2008 Marco Simoncelli's Ride!

Hi, because I have to wait the paint of some of my proyects dries really well, I decided to make a fun-quick build.
I wanted the 2008 Marco Simoncelli's bike so bad, but some resin kits available are really expensive, so I decided to make my own, so i took a New-ray diecast bike to make the Gilera.
I love the Metis Gilera, I dont know why, I simply do, here is the bike:
http://img202.imageshack.us/img202/1801/25jpg700.jpg
This is the KS Worshop model:
http://img707.imageshack.us/img707/9175/61114497.jpg
This is the version I want to make:
http://img690.imageshack.us/img690/4641/030p01simoncelliaction.jpg
This is the Alex de Angelis Aprilia Im going to use:
http://img718.imageshack.us/img718/6429/img4632l.jpg
I made my own decals, here testing the size:
http://img202.imageshack.us/img202/6053/img4757o.jpg
Here are the decals, some of them I had to print in a white painted decal sheet:
http://img690.imageshack.us/img690/2340/img4758r.jpg
heres is the original exhaust, looks like a toy huh?
http://img202.imageshack.us/img202/5793/img4761x.jpg
The naked bike:
http://img64.imageshack.us/img64/9797/img4762d.jpg
http://img641.imageshack.us/img641/7091/img4764j.jpg
Sanded the original paint:
http://img64.imageshack.us/img64/3230/img4769o.jpg
Used Testor putty to fill the exhaust:
http://img718.imageshack.us/img718/3648/img4768fu.jpg
Primer:
http://img64.imageshack.us/img64/2514/img4770n.jpg
I like this holes in the 2009 version, so, this is a fun build, just because I like the bike, so even tought the 2008 Gilera didnt have these, im going to mahe them:
http://img709.imageshack.us/img709/6769/9893763.jpg
So I got this micro drill kit:
http://img202.imageshack.us/img202/2479/img4775cd.jpg
http://img641.imageshack.us/img641/3816/img4776l.jpg
Here is the hole pattern made with masking tape:
http://img709.imageshack.us/img709/1407/img4777l.jpg
Ready!
http://img641.imageshack.us/img641/6268/img4779d.jpg
http://img202.imageshack.us/img202/387/img4778g.jpg
http://img64.imageshack.us/img64/7962/img4780.jpg
http://img202.imageshack.us/img202/7202/img4782h.jpg
I used white and gray in the CF pieces bacause as I made my own decals, they are really transparent, so if I apply them on black, the CF pattern dispears, here making the templates for rear fender and air intake:
http://img690.imageshack.us/img690/9186/img4807o.jpg
http://img709.imageshack.us/img709/1417/img4784fj.jpg
http://img709.imageshack.us/img709/815/img4785d.jpg
http://img641.imageshack.us/img641/1305/img4808d.jpg
Regular job, not really good at it:
http://img718.imageshack.us/img718/5664/img4809k.jpg
Decals ready to be used:
http://img64.imageshack.us/img64/74/img4801i.jpg
Flat black and Alclad 2 chrome for the exhaust:
http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/7814/img4811n.jpg
Now the welds:
http://img202.imageshack.us/img202/7114/img4812d.jpg
Some CF decals to the exhaust tails and decals:
http://img202.imageshack.us/img202/8619/img4831l.jpg

Its time to put some color on:
http://img709.imageshack.us/img709/7954/img4830ve.jpg
http://img64.imageshack.us/img64/9223/img4829q.jpg
http://img709.imageshack.us/img709/4479/img4837rz.jpg
Template for the CF tail section:
http://img202.imageshack.us/img202/6764/img4839d.jpg
http://img64.imageshack.us/img64/4048/img4840m.jpg
http://img718.imageshack.us/img718/1197/img4841g.jpg
http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/9701/img4844d.jpg
Decal application, its hard because the decals with white background become really cracky with the tamiya mark fit:
http://img709.imageshack.us/img709/6537/img4843w.jpg
http://img709.imageshack.us/img709/9317/img4845aq.jpg
http://img202.imageshack.us/img202/5036/img4848k.jpg
Testing, I do a lot of test to see how thw bike looks:
http://img64.imageshack.us/img64/8434/img4858v.jpg
http://img62.imageshack.us/img62/6785/img4861l.jpg
Two coats of clear, I need more to protect the decals because some of the got cracks, and some edges came up a little:
http://img709.imageshack.us/img709/2530/16727273.jpg
What you think?
http://img64.imageshack.us/img64/783/27jpg700.jpg
http://img62.imageshack.us/img62/2936/img4897n.jpg
Some of the decals look blurry but hey, I going to have the Sinoncelli's ride at low low price!
maybe some day Im going to mahe the Championship winner version, I love it too:
http://img62.imageshack.us/img62/8918/gilera2502.jpg
Or the thomas luthi Caffe Late Aprilia...maybe...

Finally final work, I polished and waxed pieces:
http://img199.imageshack.us/img199/6967/31734757.jpg
Now work with cables, and details, I know nothing about 250cc bikes, so I hope to connect cables in the right place using some reference:
http://img52.imageshack.us/img52/5032/img5031c.jpg
The cables came from a mouse cables, they are really flexible and glue good to pieces:
http://img168.imageshack.us/img168/9186/img5037y.jpg
Cables, tire decals, wheel decals, some part wash, some cratch pieces and ready!
http://img249.imageshack.us/img249/2601/img5038l.jpg
http://img72.imageshack.us/img72/7685/img5040.jpg
http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/438/img5042t.jpg
I made a mistake, I didnt cut the seat support, junt for lazy, and didnt fill the exhaust pipe hole that is around this support, I tought It wont show, but yes, its noticeable, bad bad.
http://img35.imageshack.us/img35/999/img5043d.jpg
http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/3040/img5047a.jpg
http://img230.imageshack.us/img230/4484/img5049.jpg
http://img297.imageshack.us/img297/1871/img5050p.jpg
Im saving final assembly for tonight, with a good cup of coffe to enjoy the moment.
http://img517.imageshack.us/img517/1614/img5052o.jpg
I applied winshield decals and brush covered with clear for protection, self made decals get really cracky when they dry, so the need to be sealed:
http://img265.imageshack.us/img265/2271/img5053m.jpg
http://img708.imageshack.us/img708/1669/img5055a.jpg
http://img198.imageshack.us/img198/6357/img5057n.jpg
http://img340.imageshack.us/img340/6572/img5061i.jpg

Very nice work.

You call that a quick-fun build??? :eek7:

Looks great, actually, I love that bike and I really like Marco (even if some of his moves are questionable), so thank you for sharing.

Alex, since I'm sure you have much more information about racing bikes available for modelers, can you, at the risk of veering slightly off-topic, tell me if there are any resin kits or diecasts (ideally in 1/24 but 1/12 is OK too) available of the Max Biaggi's championship-winning Aprilias from the 90-s? Or if someone is planning to make a model of the most beautiful bike ever, in my opinion - the Alitalia RSV4? :licka:

Thanks,
Alex

You call that a quick-fun build??? :eek7:


Alex, since I'm sure you have much more information about racing bikes available for modelers, can you, at the risk of veering slightly off-topic, tell me if there are any resin kits or diecasts (ideally in 1/24 but 1/12 is OK too) available of the Max Biaggi's championship-winning Aprilias from the 90-s? Or if someone is planning to make a model of the most beautiful bike ever, in my opinion - the Alitalia RSV4? :licka:

Thanks,
Alex

Hi, thanks for your comments.
Im not really into 250cc motorcycles, I have found in the web some die cast sites, like minichamps, due some day I want to have the Rossi's Aprilias, I found these ones for Biaggi #1 Aprilia:
http://www.minichamps112.com/minichamps_112_aprilia_rsv250_m_biaggi_chesterfiel d_aprilia_team_gp_1995.html
http://www.themotorpool.net/1995-Aprilia-RSV250-Aprilia-Motorcycle-Max-Biaggi-p/min122950001.htm

KS Workshop has some resin 250 gp bikes, but I dont know if he has Biaggi ones, you can check when the "shop" button is red, so the store is open:http://www.ks-workshop.com/ (http://www.ks-workshop.com/)
Oh yes! (Im looking), he has a transkit:
http://www.ks-workshop.com/shop/kwk017.html


I think the Alitalia is going to be released till the end of the year, because its a 2010 model.
Would be cool to mahe yourself, is Tamiya, Maisto or New ray releasw¿e the 2010 street version.

Finally finished, here are a some of the differences between original die-cast and finla modification:
http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/1660/sim1z.jpg
http://img3.imageshack.us/img3/5691/sim3.jpg
http://img641.imageshack.us/img641/5462/sim4.jpg
http://img443.imageshack.us/img443/1061/sim5i.jpg
http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/2725/sim6.jpg
http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/4593/sim7.jpg
Here is the complete model gallery:
http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=6390819#post6390819