1:35 Harley WLA Bobber V2

[jaxenro]

Having completely botched my first build of this I am trying again with V2 using the same Miniart sprues this time from the Motorcycle Repair Crew kit which contains two motorcycles and three figures. There are six areas I want to improve on from my first build and I will show how I do that:

1. Wheels and Tires - I wasn't happy with how these came out and have some ideas for improvements

2. Frame - Miniart molds the engine as part of the frame so you essentially build the engine in place making everything more difficult plus the rear half of the frame is built after the kit is mostly assembled. This probably works when everything is painted olive drab but I want either a metal flake or pearl paint job on the frame and tank and that make it difficult so I cut the engine "block" from the frame and will be building and painting the frame separately plus molding in the tank before painting

3. Engine - building the engine on the frame made detailing it a lot harder this time I will build it off the frame and then install it

4. Wiring - I held off wiring the first kit but I purchased some 0.01" fishing line leader and two technical manuals so I will try at a minimum to add brake lines and engine details

5. Intake and Exhaust - I used the stock oil bath air filter and exhaust the first time but have purchased some small aluminum tubing I will make some straight pipes for the exhaust and replace the oil bath air filter with a trumpet shaped one

6. Paint - I am going to try using different shades of metal paints to add some interest and try to show the difference between polished cast aluminum and bare steel parts

[jaxenro]

Have the second frame cleaned up a little, the engine cut out, and flat black applied. I am still undecided I may stay with the flat black, gloss coat it, or selective gloss coat parts like the tank. The two unpainted parts are where the transmission and battery box go. Also started on painting the front wheel still a little touch up to go. The spokes are slightly off but i can live with it. Ned to do some sanding on the front yoke and for some reason the rim looks darker in the photo than it does on my desk must be a shadow thing but i will check it when I touch up the hub. The photos help as they show far more detail than I can see easily. I included a ruler for scale

 

Edited July 21, 2018 by jaxenro

[jaxenro]

The red one is Revlon nail polish the blue one model master blue pearl. I need to work on thinning them better for brushing they were still a little thick but in the long run the nail polish, if I can get the right thinning ratio, seems to be the way to go. Tons of colors and dries hard in no time. I plan on playing with ratios and painting some sprue until I get it down. They are too small and fragile to rub out so the finish will have to stand alone.

 

[jaxenro]

Working on this one as well as the Zundapp. Made some progress on the engine this thing is tiny considering this is a 750 and the Zundapp 800, not a lot of difference, this one is a lot smaller. These pics on my laptop are 10 or 20 times the actual size it is about the size of my thumbnail

 

 

Edited July 28, 2018 by jaxenro

[peteski]

I  enjoy following your progress and I can fully relate to just how small these are.  I like building small models too.  Like these scratchbuilt (cast resin and photoetched) dodgem cars in N (1:160) scale.  I hope you don't mind me posting a photo.

[jaxenro]

Post away and I love them dodge em cars?

[jaxenro]

Just to show what can be done with these little kits by someone that knows what they are doing the salt flats racer and the flat track racer are by a person in France I think and the bobber by someone in Sweeden

 

Edited August 5, 2018 by jaxenro

[jaxenro]

And here's mine in progress still a load of work to do but it is on wheels

 

 

 

 

[jaxenro]

Made a flat rear bumper from brass sheet then disaster struck the rear wheel rim popped loose. I am going to try to finagle it in better

 

 

[jaxenro]

almost done with this one will post the final pics soon

meanwhile I used a spare front fender as I have a few of them to try making skirts for a full civilian WL. Shapes a little off so i didn't finish sand it smooth before applying the green but you get the idea what color the next one will be. I completed it enough to know how to do the actual one

 

 

[jaxenro]

 I might add the brake lines and fuel lines but for now it is finished

 

[peteski]

Looks good! Nice job!  You need to take a photo of it sitting on a dollar bill, on couple of coins, or some other easily identifiable item - like a #11 hobby knife blade (for size reference).

[jaxenro]

This should give you an idea of the size.

Paint is one coat MM lacquer Mystic Emerald. This will be a full WLA Civilian with skirted fenders

 

 

Edited August 29, 2018 by jaxenro