mustang1989

Thanks Joe and Bob!

Thanks Wayne!!! You're right about the reference photo. I included it in the All The Rest section.

A couple of months ago I got the "hankerin" to build a kit that I used to have in my stash and in all the moves that my wife and I have been through over the years I lost some kits to damage and this was one of those. That's been about 13 years ago and I always wanted to build it, so I acquired one around the early August time frame and went right to work on it. This is my first ever "all out " attempt on a military vehicle and wanted to build it in the same scale as my aircraft builds. There are some things I need to improve on here and there but am still learning. The kit build was fairly straight forward and very detailed in this scale. One of the only things I really didn't care for was the size of the wheel spokes but hey, you gotta remember that this was the ONLY BMW R75 availabe for a LONG time, so allowances were made. I scratch built the spark plug wires from a GM fuel pump relay coil winding that I had laying around in my "spares" drawer of the toolbox (you know , that drawer that's got all the "good stuff" in it when youre looking for something last minute repairing cars) . I also scratchbuilt the reverse/ low gear shifter rods on the right hand side of the solo bike from stretched sprue. I robbed the main machine gun, MP40 machine gun,(placed on the sidecar seat) sleeping bag(in the sidecar floor) and the tent ( on the spare tire) from the brand new Tamiya BMW R75 kit that I just recently acquired. The Bandai machine gun just sucked and the rest of the items were needed just to keep the motorcycle/ sidecar from looking too bare. I added two PE items from Hauler in the form of the machine gun ammo belt that's draped over the main gun and a sling for the MP40 in the seat. Paints were all Model Master to include the gloss coat for the original decals( how these didn't crumble is still a mystery given how old the kit is) and the flat coat with a couple of drops of light grey for a "sun faded " look. Finally I dry brushed some ground up tan pastel for a "dusty/ dirty" look. This build was far apart from my usual aircraft subjects and was really fun to build for the most part. I do know need to work on my seam removal with wheeled vehicles because there are so much more surface variations than with aircraft. The pics: and that last pic just to reference it to scale.........................

Ok fellas. I got the side car finished and installed. I swapped the Bandai machine gun out with one from the new Tamiya kit that I have in the stash now. The Bandai one just sucked! I also added a sleeping bag to the flooring of the sidecar and a tent to the spare tire area from the same Tamiya kit as well as an MP40 that's laying in the sidecar seat. I added a PE ammo belt draped over the machine gun and a sling for the MP 40 from Hauler. Lastly I added spark plug wires using copper wire from a GM fuel pump relay coil winding that I had in the "spares" drawer of my toolbox and reverse/low gear shift rods from stretched sprue. Paints were Model Master basecoat with a coat of Model Master gloss for the decals and Model Master flat with a couple of drops of light grey for a "sun faded " effect. Finally , I applied a dry brushing of ground up tan pastel for the "dirty/ dusty" look. Decals were from the Bandai boxing. How they didn't crumble after all this time is a complete mystery seeing how old the kit is.

Thanks Danny! Still have the side car to go and alot more weathering..

Here's the solo bike to an almost completed state. Still have a little touch up to do here and there but for the most part it's there. What I don't like about this kit is the fact that the wheel spokes are too big and some of the details like on the saddle bag are a little too toy like. Doin' the best with what I have here. I have a Tamiya 1/48 scale BMW R75 that I just bought that I think I'm going to build because it's one hek of alot more accurate but this is a fun build so far. I've still got the side car to build and tack onto this part so it's not completely done yet. Just wanted a pic of the solo bike. and that pic for scale reference:

Man it's good to see you around Mike. I know how it is with family, work, etc. We'll be here when you're ready bud.

Dangit Wayne! Your painting and weathering skills baffle me! You really know how to bring an armor piece to life.

I'll second that motion right there Danny!!!! Wow!!!

It's update time! I managed to install the forks and handle bars this morning. I have a wash and a flat coat I need to apply on the handle bars but other than that....they're on! I also installed the gearbox shift actuating rod (made from stretched sprue). The back half of it where it is attached to the gearbox will be hidden so I didn't install an actuator arm to the gearbox. I applied a base coat of German Grey to the headlamp assy this morning as well. What's funny about this camera is it's amazing capability to pick up even the most finest particle of dust and make it stand out like a sore thumb! I can't even SEE this stuff with my eye.......but it sure takes a purdy pic and can take really close pics without a single blur. Wayne hang in there man. We're here waiting for you bud! Danny: Looks like you've got your paint references down pat. That color reference is awesome! Looking forward to more pics man! Here goes with mine:

Thanks Wayne! Glad youre back around and sorry to hear about the shorthandedness at your work! Lookin' forward to getting back into the groove here. P.S. I love that headless horseman model of yours. That thing is awesome!!

Here's another update fellas: I got the exhaust system painted, weathered and installed. I ended up drilling the tail pipe out for that hollow look. Things arent finished up back here as I still have that blemish on the rear seat and the seam line on the rear fender to deal with. Then I turned my attention over to the spark plug wires. The plug wires.........now what to use??? I took a look in my spare parts drawer in my shop tool box and came up with a fuel pump relay I robbed from a warranty parts turn in fuse block, tore the case off of it and used the coil windings in the relay for the copper wire to replicate these with..... Like this: Which ended up on the motorcycle as such: (with fuel pump relay next to it...lol )

And there he is. Thanks Wayne. Your figure building skills are a true inspiration to me that's for sure. Good to see you again.

Good looking build buddy! Plenty of detail here. There's a 1:350 scale Akagi (and a 1:250 Akagi but that's just nuts at $1200 bones) that looks really appealing to me right now but I havent built a ship since I was 13 or so (let's see .....that was 33 years ago.....). Anyways this looks great Joe!

This looks worlds away better than what I can do at this point Danny. I've been trying to get into the world of figure painting and am getting closer all the time with help from Agent G. The only thing I think I would add at this point is a localized wash around the belt area to bring the detail of the belt out. Agent G is the go-to guy on figure painting in my book though.

LOTS of work and LOTS of detail! The effort paid off Joe!

.....forgot to mention that the second picture was taken with my new Nikon S9700 camera. I forked out around 300 bones for it but it yields LOTS better quality of photos! LOTS!!!

This pic will show the installation of the "saddle bag " on the motorcycle. I'm going to be the first to say that I really don't care for the molding of this part because I happen to have the new Tamiya 1/48 scale BMW R75 in my inventory as well and those saddle bags look alot better. I may build that version here as well. Any how it did add a cool touch to the bike. Here it all is in non weathered form... The seats have too much of a frosted look and I'll address that after all weathering is done. The rear seat will have a sleeping bag draped across it so I'm not all that worriied about that one. Here's a pic just after the BMW decal was installed on the fuel tank and a couple of other parts hung on it as well as a flat coat. We're getting there anyways....

1/25 eh? Plenty of detail to get going in that scale . I'm a little further along with the motorcycle than in the pics and let me tell you, my biggest obstacle is going to be hiding those stooopid hard-to-get to seams!!! lol

A little further along with my motorcycle. Mine is in the 1/48 scale range here: Wheels are mostly painted here: Here we are with the bike frame together , engine installed and a light wash over the bike frame and fuel tank:

Looking forward to it! What scale is the motorcycle?

Lookin' good so far Danny!! This outta be friggin cool!!

A little more progress on the engine. I painted it chrome silver and applied a water based wash. Just enough to bring out the detail. I'll dull it up and make it look more worn down the road. Also in the works are some plug wires and whatever else I can think of to spruce this little engine up with. I received my Tamiya Acrylic German Grey in the mail yesterday and man that stuff goes on saammoooooooth! Got the base coat on the motorcycle frame, forks and wheels. I'll let this dry then gloss and weather it.

Gotcha posted there Wayne! Can't wait to see what you've got going next! A wee bit of progress this week after cleaning up all the parts before installation. Here's the 750cc engine for the BMW motorcycle that's mostly assembled:

Thanks Carl!