Tamiya Team Suzuki Ecstar GSX-RR '20

[Stefee]

This is looking rather tasty

[Hecky]

Some limited progress over the weekend. I tried some carbon fibre decals on parts of the frame and brush painted some of the details while trying to get the colours correct with the reference photos.

I also made a start on the swing arm and did the dreaded wheel decals. They're probably the best I've managed to do the wheel decals on a motorbike so far but they're still annoyingly imperfect.

[Hecky]

This bit looks better with the naked eye. Zooming in on a photo really highlights any little mistake.

[Hecky]

I've done a bit more painting and I've tried as much as possible to match the colours on the reference photos. The only thing that I couldn't get close to was the gold heat shield on the air box.

So I had a shot of using gold leaf and I'm really happy with the results. I stippled the glue before I put it on to give some texture and it's really fragile so I've gone over it with some clear yellow to try and match the gold colour on the reference photos as well as protect it.

[Hecky]

Small bits of progress last night. I got the rear brake disc cross drilled and painted the chain. I think the connecting pins are maybe a bit dark so I might need to lighten them a bit.

[Mr Bowcat]

Thats coming along well.

[Hecky]

Thanks Bob, I'm enjoying this one

[Hecky]

I've spent most of the day on the exhaust. That photo etch is tricky. I've got the basic colours on and I'm going to try a bit of shading with oil paints when I can get some from the shop on Monday.

[Hecky]

I can see why people like building this kit. It's a good one

[Hecky]

I've been doing battle with this exhaust for a little while now. It's my first go at using oil paints for some of the shading and it takes a bit of practice.

The great thing is that they come off really easily so you can have a few goes. This is about my third attempt so far. The welds on the real exhaust are flush so I've sanded off the raised welds and tried to mimic the purple and tan coloured heat staining. I've also added a dark brown around the exhaust tips.

It doesn't stand up to close scrutiny, but it's starting to give the right effect.

[Airborne01]

Very nice progress!
Steve

[Hecky]

Thanks Steve

[Stefee]

I've been doing battle with this exhaust for a little while now. It's my first go at using oil paints for some of the shading and it takes a bit of practice.

The great thing is that they come off really easily so you can have a few goes. This is about my third attempt so far. The welds on the real exhaust are flush so I've sanded off the raised welds and tried to mimic the purple and tan coloured heat staining. I've also added a dark brown around the exhaust tips.

It doesn't stand up to close scrutiny, but it's starting to give the right effect.

Looking good to me.

[Hecky]

A bit of progress with the radiator tonight. I've tried to add a bit of detail with some fuse wire and foil for the radiator clamps. I couldn't quite get the magenta colour for the clamps with the paints I had, but it's close enough.

I've used gold leaf again for the heat shielding around the mysterious box at the bottom of the radiator.

[Airborne01]

Looking good, especially like the paintwork!
Steve

[Hecky]

It's starting to look like a motorbike. Slowly but surely

[Stefee]

That looks very menacing unclothed. Eagerly looking forward the finished article.

[Hecky]

Thanks Stefan, I might get a start on the clothes today.