Tamiya 1/12 NR750

[gamblor916]

I've wanted one of these on the shelf for a while. It's an older Tamiya kit with some strange assembly procedures but the quality is still there. I've printed a new chain, thinned and drilled the brake discs, and made a mould of the heel plates to make detailing easier.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Kiertomäntä]

Never knew there was a kit made from this bike. Would really like to find and build one. Being old tamiya kit, have you encountered any major flaws yet?

 

And for those who don't know the oddity in this bike, this had four piston V8 to circumvent the regulations in bike racing in early 1980s.

[slippers]

34 minutes ago, Kiertomäntä said:

this had four piston V8 to circumvent the regulations in bike racing in early 1980s.

 

Oval pistons, no less. 

 

A shame that the oval wasn't reliable enough to race long-term. Good that Honda put the technology to use in this limited and exquisite road version. 

 

Looking forward to gamblor916's clean and crisp build, as per usual. 👍

Edited July 17, 2022 by slippers

[gamblor916]

The

20 hours ago, Kiertomäntä said:

Never knew there was a kit made from this bike. Would really like to find and build one. Being old tamiya kit, have you encountered any major flaws yet?

 

And for those who don't know the oddity in this bike, this had four piston V8 to circumvent the regulations in bike racing in early 1980s.

 

There are actually oval voids in the engine block where the pistons would go. Then the covers go on and its hidden away forever.

 

There are 2 big issues with assembly I've found. The exhaust is designed to be glued together at different stages which I ignored. Just cut it up and assemble as one piece.

The harder to fix issue is with the front fairing. It's moulded as one piece, which means the holes for the intake and lights are clearly visible on completion. Also the sill is half the width its supposed to be making side fairing the wrong shape and the panel separation is in the wrong area.

I found this out after I applied paint and decals so trying to fix it is going to be tricky.

 

 

 

 

 

[gamblor916]

Engine and swing arm is mounted. Forks are done. The kit decals are old and disintegrate on contact with water. I put three coats of clear on the ones I needed and replaced all the carbon with Studio 27 decals.

 

 

 

 

[OWL1975]

Very nice, the NR was a revolutionary bike for its time, extremely expensive but its a lovely looking machine. 

 

Jerry.

[Kiertomäntä]

At the time most expensive production bike ever I think. I do have to wonder about spare parts availability for those few who have managed to own one of these...

[OWL1975]

On 29/07/2022 at 14:40, Kiertomäntä said:

At the time most expensive production bike ever I think. I do have to wonder about spare parts availability for those few who have managed to own one of these...

I don't think many will ride them much, more they have bought them as an investment. 

 

Beautiful bike, never seen one, but there are a few in the UK so I may do in a showroom.

 

Jerry. 

[Tinners]

On 7/29/2022 at 2:40 PM, Kiertomäntä said:

At the time most expensive production bike ever I think. I do have to wonder about spare parts availability for those few who have managed to own one of these...

I knew a chap who owned one. Never rode it, just had it as a show piece behind glass. It was much more attractive in the flesh (or carbon-fibre) than photos suggest. Even then, certain parts were only made on request.

[gamblor916]

It's close to completion now. All the main parts are painted and polished. As seen in the pics everything is now locked in place, there's no going back.