So I decided to get a crack at the latest Tamiya offering, the NSR 250:

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y168/slk320/Honda%20NSR%20250/PICT0014.jpg

I first took on the exhaust pipes. Standard whethering afair, Tamiya clears and Tamiya whethering poweders:

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y168/slk320/Honda%20NSR%20250/PICT0015.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y168/slk320/Honda%20NSR%20250/PICT0016.jpg

Wheels: Pure white with kit decals, the tires were scuffed to simulate road wear. The tires will be treated to dullcoat and more whethering.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y168/slk320/Honda%20NSR%20250/PICT0018.jpg

shock towers and small tid-bits

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y168/slk320/Honda%20NSR%20250/PICT0019.jpg

Now, on to the frame - I have been experimenting with the various metal finishes. This one, I think turned out the best so far. It is Testor's Metallizer, sprayed over regular cleaned-up plastic part, allowed to dry and then buffed out with a dry soft cloth:

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y168/slk320/Honda%20NSR%20250/PICT0020.jpg

As you can seen the metal sheen is quite nice and fairly relaistic.

Here you can see the bare-metal finish compared to the regular Tamiya silver leaf with a sealer:

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y168/slk320/Honda%20NSR%20250/PICT0021.jpg

and here is the bare-metal Testor's finish compared to Testor's steel (see if you can spot which one is which ;) )

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y168/slk320/Honda%20NSR%20250/PICT0022.jpg

Overall I am pretty happy with Testor's Metallizers.

Nice start... just remember you need to seal Testor Metalizers, especially if you use the buffing kind. Otherwise they will smear off and show fingerprints.

Great start, how do you get your exhaust looking so glossy when using weathering powder, I find this always dulls down sheen to almost a matt! your welds look wicked, keep up the great work
Col

Thanks everyone - that frame is sealed, so no worries about pigments rubbing off.

As for exhaust, I use a sealer after all the poweders and it gives it a nice sheen.

I will update with completed engine pics later tonight.

what do you use to seal metalisers, powders etc, and would it be ok over alclad chrome?
cheers

It is incredible how you can get that realistic shine and colour on the frame, those exhaust pipes are awesome. I want to see the progress on the engine soon, I think it will be outstanding.

Roca.

what do you use to seal metalisers, powders etc, and would it be ok over alclad chrome?
cheers

Testors (ModelMaster) have their own sealer that you apply.

Testors (ModelMaster) have their own sealer that you apply.

Its true.

Quick update:

Frame with rear shock mount:

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y168/slk320/Honda%20NSR%20250/PICT0001.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y168/slk320/Honda%20NSR%20250/PICT0002.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y168/slk320/Honda%20NSR%20250/PICT0003.jpg

Engine:

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y168/slk320/Honda%20NSR%20250/PICT0004.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y168/slk320/Honda%20NSR%20250/PICT0005.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y168/slk320/Honda%20NSR%20250/PICT0006.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y168/slk320/Honda%20NSR%20250/PICT0007.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y168/slk320/Honda%20NSR%20250/PICT0008.jpg

All the metal is done in metallizer? It looks fantastic, very realistic.

Looking great - i have this model in my kit pile - will probably be my next project.

all the enginge parts are painted in various Testors Metallizers, including Stainless Steel, Aluminum, Gunmetal and Magnesium and than buffed out to a sheen.

Great progress... I have this kit too. I guess it's the same as the old Cup Noodle etc?

Just a quick question, are those tiny little holes drilled all over the fairing in photo on this bike, if so are they replicated on kit!!! that would be interesting!

They are "kinda of" replicated through the use of decals... we will see how convincing it will look once applied.

Great progress... I have this kit too. I guess it's the same as the old Cup Noodle etc?

Yep - appears to be close, but this looks like a new mold - much crisper and better fitting.

Great! Mine is still in the wrapper, but I may just tear it out soon... this WIP is great inspiration.

Another quick update:

Rear section with the rear wheel installed:

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y168/slk320/Honda%20NSR%20250/PICT0001-1.jpg

Chain with sprockets drilled out for realism

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y168/slk320/Honda%20NSR%20250/PICT0003-1.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y168/slk320/Honda%20NSR%20250/PICT0004-1.jpg

Front wheel and brakes - looks pretty good for a kit part doesn't it? All painted with Testors Metallizers. I saw that CM released a pe kit already for it - but I didn't get it in time...

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y168/slk320/Honda%20NSR%20250/PICT0005-1.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y168/slk320/Honda%20NSR%20250/PICT0006-1.jpg

them brake discs look fantastic, were they pre drilled?

Fantastic work. I've built the Cup Noodle and the Repsol version - and drilled out those brakes on both, and it's no fun at all!! Thanks for the heads up iwth the CM kit, I will definitely get that for mine.

them brake discs look fantastic, were they pre drilled?

Nope, they are not pre-drilled - they are merely stock kit parts - I just washed them with a thin black wash. Came out ok though.

I was not going to go insane by hand drilling each of the 300+ holes... :banghead:

I hope you didn't count all the holes!!! lol.
they look great anyway

Nope, they are not pre-drilled - they are merely stock kit parts - I just washed them with a thin black wash. Came out ok though.

I was not going to go insane by hand drilling each of the 300+ holes... :banghead:


A quicker solution is use a cordless drill and put your pin vise in the chuck and spin the vise and little drill bit with the cordless drill.

I put my cordless on the table and hold the part in my hand otherwise, I snap a lot of bits because it is too easy to mess up with the cordless not supported.

Mark

Thats actually a pretty awesome solution I didn;t think of.... will try it next time - Thanks!

Nice and clean job so far !!

Thanks everyone,

Here is another quick update - things have been moving along in my little workshop:

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y168/slk320/Honda%20NSR%20250/PICT0007-1.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y168/slk320/Honda%20NSR%20250/PICT0008-1.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y168/slk320/Honda%20NSR%20250/PICT0009.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y168/slk320/Honda%20NSR%20250/PICT0010.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y168/slk320/Honda%20NSR%20250/PICT0011.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y168/slk320/Honda%20NSR%20250/PICT0012.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y168/slk320/Honda%20NSR%20250/PICT0013.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y168/slk320/Honda%20NSR%20250/PICT0015-1.jpg

the front forks were painted Testors Metallizer Magnesium and buffed out to a sheen. All that remains on the frame is the handlebars and radiator - which will be mounted sometime tonight.

I began prepping the bodywork and puttying and sending all the seams - it must have been the old mold that Tamiya used for the body as the entire body is in two pieces with the main seam running right across the entire tank/seat and rear cowling.... :(

Stunning. Those metallizers give an awesome finish, great choice and application.

completed this one:

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y168/slk320/Honda%20NSR%20250/PICT0016-1.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y168/slk320/Honda%20NSR%20250/PICT0017.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y168/slk320/Honda%20NSR%20250/PICT0018-1.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y168/slk320/Honda%20NSR%20250/PICT0019-1.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y168/slk320/Honda%20NSR%20250/PICT0020-1.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y168/slk320/Honda%20NSR%20250/PICT0021-1.jpg

nice bike! you built it well...but...is it me or the decals are not aligned?

Looking great. I agree about the decals though.