Moto GP / GP bike enthusiasts

Oh and Collie I am struggling to see any blemish on your bike.

maybe we are all just tooo critical of our own builds?

Hi Guys

Now this is what I hoped we would get into on this build, some discussion.

If I could put my hand up and ask, why is good old x22 clear gloss enamel never discussed amongst you master modellers? I see so much "bad press" about TS13 however I have yet to have any problem with airbrushing x22 onto any model I have done. I love it!

 OK, tell me why it is not the final coat of choice.

Seabee. for what it is worth my guru / oom who taught me all I know about modelling has told me that we will never have the genuine 'Future' in South Africa, any product that pretends to be the product is just that, a pretender, even though it is marketed in the official livery. Everytime I travel to the USA top of my shopping list is a bottle for him. What is your view?

Joel, nice to see you back, time to update your website!

Hi Joel

Thanks for the compliments. Yes I did paint the blue and black portions of the bike including the tailpiece. I found that the decals were too "speckled" and fortunately Mr Tamiya had provided the separate decals to paint the cowlings your self, he has also done the same with the LCR Honda, which will be even more difficult to airbrush but should be stunning if done properly. I really struggle with the new Tamiya decals, as they do not seem to adhere very well so that is the reason I try and airbrush as much as possible.

Technique I used was as follows:

• Paint all parts in Tamiya Primer
• Paint all parts in Tamiya Gloss White, 2 coats
• Paint all parts in Tamiya TS45 Pearl White
• Mask of the portions that are to be blue and paint with the Blue I used the same colour as the rims I think it was TS45
• The masks on the top cowling were left in place and I carefully airbrushed in the black portions with the airbrush set at 1 bar and the paint flow very thin so I was painting only very little at a time. I used the Tamiya decal and the wife for reference and when we felt it was right left it at that.
• I sprayed the lower cowling in black free hand again using the Tamiya decal and the wife as reference
• I then carefully cut up all the decals using the gold portions from the cowling decals and the thin blue line decal for the tailpiece, which incidentally is not 100% perfect, depends on the angle of the camera lens so I cheated a bit
• I gave the whole lot two coats of Tamiya TS13, some decals reacted to the clear but I just rubbed it down and put down some more clear
• Finally I polished all the parts with Tamiya Wax

The reason that I stick with the controversial TS 13 Clear is that this clear paint gives the colour paint a lot of depth and really shines. The Tamiya wax really brings out the shine and colour, the flip side is that TS 13 is reactive and it is a gamble each time you spray.

PS What is a screamer?

WTF!! Andrew, your cowling painting technique is turning from stunning to something out of words. That shine and perfect finish is to die for. If I got you right and you actually painted those fadings I'm even more impressed. Can you tell us a bit more about how you achieved that? Looks perfect. Rest of the build looks incredible as always. Discs and screamer are awesome.

/Joel - who just moved in to his new modeling room. Hopefully I'll pick the old ZX-RR out next week.

Collie, it came out quite well. People rave about this a lot specifically because of it not eating decals and paint. Maybe check out the painting forum, there's a link to Swanny's Future FAQ. Smooths out very well - I brushed it on and no probs. Only issue I had was where there was some small air bubble trapped under one tricky decal - it tends to highlight it. Scalpel and some more micro sol, all is sorted this morning!

Will also try Hiroboy's clear coat, but I think it is the same as should be available locally at auto paint shops - 2K clear with hardener. Unless he refined his somehow.

Hi SeaBee. I am trying another product from Japan Gunze Sangyo Mr. Super Clear Gloss and see how that works. Please let me know how you do with Mr Muscle" floor polish. I normally use a couple of clear costs and then finish off with Tamiya wax and the result is a very deep shine. TS13 polishes into a very smooth even high gloss finish and you would be amazed by what flaws you can hide under a coat or two of clear. I think what happens is with the depth perspective the human eye focuses on the clear paint and makes the "blemish" harder to detect. If you look carefully on the tailpiece of the Konica Minolta the decals "ran a bit" but it is hardly noticeable under all that clear paint. This is the reason that I continue to try and find a clear coat that doesn't eat decals for breakfast

Hey Collie, that's another stunner! Seems I brought sunny weather to the Cape now as well, since I was away on holidays in Kimberley and had lovely sunny and dry weather whilst all our friends here complained about the rain... Now that I'm back, today seems to be a great day again!

Anyways, I'm not here for the weather report. You mentioned TS13 and trouble. I'm at the virge of abandoning TS13 as a clear coat for what they call Future of here. In SA, walk to your tile polish rack in the stores and pick up a bottle of "Mr Muscle" floor polish, but specific ones. At the top they state "no wax build-up" and towards the bottom of the label you'll find a big "FUTURE" logo on instead of the normal one (Johnson's?). There are two "flavours" available. I once tried to airbrush it and it came out a mess, but was then advised to brush it on. Will do so today on an F1 and will let you know the results. Will also use it on my LCR Honda in a few weeks time. 

Hi Bush Pig. I am sort of working on a Yamaha M1 but the decals went wrong so I am waiting for the spares from HLJ.

I also have a 98 Honda NSR500 Lucky Strike in progress, have sprayed all the white parts, just need to mask and spray the red

I am also doing the Barros Honda NSR500 but a bit shy of the paint scheme, just need to get into the mood for all the masking, will get round to it some time I guess

Busy with a 1:24 FXX Ferrari my second attempt at a car, so far so good

Most likely next bike will be the Lucky Strike I think

Cheers

Nick thanks for the advice. I think I might give it a go sometime. The bike you gave the link to looks great.

 Nice one again Andrew. Whats next on the modelling bench?

Bushpig,

Rummaged out a few links that might be of help (there were to me anyway).

http://www.decalpaper.com/laser-instructions.html

http://www.clubhyper.com/reference/aungstdecal/CustomDecals.htm

Nick

Bushpig wrote:

Nick. Interesting suggestion on the decals. Is this something that is easy to do, what does one need in terms of a printer, ink, paper etc. This could open up a whole new aspect to this great hobby. Tell me more, tell me more!!!!!!!

Bushpig,

Its relatively easy, but can be quite time consuming. It requires a lot of preparation & test printing, but is really worthwhile as you'll have an utterly unique bike when youre done. I started out of necessity a few years ago, when I wanted to build bikes no-one made or made decal sets for. See this link for my first effort - all the decals are my own work: /forums/479204/ShowPost.aspx - turned out quite well and its my favourite build of all. Theres a few others Ive posted up as well if you do a search of my username.

What you need:
a PC (which presumably has MS Paint or some other drawing application),
a colour printer (preferably laser but inkjet will do also), 
water slide decal paper (laser or inkjet as appropriate),
a shedload of patience ;)

So how to do it ?

1) Well, first off get as many reference pics of the bike as you can, then list all the logos, etc. you'll need for the decals. Then google for the logos - and when you find ones that suit save em as bitmaps (as .bmp files). BTW the bigger the logo, the better - you'll get much better definition that way. For decals you cant find (usually the bike number), Ive resorted to "drawing" them myself in MS Paint. If you make them big enough, they'll look fine when you reduce them later.

2) OK, so now youve your logo, paste it into a Word document, right click on the image and re-size it to the correct size - youll just have to guess at first but youll soon get fairly accurate at it, believe me. Repeat until youve all the logos sized about right. Print off a test page and check your sizes against the actual bike. This is the step that takes most time and numerous prints so dont use expensive glossy paper or anything. (I sometimes find it useful to have a 12/th scale side-on pic of the bike printed off to compare against as a secondary check. Printing your logos onto a transparent sheet can also be very useful). Adjust the size of the logos and re-print. Continue til youre happy. When youre confident youve all your logos correctly sized, fill up the page with loads and loads of them. Use every cm of space on the page to maximise the use of your decal paper. The more decals you have printed, the less it matters if you screw up when applying them.

3) A quick word re decal paper and printing. You cant actually print in white, so say if your bike fairing has a white logo on a red background youre in trouble.  Decal paper comes in clear and white, so youve two solutions: print your logo on white paper with a red background and cut out as precisely as you can, or print your logo on clear paper with a red background and apply it over a white area on the fairing. Either way youre going to have to match the fairing colour to the background colour of the decal which can be extremely tricky and probably do a bit of touching up as well. I did the first approach with the white "Nescafe" logo on the TZR and it worked a treat (but the black background helped).

4) Now the tricky bit - printing them. There are different types of decal paper depending on whether you have a laser or inkjet printer. Im lucky enough to have access to a laser printer which means you can just print your word document straight on to the decal paper. Most home printers being inkjet need inkjet paper and some kind of sealing lacquer as the ink is soluble. Theres loads of companies out there that do decal paper: google is your friend :) After that, its just decaling as usual, with the warning that Ive found the ink (even with a laser printer) is a lot more fragile than Tamiyas own decals. Sometimes the paint has lifted or flaked when applying. This is why you print off more decals than the bike actually needs.

P.S. an alternative to step 4. is to save your word document onto a disk/pendrive/etc. (or just print it in colour) and bring it and a few sheets of decal paper to your local printing shop and ask if they could do it - shouldnt cost a lot. Make sure to point out its decal paper to them though !

Sorry about the long reply, but was trying to give you a good idea of whats involved (and Ive probably forgotten something !). Anything else, dont hesitate to ask.

Nick

Hi Bushpig. To do the hose clamps, I use thin silver wire, usually stripped out from a piece of small gauge electronic wire (the trick is to find wire that is silver not copper). Next I wrap the wire loosely twice around the hose and then using a pin vice grip the twisted wires at the back and slowly turn the pin vice till the wires tightly wrap around the hose. Once that is done I snip off the tail at the back and place a drop of superglue to hold it all in place. It can be a bit finicky but with patience it works ok, also much cheaper that buying PE parts

Photos of the completed Konica Minolta Honda 2005

Andrew, Stunning work as usual, nice to see you back at the bench. I am also starting to warm up in the Cape and getting going with a build (finishing a car for a neighbour then will start with the Ducati 888)

I love the effect of the hose clamps, how do you do that?

Nick. Interesting suggestion on the decals. Is this something that is easy to do, what does one need in terms of a printer, ink, paper etc. This could open up a whole new aspect to this great hobby. Tell me more, tell me more!!!!!!!

Looks like Casey has got it in the bag this season, damn and to think Rossi had the choice to ride ducati when he chose yamaha!

Hello Everyone!

Now that spring is here in sunny South Africa my bike building has commenced again on the Konica Minolta Honda.

I chose to paint as much of the bike as possible and avoid using the big blue/black decals. I had some trouble with the decals not adhering very well but managed to hide the errors under a couple of Tamiya TS13 clear coats (Hairy clear that TS 13 is to use and it sure does strange things to decals, like melt them or make the colour run?). 

The spraying of the blue/black blend colour took a while to get right but it turned out ok in the end.  Thanks to Mr Tamiya for providing the alternative decals for this option, I see he has done the same with the LCR Honda, now that would take some careful airbrushing to get right i.e. the red/black blend if done right should look really nice in 1:12 scale

Here are the build photos so far, will post the finished bike when it is done

Bushpig,

Found this pic in a book & scanned it.

The livery looks a bit different so presumably he picked up/changed/lost some sponsorship at some point thru the 92 season. And unfortunately theres no view of the tail section.

P.S. never mind that you cant buy a decal set - why not make your own decals. All it takes is a PC and a bit of patience.

Hi Nick many thanks, this is the best I have seen so far. will also check out the website in a bit more detail when time allows.

My building is going very slowly, finishing up a car build for my neighbour and then want to get going on the Ducati build. It has also been pretty cold here in South Africa so tough to get out into the garage at night, spring is round the corner though! As there does not seem to be any decal sets around of Foggers I guess I am going to have to give up and do one of the kit options. Will update as i progress for a change.

shayne wright wrote:

Bushpig wrote: Hi Guys I am looking for some photos of the Ducati 888 Carl Fogarty raced in 1992. He won the second race at Donnington park this year. Can anyone help or point me in the right direction? Bushpig --I have had a look through all of the photo's that I have and could only find 1 of a head on shot so did a search and couldn't find any others sorry. might have something to do with that He was a privateer in 1992 and did endurance races and wasn't a factory rider till 93 if memory serves me right he also rode a Kawa that year as well Shayne

 Hi,

Found this pic of Foggy from 92 - its the only one I could find. There are quite a few from 93 on this site as well.

You could also try getting your hands on a Motocourse book from 92 - it may have a pic.

HTH
Nick

P.S. just remembered - I have a few books at home, including both of Foggys "attempts" (and its not easy to admit to that ) - I'll have a look this evening and see if theres anything.

Hi guys!

Just lurking around for the moment. No progress what so ever since june and none in sight during the next 30 days. Everything's in card board boxes and the trailer leavs in two weeks counting from this comming weekend. House is just lacking wall paper and some electrical work and plumbing (AND A GARDEN.....) But that last issue will not stop me from picking out the ZX-RR in september.

Looking at that NSR it seems to be a quite heavy kit. LOTS of white metal! Receiving the Camel decals from Decalman made me want to do a Camel mania build. 2004, 2005 and 2006 Camel at ones....well, not on this side of new years eve.

(New years eve 2010 that is....)

Keep it up!
Joel

can not remember anyone doing the Floggerty items, lol.  

Can I post later on when I start it, a 1:5 scratch built TZ350B Yamaha ? It will be all metal, resin, etc as per original. Will be 386mm longggggggggggggggggggggg

Rod. 

Hi shayne

You are right, I have done extensive searching and draw a blank whether I check for 92 or 93 pics. Amazing to say the least. Do you have any pics of his 93 livery?

I also find it incredible that no after market decal sets are around for any of the sattelite teams that raced the 888, it is widely recognised as one of the most beautiful bikes of that era (assuming you only speak to Ducati fans mind you!). I would have thought the decal producers out there would have had a field day, especially when you see some of the more obscure sets that are knocking about fpr other bike/rider combinations.

 Oh well guess I am stuck with making up the Polin or Falappa version

Bushpig wrote:

Hi Guys I am looking for some photos of the Ducati 888 Carl Fogarty raced in 1992. He won the second race at Donnington park this year. Can anyone help or point me in the right direction?

Bushpig --I have had a look through all of the photo's that I have and could only find 1 of a head on shot so did a search and couldn't find any others sorry.

might have something to do with that He was a privateer in 1992 and did endurance races and wasn't a factory rider till 93 if memory serves me right he also rode a Kawa that year as well

Shayne 

Ah so many kits so little time!

Shane thanks for looking out for the Foggie pics if you have any. Decalman Rod as you are in the game do you know if there maybe are any decal sets available to depict the Foggy 888? He was such a popular rider that i would find it amazing they don't exist somewhere.

Jeez this midseason break is driving me nuts, I need to see Moto GP bikes in action again. World superbikes were amazing this weekend. Toseland supreme and on his way to Moto GP next year. Hope he doesnt go the same way as Hodgson! Whay don't tamiya do Superbikes anymore?????

Saw it at the MFH website and thought it might be pricey... and that's quite a deterrent if you look at it! I'm at any rate so far behind on my build-to-kits-in-cupborad ratio... Does look a great kit, thought. Btw, also saw the 2006 RC211Vs' Top Studio detail set is available. Wonder what he'l be coming out with next?!

Shayne, when you're typing the reply, you can double-click on a word and just add a hiperlink (url) to it with the button that looks like a chain - much easier. 

Hi guys have come across this , which you can get from "Hiroboy"

Far to much for me and sorry couldn't remeber how to do tiny url

 http://www.hiroboy.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=1758&osCsid=34627fa4bdeab4287650010f7d5a3ac0

shayne 

Bushpig...... Will have a look at my collection of Ducati pic's and will email you on what I find

I have quite a large collection of Ducati pic's gathered over the years

look out for an update on the bikes I'm doing , had a little break while it's been a bit cold

not very good while painting as hobbyroom has no heating.

Joel how you been going with yours?? / + how your house coming along???

Shayne 

Hi Guys

I am looking for some photos of the Ducati 888 Carl Fogarty raced in 1992. He won the second race at Donnington park this year. Can anyone help or point me in the right direction?

Hi guys --been away for awhile and will be starting back up very shortly , the weather here has not been very good for last few months a wee bit cold

Have been busy building up stock pile and spending a bit of time on the Xbox 360

anyone else here have one???

Have a group of friends (all of us between 30 and 50 years old

US Gp was good if you from down under and how about that Brit first time on moto gp bike