheel in at the moment ! (only temporary tho)  

 N

Nick - great work on prilla take any moulds

Joel -good to see that you are tackling a T/K after you build of the R1 I'm certain you will do it justice

Well I have not done much last few weeks have been put on night shift for 4-5 weeks start at 7.30pm and fin at 6.30am 4 days a week.Have got a little update on what have started /done up to now.

Ducati's (3 D'Antin race and test versions + 2006 factory duke )

have got a wee bit of sanding to finnish + a bit more remodleing of the 2006 bike

Have got the last bits needed for the 05 M1 test bike , so will start on this again after coming of night shift.

Got the 05 pit walk book , top studio 05 bit's , and 05 M1 front  fork set ,  oh yeh + enough cf  to cover about 10 bike's.

Just for fun I brought 1/6 YZR500 Iterlari (sorry spelt wrong)

for the scale of this kit thought the detail would be good , How wrong was I to sum up in 1 word sh*t .

Will be adding a few extra's here and there , good point is frame and bottom of forks are metal and pre painted just for comparaion the smaller frame is M1 frame , smaller tail is M1 and wheel is a spare from spare's box

Shayne 

Hi Shayne,

             I know the Italian bikes are sexy but never leave them alone together, yours are flaming breeding by the looks of it, lol.

Rod

I love this thread.

(this post is also to subscribe so I don't have to keep looking for it )

    I just got the new Repsol Honda '06 and i must say Im disapointed in that its not Nickys bike. He wins and they make Dannys bike and putting Nickys numbers on it would make it wrong its a re-worked 2005 that nicky Didnt ride in 2006. 

    Can anyone tell me why this is??? 

A cynic would say probably because Pedrosa is Honda's chosen one and Tamiya get their production licences from.....Honda.

Shayne, didnt make any moulds of the Aprilia but youve got me thinking that maybe I should have. Ive four more of them planned (another 500 and two 250s which are practically identical).

Never done any moulding before, not really sure how to even get started.

Don't get me wrong here I know Pedrosa will win an championship I have know problems with him and hes fast.

I guess if I played the cynic I would say its more to do with the fact Nicky's an American and thats not such a good thing to be in the world today. I would like to think that Tamiya isn't thinking that way but I do find it funny that its not the Champions bike.........I maybe way off?????????oh well what can you do.....

You guys are building some wonderful looking models they really look great!!!

I would assume that it is only Dani's bike because they can really use the same mold for the Konica Minolta and Repsol bike (and possibly the Fortuna Honda's), where as Hayden was piloting the Revolution bike which if you look closely has some significant cosmetic differences.  I know that S27 is making a transkit for it ($128.00, f@$k me), but I would be interested in seeing Tamiya actually make the mold.

On a side note Dani will not win a title in GP until Rossi retires.  I know many feel that Nicky got lucky last year, but my personal opinion is you do not become the world champ by luck.  

I'm sure I've opened a can of worms now

 128.00 Bucks????  Well I think Ill just put Nickys numbers on the bike and call it good I dont think anyone around here even knows what a Moto GP bick is. I think Im one of only a hand full of people in WI that follow Moto GP & F1 its a Nascar nation were I live.   Pedrosa has nothing to worry about Rossi for long because he will be up in F1 soon. 

   I just thought is sucked that Nicky was only talked about as the team mate of Dannys. You Moto GP guys have it good I dont think Tamiya is ever going to put out a new F1 car. 

  And a quick question how different are the two bikes???

williamsfw28 wrote:

And a quick question how different are the two bikes???

 If you havew Dani's bike you can compare the two here:

http://www.mediamixhobby.com.sg/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=2_7_24&products_id=4628

Click on the tab right below the product picture that says "more views".  The website has taken all of the pictures from the vendor and put it into a slide show.

I know HRC was trying to develop a new clutch and was using Nicky's bike as the test mule.  The problem was the new clutch location was placed deepin inside the engine.  The problems it created was the clutch would reach a higher temperature than what it should be, there by burning his clutch out.  This was one of the few problems he faced and a few of the bike differences between his and Dani's.  He was essentially on a different bike for every race.

Happy Easter everyone. Seems so long since I filed a bit of plastic, not long to go and I will be up and running again!

Rossi is going to take that crown back. Was Caseys first win a flash in the pan? that Duc didnt seem to be on nitro in the last race!

Wow crazy modeller seem to have come up with another beaut here!

http://www.mediamixhobby.com.sg/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=4666