Moto GP group build

Colin is quite a nice guy I'm with a little lipstick on, you should be able get his autograph. Just kidding...He's quite a crazy guy as he tend to run around in the pit naked..Im not kidding. I wish to experience NASCAR or INDY one day, but that remain a dream. I heard that AMA or SBK championship is more popular in the US, is that true? Some american don't even know who is Wayne Rainey....not sure how true is that.

Cupcai, there's a LOT of Americans who have no idea who Wayne Rainey is. Unfortunately, motorcycle racing just doesn't have that big of a following here in the states. Motorcycling period is only popular in certain areas of the country, most notibly California and the south, where you can ride year round. Harleys and more specifically custom choppers have glutted popular culture lately, with a bunch of custom chopper building shows like American Chopper taking over many cable channels. Buying a $40,000 custom is a fad that's starting to wear around the edges, and it's my belief that that bandwagn willcollapse under it's own weight pretty soon.
SBK, and I'm assuming you mean World Superbike is followed a little by some race fans here, but you are right, those that do follow motorcycle road racing mostly tune into AMA Superbike (aka the Mat Mladin show), Formula Extreme, Supersport and Superstock which is my favorite since that's where they race R1's like mine. That movie Faster has raised interest in MotoGP, and hopefully the USGP will go well enough that more Americans will see what they've been missing. For now, NASCAR is king, although with the advent of Danica Patrick, Indy is getting more attention lately. My dream is to see an F1 race. That'll have to wait till next year though, the wife won't go for two race vacations in one year!

haha, good luck finding anything in the north!!

Yamafreak If you can ever get to an F1 race, do it....It is well worth it. Even just hearing those cars going around is awesome. It'd be amazing seeing them at Indy though, wouldn't it? I'd love to go and see a Moto GP race one day, but they are in Melbourne too now. If they were still held in Sydney, I'd be at every race.

In Australia, the biggest motor sport is definitely the V8's. They are really good to watch too, but just not in the same class as F1's. Moto GP is pretty popular here too, and there is alot of superbike and supersport racing going on here. BTW, what's that movie Faster like? I've seen it at the video store a few times, might have to rent it next time I'm there.

I have been meaning to build a bike for a little while and splurged today on the Tamiya Suzuki RGV '01 (Kenny Roberts). If it isn't too late and the finish date isn't before the end of the year can I join this group build or is it only open to currently raced machines? Looking forward to hearing from you.
Regards Simon.

Yup, you should experience F1 live to hear the engine scream, Hope next year V8 engine wont rob the excitement away from F1 racing, sad that F1 is moving backwards instead of forward. Hmmm...something not right here...This is supposed to be a MGP GB forum !

Yeah, but F1 is just so damn cool! Anyway, Pingtang, I highly recommend Faster. I saw it both in the theater and on DVD. It's a little dated, since the majority of it takes place during the 2001 season, and the end does drag a little, but for the true fan it's really worth the time. I haven't seen the add-on disc yet that has some of the '02 and '03 action on it, but I'm also hearing good stuff about it too. Also too bad about F1 going to V8s, I woulda loved to hear a Mercedes or Ferrari shriek by at 200+ mph.
And how about maybe just perhaps when we decide to wrap up this MotoGP build, we go ahead and do the F1 thing? I'm talking a few months off here, and not trying to get ahead of things, especially since most of us haven't even started on this one yet.

Simon U Welcome to the build. The RGV '01 will be fine. It's called Moto GP group build because that's what I put in the GB badge, and I I'm too lazy to change it. It's really a grand prix bike group build.

Yamafreak and Cupcai 'tis a shame about F1's going to V8's. Thing is, the cars we're even louder last year. This new two race weekend engine rule means they had to de-tune the engines a bit to make them last. Saw a '04 Williams at Melbourne too, and it was alot louder than the '05 car.

Anyway, I'd definitely be up for an F1 car GB. It's been a while since I did one. Once we finish this GB, we'll see what we can do about starting it.

Thanks Pintang I will make a start asap - it looks completely different to anything I have built before but looks exciting. Currently ride a Suzuki SV650S so that's why I chose the Suzi machine.

Yamafreak: The decal sheets for the 2003 M1:s (S27DC720C for Pacific GP Gauloises bike and S27DC716C for the Melandri Fortuna) is to go with the S27 transkits of the 2003 M1 or the work with your 2004 cowlings. Take a look at the transkits at HLJ och mediamixhobby.com.sg as they have the instructions posted. You can compare from that what work needs to be done if you figure doing it yourself.
best regards
Joel

Thought I would post these pics up here, seeing as the RCV group build seems to have died a death. Finnaly managed to get the Valencia rossi bike finished! It's only taken me 6 months! This was due to various hold ups with suppliers etc.

I'm quite happy with the results. Especially after the problems I had with this one. Defo the hardest paint/decal job I have done to date. Hope you like the pics.













Looking forward to getting my teeth into the M1 now!

Mitch

Great build, Mitch!

Very nice finish Mitch.

Finished mine about a month ago but had some difficulties with the decals around the front of the top cowling i.e the front decals that surround the 46 number in the front, rest of the decals were fine except the front mudguard "tyreman" who decided to "fly away" as I sparyed the clear cote?

Nice job look forward to seeing your M1

Andrew

Great job!

That looks beautiful Mitch. The paint and decals look great, nice finish. Can't wait to see what you do with the M1!

Cheers folks. You are too kind.

Looking forward to getting started on the M1. Any ideas on a start date yet? Might want afew weeks off after finishing the RCV. My fiancee hasn't seen much of me over the past few days!

We were thinking of starting pretty soon (I think I said this weekend). I don't know if I'll start my build that soon, but I might post the build thread on the weekend. Just start building whenever you feel like it, I don't think we'll be too strict with an end date. How's the end of the year sound for an end date for everyone? 6 months should be long enough I think.

Mitch: It looks absolutely flawless, you have manage to put those subtle details in that makes the plastic come to life. I like it a lot!

Pingtang: Just get the build going and we'll get on as soon as we can. 6 months sounds like a plan, even though I know I will not manage...I'm such a slow builder. But perhaps I can post my soon finished Camel and Pramac bikes...only a fwe percent left to finish. But it would be fun not entering a bike that's lived through 3 group builds...
I'll see what I can come up with. Perhaps I post the bikes anyway.
/Joel

mitch:well done
joel: i know how it is have had m1 since it came out only now about to decal it ,started the Hellor ducati as i needed some motavation to start the repsol honda for this build

Well, tell me about it. I hate to finish off kits... But they look good on the shelf afterwords When I think about it I probably hate having too many on the bench at the same time even more. Every weekend or day off I think that I shall finish my WRC Peugeot but there always seem to get more and more to do on it... But after all, why complain, it's not to finishing off as many kits as possible that is my vision for building models.
best regards
Joel

Mitch, looks good. I'm thinking of ordering my Valencia RC from HLJ and do it along with my M1 for this build. Especially since the Fortuna M1's are on backorder there. Never done two at once, hey first time for everything, right? Six months works just fine for me where the end date is concerned.

hey, joel, i was just at your site looking at the pictures for the ducati 916, n noticed that the seam in the middle of the back cowling was still visible through ur paint. at least the hint of the line is still there. i was wondering if u've learnt any better methods to clean those up. (also do you have any preference on the paint mix for the correct color for those frames and the engine?) getting rid of the same seam on the gas tank n seat area went just fine, but i am really getting annoyed after going at that backcowling with putty twice already. it's just a fine gap when my nail can feel after running across the surface. i've been trying to put more cement so it can ooze out the seam for a perfect fill by itself when i build my kits, but apparently i am using the testors cement n it is so thin that it will almost dry up if i dont get the two pieces together fast enough. i've also tried slow drying CA cement on a bandai gundam kit but that thing just hardens up like crazy that i think i will pretty much sand off the rest of the details before it even gets a scratch. anyway, i guess it could just be that i need better cement. from experience i know the tamiya yellow cap ones thickens up after some usage. any of ya other fellas got any suggestions?

edit:
for the record i am just taking a quick break from building the '86 nsr500 and the kr500. the fit problems from these older molds was really getting to my head for a second. now all of a sudden i found 6 kits being built at together on the bench...

Hi!
Don't you just hate that part of modelling? I don't like that filling/sanding/filling/sanding/filling/sanding part at all. Nowadays I tend to really soak the edges to be glued with cement so that it overflows. Sand the ridge down and then you are probably left without too much to do. I then go about it with either putty or with thin cement/super glue. If using superglue you better start sanding before it sets to bad, then it is a real pain to sand it... I also use a lot of primer to see the imperfections and the go about it again and again and again... If there are something I've learned on the road is that there are no short cuts.,..
best regards
Joel

Try placing the two parts that need to be glued together lightly, then apply some liquid cement to the seam. Let it flow along the joint and let it sit for about 10 seconds. Then press the parts together firmly and a small ridge will form. Once it's dry, you can sand that down. If you're gonna use super glue for filling, it's best to sand it within 1/2 an hour. Otherwise it gets too hard to sand. Just take your time to make sure it's right, and you'll get the seam nice and smooth eventually, even if it does take a few goes.

On another note, I might post the GB thread over in the group build forum tommorrow. I'll put a list up of all the participants on the first page. So get over there and start posting. I'll post something on this thread when I get it up on the other forum.

Thought I would let you all know that I started the Suzi today - just separating a few of the parts and making a few simple assemblies such as the tank and rear cowl, wheel hubs etc. However I already have a couple of questions - do people bother painting the wheel hubs when they are molded in the correct colour? I doubt I could paint these in Pure white TS-26 and achieve a finish as good as or better than the molded parts. I have also discovered why I previously have not tackled an auto kit - plating. I accept its impossible to remove the sprue attachment points without going back to the base plastic but what do you guys use to replace the finish in these areas? I am dreading the thought of any noticeable seams or mold separation lines on the plated parts. They look great on the sprue but they scare me!! Any pointers would be gratefully received. Still it's good to have made a start and I feel more a part of this, my first group build, now.

I've posted the Thread over on the GB forum now fellas. So head over there and let me know what you'll be building. The thread is at:

http://www.finescale.com/fsm/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=44314

Simon - I usually paint my rims, even if they are the right colour already. They aren't the easiest things to get a good finish on, but it's worth it if you do. If the rims are the right colour, you might just want to give them a clear gloss coat to give them some extra shine. It's impossible to remove the plated parts from the tree without leaving a mark at the cut-off point. You can put some masking tape around the area before you sand to limit the damage you do. Same goes for filling and sanding join lines. to patch up the area, just brush some of your favourite silver/chrome paint over the area. Some people go to the effort of stripping all the plating off and painting them themselves, but I don't usually bother. That's why I like the look of the M1. The frame is black!!!!