16 replies to this topic

[jbwelda]

Some may recall my attempt at building the AMT (resin repop) Triumph Bonneville a couple months ago:

http://www.modelcars...showtopic=54881


at the end of which i pondered over perhaps trying a Revell Parts Pack Honda, i believe a 305 Super Hawk (motorcycle), to accompany the surf shack (diorama) and Ed Roth's Surfite (auto). I took down one of the Hondas i had on the shelf and looked it over: all chrome plated, but otherwise nicely detailed and actually very finely detailed in areas like the gas tank side badge and knee pad as well as the motor detail. so what the heck...when i was a kid i attempted one of these with very much less than desirable results but that was with tube glue and i never had the patience to scrape away the chrome before gluing. hopefully, i thought, i have passed that stage.

a look at the instructions, printed right on the inside of the Parts Pack package...saving trees way before their time:




looks pretty straightforward eh? just you beware that six piece front end! that was the number one challenge in this whole build, aligning and stabilizing the front end, triple tree, wheel and tire, headlamp, fork cap so that it would look decent on the front end of the frame. the AMT Triumph had it all over this one when it came to easy of assembly but i must say this looks pretty good completed!

just a couple of photos right now, i will update in a day or two...i have already taken off the taillight, it was just on with white glue to see how it looked, and reworked it a bit more so it looks better on the fender. i also have to make some brake, clutch and accelerator cables and will glue those and the taillight on and take some better pics tomorrow.









questions comments criticisms surely welcome and surly addressed!

one thing i desperately need is a small very small rat fink decal to put on the side cover or front fender! any suggestions?

[Michigan Madman]

Very cool!
For a Rat Fink decal I'd just suggest finding a suitable one online, importing it into Word and resizing as needed, and then print it out on decal paper. I have a few Rat Fink decals around someplace, but nothing small enough to look right on a 1:25 motorbike!
Turns out I had a few Revell motorcycle parts in my stash- thanks to your post I've positively ID'd them as being from the Honda!

[jbwelda]

thanks for the suggestion on the decal chuck, unfortunately i do not have a color printer (actually i dont have ANY printer attached to this computer) so that isnt going to work. i looked through a bunch of kits last night because i could swear i have seen a tiny RF decal somewhere but no luck.

meanwhile i repositioned the taillight so it looks much better and am attempting some cables but i should have thought of that earlier and drilled the handlebars.

[jw78z28]

I like it. Should look real nice once you put the cables on. I may have to try and locate one of them to build.
I wish Revell would do a parts pack line that carried all the motor cycles they made in 1/25 and all the mini bikes the made over the years that where 1/25 scale.

[jbwelda]

if you recall a few years ago a parts pack kit containing all the motorcycles was due to be released by Revell but was cancelled. it would have been a "must have" for me and even more so if they put others in there like that little minibike from, not sure here, but maybe it was from that dumb VW van with the motor inside the passenger compartment.

[Austin T]

Yep that one's from the Monogram TD Baja bandito.I built the one from the Vandal and I can't wait to get one once they re-release the vandal.

[Edward Gore]

Yeah, I remember those minibikes.
Very cool thread and Honda build.
Are you going all tyhe way with this Honda? Like cables and wires?

[jbwelda]

>Are you going all tyhe way with this Honda? Like cables and wires?

yes i am going to add some cables to the handle bars; was going to have that done already but a couple of emergencies and a whole separate distraction came up so i havent been able to devote time to it just yet. i originally was going to add cables and drill holes where they needed to go but then i got lazy and didnt...now i am just going to run cables from the bars and have them disappear under the fuel tank...we will see how that goes.


way kool mini bike there; i am going to have to get that vandal just for that!

[Bartster]

lf you haven't found a Rat Fink decal yet, l have one that measures 5 mm high X 4 mm wide. if that works for you, PM me your addy & it's yours. Bart.

[jbwelda]

oh Bart, you just made my day! PM sent and i willl include you in the film credits!

(sorry there wont be a film to accompany the credits though!)

i am doing the happy dance right now and believe me thats not something you want to see either!

[jbwelda]

Thanks to Bart I now have a full color Rat Fink decal for the side cover! this will encourage me to add the cables and be done with it! unfortunately i had hoped to finish it by now but intruders at the gate have kept me up nights anticipating motion detector squeals. Just cause you can grow it here doesnt mean you can harvest it as i am finding out for the first time this year, after 10 years. sleeping in a tent in your own backyard isnt the way God planned it and it makes it hard to concentrate on building models.

anyway hopefully something will get done and it will be posted here. meanwhile my 12 gauge needs cleaning again.

[jbwelda]

and just to show what a difference it makes, and i really think it does, kinda makes the model if you ask me, heres a shot of the decal responding to some micro sol, trying to get it to form down over the curve of the cover. since i wasnt sure how it would react to water i put some decal preservative over it first and that always makes the decal kinda stiff if it isnt to begin with:





and formed down a bit more...still needs to dry for a day and then manipulate it a bit with micro sol...





finally, a buddy for the surf shack!




its not finished obviously but coming along...this photo shows me i have to do some touch up still...funny how i can stare at it for hours in person but take a photo of it and out pop the flaws!

thanks again for looking, i just need to fit and fasten the cables then i will post a pic of the beach hut and all...sans the Surfite which is still being finished up elsewhere...

edit: oh yeah just to add, thanks a million Bart, you finding the decal and sending it to me is much appreciated! its stuff like this that really makes your day...

Edited by jbwelda, 26 September 2012 - 01:29 PM.

[Bartster]

Glad l could help! lt really does look great!

[jbwelda]

again, i notice several paint flaws in the photos of the bike...so i think i will do some touch up tonite. amazing these digital cameras!

[frozono]

Very nice job.

[zenrat]

Awesome.  1/25 bikes are just about at the limit of my patience.  You did a great job.

[jaydar]

Nice build on such a small subject. I love road bikes and truly wish this one was available in 1/12!!!!
Joe.