Max Biaggi's 2001 Moto GP ride

[hogs29]

This is one I started a while ago, and have just gotten back into. Max Biaggi's Yamaha YZR-500 from the 2001 Moto GP season.

So far, I've got the engine built, and painted with several metalizer and Tamiya colors for contrast. I used a bunch of RB Motion and Galtran bolt heads to replace the molded in kit items. I also used 4 Galtran nut and stud ends on each of the 4 carbs. The airbox was completely covered in Scale Motorsport carbon fiber and cleared.

The exhaust was built up, and completely sanded smooth. This is necessary to remove the mold lines and to fill in the joints, but removes the weld lines Tamiya put there.

For those, I first painted the pipes with Tamiya Silver Leaf (TS-30).

Then, using a tip I learned from somebody I only know as Mal.au on another board, I put 2 X-acto blades into one handle. Becasue of the taper of the blades, putting them side by side and running them along a straight edge over tape produces a very, very fine and uniform line of tape.

These fine tape strips were placed wherever weld lines would be, then I put the Tamiya exhaust weathering kit to use to do the heat staining. Once that was done, I gave the whole pipe a coat of flat clear, and removed the tape.

I gotta give props to Paul Adams and Clay Kemp for both helping me tremendously in getting this step down right.

First pic is with the tape still in place to give a visual as to what I did. Second pic are the completed pipes.

I've since gotten the engine permanetly attached to the frame, and now it's on to the multi-piece photoetched rear rotor.

That should be fun, and if I can still see after that, I'll post another update.

[Ariel]

Really nice work especially the airbox. One of these gP bikes is on my list if I ever get to building something again.