Caution Wake Turbulence Posted January 16, 2015 Share Posted January 16, 2015 My first foray into the world of bike kits.... I am completely ignorant about bikes in the real world - my bike only goes as fast as I can pedal it! So, here's the kit: Tamiya Kawasaki Ninja ZX-14 Box by Caution Wake Turbulence, on Flickr I've decided to go for the white scheme above. So far, I've assembled and primed the engine block and assembled parts of the frame and the exhaust. Overall, it seems to be a well moulded and well engineered kit, although the plastic does seem a little hard and brittle and needs a little extra care when cleaning up. I've stripped all the chrome off the exhaust sprue, as I want to have a go with the Alclad high shine chrome finish, which I haven't used before. I'll be using a mixture of Tamiya acrylics/sprays, Alclads and possibly some of the Mr Hobby metallic finishes. More photos to follow. Cheers, Andrew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham77 Posted January 16, 2015 Share Posted January 16, 2015 Excellent first bike especially for someone like me who also only pedals a bike. It goes together really well and if you have stripped the chrome then i think you will have solved what i found to be the worst (seems unfair calling any of this kit the worst) part. looking forward to seeing it in white as hopefully you may avoid the decals silvering and showing up a lot as happened with mine. Good luck and enjoy Graham Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D1fuN0 Posted January 16, 2015 Share Posted January 16, 2015 Woohoo Andrew... Welcome to the Dark Side An excellent choice to start off with and im sure you'll do a cracking job. If you need any help, myself and all the other bike builders are here to answer any questions.. Good Luck Steve 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caution Wake Turbulence Posted January 18, 2015 Author Share Posted January 18, 2015 Thanks chaps, just to show I've not been completely idle, here a couple of pictures: Untitled by Caution Wake Turbulence, on Flickr Untitled by Caution Wake Turbulence, on Flickr As you can see, I've mostly been assembling basic components and cleaning up seams so far. Hopefully, I'll make a start on some painting today. Cheers, Andrew 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jockster Posted January 18, 2015 Share Posted January 18, 2015 Just remember that you'll have to take the air filter out and clean it every month in the summer as that big hole above the lights sucks in everything like a jet engine. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rickpadwick1801 Posted January 18, 2015 Share Posted January 18, 2015 (edited) Hi Andrew, Nice start, looks good. May I make a suggestion ? I found that the handlebar attachment points are quite weak if you paint them, them glue them together. I suggest clipping them from the sprue and glueing them together and letting them cure before painting. I have done this with my hayabusa and they are a lot stronger than the ones on my ZX-14. Looking forward to seeing this in the white. ATB, Rick Edited January 18, 2015 by Rickpadwick1801 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caution Wake Turbulence Posted January 18, 2015 Author Share Posted January 18, 2015 Thanks, Rick. I've glued the handlebars together. Cheers, Andrew 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D1fuN0 Posted January 20, 2015 Share Posted January 20, 2015 Looking good Andrew... Got any paint on yet? Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caution Wake Turbulence Posted January 20, 2015 Author Share Posted January 20, 2015 Yup, I've got some black on the engine, frame, swing arm and a few other bits. Will post an update soon, but life gets in the way, as ever! Is there any reason why the instructions refer variously to both to TS-29 and X-18? They're both semi-gloss black, presumably the same... I prefer airbrush to rattle can, so I've only used X-18. Cheers, Andrew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D1fuN0 Posted January 20, 2015 Share Posted January 20, 2015 Hiya Yup, TS 29 is rattlecan Semi gloss black and X-18 is the bottled stuff. Normally they use the X numbers where the bits are small enough just to brush paint. S Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pappy Posted January 20, 2015 Share Posted January 20, 2015 Cracking effort so far Andrew, I am already looking forward to the next installment, cheers, Pappy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caution Wake Turbulence Posted January 21, 2015 Author Share Posted January 21, 2015 (edited) Thanks Pappy. Made a start on the detailed painting of the engine: Engine Detailing by Caution Wake Turbulence, on Flickr Cheers, Andrew Edited January 21, 2015 by Caution Wake Turbulence 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caution Wake Turbulence Posted January 24, 2015 Author Share Posted January 24, 2015 Been doing lots of painting. I will post some more photos later, but here's a taster: Untitled by Caution Wake Turbulence, on Flickr The photo doesn't really capture the mica finish all that well.... Andrew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caution Wake Turbulence Posted January 24, 2015 Author Share Posted January 24, 2015 I reckon drilling out the holes in the brake discs is one of those ideas that seemed good at the time... ...still, it gives me a chance to dry out my new micro-drill bits (which incidentally are far better than the old ones!). Onwards and upwards. Andrew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D1fuN0 Posted January 24, 2015 Share Posted January 24, 2015 Looking good Andrew Like the wheels Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caution Wake Turbulence Posted January 24, 2015 Author Share Posted January 24, 2015 Thanks Steve, I tried a coat of yellow over the primer first, seems to have worked pretty well. Andrew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caution Wake Turbulence Posted January 31, 2015 Author Share Posted January 31, 2015 Apologies for the lack of updates - I have been plugging away at this build, but I still mostly have a box full of variously painted parts - I hoping it'll all come together in the end. I not really happy with some of the painting, so I going to redo some parts and then try and get this finished! I've done the decals on the instrument panel - not altogether as well as I'd hoped, but there you go: Untitled by Caution Wake Turbulence, on Flickr More to follow. Andrew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caution Wake Turbulence Posted January 31, 2015 Author Share Posted January 31, 2015 (edited) A little more progress: Untitled by Caution Wake Turbulence, on Flickr Alclad polished aluminium and pale gold, with some flory models dark dirt on the chain. Still need to pick out the valve detail. (and yes, the tyre is on the wrong way round ) Andrew Edited January 31, 2015 by Caution Wake Turbulence Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caution Wake Turbulence Posted February 2, 2015 Author Share Posted February 2, 2015 (edited) A bit of the engine (something to do with squirting the fuel in??? - I'm an expert, can't you tell? ): Untitled by Caution Wake Turbulence, on Flickr (Note to self: need to touch up the blue bit...) Andrew Edited February 2, 2015 by Caution Wake Turbulence Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caution Wake Turbulence Posted February 4, 2015 Author Share Posted February 4, 2015 Spent the morning masking up one of the two front brake disks - turned out ok, I think: Untitled by Caution Wake Turbulence, on Flickr Also completed the rear suspension: Untitled by Caution Wake Turbulence, on Flickr Still need to respray the engine and radiator pipework, and some bits of the front fork, otherwise it's mostly just assembly left to do... Cheers, Andrew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
easyAl Posted February 5, 2015 Share Posted February 5, 2015 Looks like it's coming on a treat. Looking good 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caution Wake Turbulence Posted February 5, 2015 Author Share Posted February 5, 2015 I still need to add the pearl topcoat to the white, but I am quite liking the colours: Untitled by Caution Wake Turbulence, on Flickr I think it's going to look good with the decals and finishing touches. My first attempt at Alclad Chrome also went pretty well, although I would pay more attention to preparation next time. Going to add a little heat discolouration to the hot end, nothing too garish, maybe even just a mist of Tamiya smoke...? Untitled by Caution Wake Turbulence, on Flickr First stage of the handle bar painting: Untitled by Caution Wake Turbulence, on Flickr and the front forks (seams and all ) Untitled by Caution Wake Turbulence, on Flickr Stay tuned for more... Thanks for dropping by! Andrew 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rickpadwick1801 Posted February 5, 2015 Share Posted February 5, 2015 (edited) Love the colour scheme, I am definitely sold on building another one of these bikes in the alternate colour scheme, Looking forward to seeing this one finished with all of the panels on. Keep up the good work, Andrew. ATB, Rick Edited February 5, 2015 by Rickpadwick1801 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caution Wake Turbulence Posted February 5, 2015 Author Share Posted February 5, 2015 Thanks Rick. Had a go at masking the silver ring surrounding the bolt at the top of the fork: Untitled by Caution Wake Turbulence, on Flickr I think my mask was slightly too big, but it still turned out better than I thought it might. Might try again if I can find a 3.5mm hollow punch...off to eBay, I think. Cheers, Andrew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham77 Posted February 6, 2015 Share Posted February 6, 2015 Rick beat me to it but the white and red does look excellent as does the rest of the build 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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