discussion Tamiya Team Suzuki Ecstar GSX-RR '20

[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.

 

[Hecky]

I've tried something a bit different with the brakes. Rather than going for the factory fresh look, I've tried using some oils to make them look like they've done a few laps.

It makes it look a bit more like the actual bike

 

[Hecky]

For the carbon in the middle of the headstock and on the brake shields, I've opted to spray some metallic gray through a gauze rather than use a carbon decal as the weave is so fine on these parts that it's nearly black. A carbon decal wouldn't have looked correct with the scale.

 

[Hecky]

A couple of outdoor shots since it's a nice day

 

[Hecky]

I'm slowly getting there with the body work. I've had a few goes at the decals with softener to get them to lie down and they're just about ready for lacquer.