apollogary Posted April 3, 2022 Share Posted April 3, 2022 So after having this kit in the loft for a good few years, I've finally made a start on this 1/6th Tamiya Harley Davidson Classic bike. The kit is the black classic, but I'm going to base it on the 75th anniversary model from 1978/9 and paint it in Harley Davidson black cherry. I'm planning on going all out on detail and mods, adding all the bits missing from the kit. My plan is to have working lights, but I might be so sick of it by that stage, that I'll bin that idea. I'm going to be bolting and screwing as much of this as possible. This will also allow me to build it in MY order and not as the instructions say to do This is the crankcase with the moulded bolts cut off and holes drilled. God, it takes an age doesn't it? Tappet blocks on and a couple of cylinder studs in Cylinders on My plan was to finish the engine before I moved on to the frame, but because I needed to drill several holes in the block for attaching to the frame, I had to assemble the frame and test fit, so I could drill in the correct places Reworked transmission plate. Kit one is too short and too thin. Took forever cutting off the moulded bolts and cleaning out the elongated mounting holes. Transmission can slide now for precise lining up with the primary chain case Studs fitted to underside of transmission Transmission bolted to frame Rear and front of engine bolted to frame Now all the holes are where they should be, I can put the frame aside and concentrate on the engine. Once I'm happy and everything is where it should be, I'll take it all apart and paint it, before final assembly Thanks for looking Gary 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
apollogary Posted April 7, 2022 Author Share Posted April 7, 2022 (edited) Little update. Been working on the engine and associated parts. Quite happy with how it's progressing I think I'm happy with the colours, aluminium mainly. Starter motor done. Just needs cable added Primary chain case. The starter in the kit is a bit short and never reaches the little bracket that supports it to the transmission on the end. I've extended the mount and added the studs Oil pump reworked. pressure switch and extra outlets added Dry fit Individual parts Pressure switch Painted and assembled Gasket between pump and front cover Transmission cover plate drilled out and studs/nuts added Thanks for looking Gary Edited April 7, 2022 by apollogary 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
apollogary Posted April 12, 2022 Author Share Posted April 12, 2022 Not sure why I've spent best part of 2 days on the carburettor, It can barely be seen once the air cleaner is on, but it's good practice if nothing else Thanks for looking Gary 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boydie Posted April 12, 2022 Share Posted April 12, 2022 Great job so far Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krow113 Posted April 14, 2022 Share Posted April 14, 2022 Good stuff. Are you gonna address the rear exhaust port? Very visual , very apparent , very wrong , lol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kpnuts Posted April 14, 2022 Share Posted April 14, 2022 Thats looking great so far. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
apollogary Posted April 16, 2022 Author Share Posted April 16, 2022 Thanks for the comments Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
apollogary Posted April 16, 2022 Author Share Posted April 16, 2022 (edited) On 14/04/2022 at 16:02, krow113 said: Good stuff. Are you gonna address the rear exhaust port? Very visual , very apparent , very wrong , lol. Can you go into a bit more detail? maybe I'm missing something, but compared to real engines, it doesn't look too far away from what it should look like. Is that instead of being at 12 minutes past, it should be at maybe 5? Here's the model And the real thing Edited April 16, 2022 by apollogary Realisation 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
apollogary Posted April 16, 2022 Author Share Posted April 16, 2022 Well, looking at the 2 side by side, I can see it. Not sure my modelling skills are up to altering it though. 😭 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
apollogary Posted April 16, 2022 Author Share Posted April 16, 2022 Anyway..... couple of updates Temporarily back in frame, with points cover and air cleaner cover temporarily on. Tappets fitted. Oil pump and hoses fitted and rigid oil line to head and crossover pipe added Oil drain plug fabricated on inner chaincase Oil hoses added Front oil tank mount/clutch cable bracket added to frame Rear oil tank mount Front battery tray mount. Kit doesn't have a front mount at all. Can't believe how easily the paint rubs off the silvered parts. Will have to repaint the transmission end cover So many things have to involve things that I really don't want to start on yet. The rear battery mount bracket is also the lug for the battery hold down strap. So i have to temporarily fit the battery housing in place to get that bit right. But... I've run out of 1.2 hex nuts, so will have to wait until after bank holiday for them to arrive. Once all 4 Battery/oil tank mounts are fitted, I'll cut away the plastic kit mounts. Thanks for looking Gary 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
desert falcon Posted April 16, 2022 Share Posted April 16, 2022 That‘s an impressive amount of work you are putting in to this 👍 If it wasn‘t for your fingers being visible in some of the photos, I would have thought that I was on the webpage of a Harley garage and not a modeling forum !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
apollogary Posted April 16, 2022 Author Share Posted April 16, 2022 Thank you. Sorry for fingers 😂 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kpnuts Posted April 17, 2022 Share Posted April 17, 2022 That does look super impressive 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krow113 Posted April 17, 2022 Share Posted April 17, 2022 (edited) 19 hours ago, apollogary said: Can you go into a bit more detail? maybe I'm missing something, but compared to real engines, it doesn't look too far away from what it should look like. Is that instead of being at 12 minutes past, it should be at maybe 5? Here's the model And the real thing Has to be for injection moulding purpose' they did it that way. And will be tough to fix. Count the fins above it - 3 on the model , 2 on the real thing. Its only me who sees it , most wont care. Now the rocker box upper profile looks a little off too...lol Edited April 17, 2022 by krow113 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiseca Posted April 19, 2022 Share Posted April 19, 2022 Oh that does look nice. I'll hop aboard for this ride if you don't mind! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
apollogary Posted April 19, 2022 Author Share Posted April 19, 2022 2 hours ago, kiseca said: Oh that does look nice. I'll hop aboard for this ride if you don't mind! Thank you. Please do Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delayar Posted April 20, 2022 Share Posted April 20, 2022 Impressive detail work and scratchbuilding. Cheers, Markus 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
apollogary Posted April 29, 2022 Author Share Posted April 29, 2022 Little update It's coming along slowly, but surely Starter motor Rigid rear brake line and brake light switch Gearbox Neutral switch Mounted to chain case Oil tank. With vent pipe and "groove" added to top. Drain plug moved to correct location Clutch cable Various scratch built brackets now painted Electrical parts assembled. Wiring harnesses made up Frame is painted, so I can finally start putting stuff in it Thanks for looking Gary 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slippers Posted April 30, 2022 Share Posted April 30, 2022 Looks splendid. 👍 Don't think I could cope with the amount of scratch-building required on these 1/6 kits. The urge to keep getting closer to the real thing must be almost impossible to resist. Certainly a cut above from where I am. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kpnuts Posted April 30, 2022 Share Posted April 30, 2022 Amazing work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
apollogary Posted May 1, 2022 Author Share Posted May 1, 2022 On 30/04/2022 at 04:53, slippers said: Looks splendid. 👍 Don't think I could cope with the amount of scratch-building required on these 1/6 kits. The urge to keep getting closer to the real thing must be almost impossible to resist. Certainly a cut above from where I am. Thank you. Yes it is very difficult where to draw the line. I just take one sub assembly at a time and think about whether I can be really bothered to do more to it. Trouble is, sometimes you just have to step away and have a break. I've been wanting to do this for years, but I'm pretty sure it will be the last time. The time it is taking, and the cost is ridiculous. I can't believe how many nuts and bolts I've bought. Not sure what I'll do next. I've got another Harley police bike, a Harley FXE sport and a Honda Monkey bike. I should have put this much effort into the FXE, as a lot of the detailed parts are not covered by trim panels, but hey ho Gary On 30/04/2022 at 10:04, kpnuts said: Amazing work. Thanks very much Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
apollogary Posted May 10, 2022 Author Share Posted May 10, 2022 Quick update Finally started fitting everything into the frame. Still a lot to do, but it's coming along nicely Engine, gearbox, coil, clutch cable fitted Oil tank in Starter solenoid There are a lot of nuts and bolts on this bike Battery in. Wiring harness in. Thing under battery is the starter relay. Also the brake light switch and oil pressure switch are wired up. All the oil hoses connected up. Close up Rectifier Battery cover, main circuit breaker and battery vent hose added Brake pedal, rear wheel and calliper on Chain and chain guard Hinged rear fender Still waiting for the black cherry paint to arrive, so can't paint and final fit the bodywork yet Thanks for looking Gary 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazyCrank Posted May 11, 2022 Share Posted May 11, 2022 During a while, I thought you'd taken photos of the real bike in a garage, not of a scale model ! Wonderful job 👍 I've this Tamiya Fat Boy 1:6 in my stash, and you make me want to start it ! CC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nick Posted May 11, 2022 Share Posted May 11, 2022 That's looking completely convincing - great job. Nick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
apollogary Posted May 11, 2022 Author Share Posted May 11, 2022 8 hours ago, CrazyCrank said: During a while, I thought you'd taken photos of the real bike in a garage, not of a scale model ! Wonderful job 👍 I've this Tamiya Fat Boy 1:6 in my stash, and you make me want to start it ! CC Thank you. That's a big compliment. Definitely start the fat boy!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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