Honda manga

Hello everyone,
My Porsche has been finished so I’m jumping on to this; I stopped this build about 3 weeks ago when I was just about at the half way point. For those of you who don’t know this is the Tamiya Honda Manga kit in 1/6 scale, which is a great kit by the way. I’m trying to build this as a café racer type bike which has kinda been hard with a 50 cc engine but so far it has worked out. Anyway here’s the beginning to the point where I’m now:
First the goal i'm going for this look mixed with cafe racers:

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd396/dragsterlover/honda/130117C_C.jpg
Now the basic block compared to a 1/24 scale kit:

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd396/dragsterlover/honda/DSCN2487.jpg

And I have added gaskets to almost every thing:

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd396/dragsterlover/honda/DSCN2489.jpg

Skip a few steps and here's the engine kinda done:

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd396/dragsterlover/honda/DSCN2494.jpg

And now the frame which I have added welds too. The engine is also in:

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd396/dragsterlover/honda/DSCN2526.jpg

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd396/dragsterlover/honda/DSCN2528.jpg

I then added texture to some of the fiberglass pieces:

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd396/dragsterlover/honda/DSCN2529.jpg

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd396/dragsterlover/honda/DSCN2530.jpg

Then the modified swing arm:

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd396/dragsterlover/honda/DSCN2642.jpg

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd396/dragsterlover/honda/DSCN2646.jpg

I also rebuilt the breaks in the back:

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd396/dragsterlover/honda/DSCN2643.jpg

And in the front:

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd396/dragsterlover/honda/DSCN2649.jpg

Then here's the planed stance:

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd396/dragsterlover/honda/DSCN2596.jpg

The tool bag on the side was modified and I made some stuff to go in it:

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd396/dragsterlover/honda/DSCN2591.jpg

Then installed:

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd396/dragsterlover/honda/DSCN2595.jpg

Then the kickstand was scratch built:

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd396/dragsterlover/honda/DSCN2656.jpg

Now just a overall shot at that point:

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd396/dragsterlover/honda/DSCN2657.jpg

The modified exhaust:

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd396/dragsterlover/honda/DSCN2666.jpg

Then some wiring began:

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd396/dragsterlover/honda/DSCN2667.jpg

The fuel tank had a decent amount of body work to be done, manly I took some of the width out then weld seems where added to the bottom:

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd396/dragsterlover/honda/DSCN2668.jpg

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd396/dragsterlover/honda/DSCN2669.jpg

Then painted:

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd396/dragsterlover/honda/DSCN2722.jpg

Just because this is getting way to boring and long here's where I'm at right now:

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd396/dragsterlover/honda/DSCN2731.jpg

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd396/dragsterlover/honda/DSCN2734.jpg

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd396/dragsterlover/honda/DSCN2736.jpg

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd396/dragsterlover/honda/DSCN2737.jpg

Thank you for looking, sorry for the long post didn't realize how long this was but anyways thanks and any comments or help is appreciated.

Really cool! The gaskets are awesome... First time seeing anyone do them like that. Rock on!

Really cool! The gaskets are awesome... First time seeing anyone do them like that. Rock on!

dito, looks geat so far, nice details

stunning details!!!. My eyes go crazy :)

Hello everyone and thanks,
The gaskets are quite easy to make there just thin plastic painted.

I have made a bit of progress not much but it really makes the bike more cafe style, I have forgotten the rear fender and seat and replaced them both with much smaller units. The shocks have been moved so I need more support in one area, this was added, and it also gave me a place to mount the rear turn singles. I also got the front light bolted on, i took of the stock molded-in bracket and made my own adjustable one.

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd396/dragsterlover/honda/DSCN2998.jpg

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd396/dragsterlover/honda/DSCN2995.jpg

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd396/dragsterlover/honda/DSCN2990.jpg

Sorry about the mess but this thing won't fit in my backdrop, add if any one can help with ideas I can't figure out where to mount the license plate in a hidden place.

Thanks for looking.

Hello everyone.

Got some paint done, I have decided that to be a true cafe bike that all the part will be mismatched in age and brands, so some parts will be weathered and some will still have the sticker on them. (hopefully that makes sense)

So on that note here's some of the weathered parts:

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd396/dragsterlover/honda/DSCN3003.jpg

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd396/dragsterlover/honda/DSCN3001.jpg

And some of the parts I showed last time kinda finished:

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd396/dragsterlover/honda/DSCN2999.jpg

Then here's the headlight:

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd396/dragsterlover/honda/DSCN3000.jpg

And lastly I found a place to hide the turn lights in the front:

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd396/dragsterlover/honda/DSCN3005.jpg

Thanks for looking comments are appreciated.

Hello again,

I have started on the front end first off the handle bars. There styled after a modern sport bike. The grips from tamiya where vinyl kinda one of the few problems in the kit they where remade out of some heat shrink, each side is different to bring in that pieced together look. The actual box things where the wires connect ( sorry no clue what the name ) need to be replaced. Still working out how to make some.

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd396/dragsterlover/honda/2012-05-15160115.jpg

And like the monkeys handle bars they fold up:

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd396/dragsterlover/honda/2012-05-15160348.jpg

Then I've done one turn single:

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd396/dragsterlover/honda/2012-05-15160007.jpg

On the other side I added what i think is a damper of some sort. It looks like the sensor used in sport bikes but in my reference there's no wires so any guise what it is but i built one.

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd396/dragsterlover/honda/2012-05-15160251.jpg


Well thanks for watching. Any comments or idea or even criticism is appreciated.

Hello everyone

Not much progress but a bit I got the turn singles in and some of the wiring for it all:

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd396/dragsterlover/honda/DSCN3021.jpg

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd396/dragsterlover/honda/DSCN3022.jpg

Also did the front. I added some damage to one of the front lights, manly because I lost the headlight lens ......

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd396/dragsterlover/honda/DSCN3019.jpg

Also started on some wiring for all the switches:

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd396/dragsterlover/honda/DSCN3020.jpg

And lastly I added " engine turned" polish to the bottom of the seat pan. Sorry doesn't photograph well.

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd396/dragsterlover/honda/DSCN3024.jpg

Thanks for looking.

this is looking fantastic, great work so far

Flat black and damage look great. Has anyone ever tried painting steel under the black and then scratching out the damage? Might look like real damage on painted steel parts.

Thanks guys really means a lot. Sasha45acp:, the way you mention is actaulay how I did most of this, tamiya's chrome was underneath and I just painted on top, when handling they become mildly chipped like in real life.

I've got a few odd bits done but the big excitement is RB motion a/n fittings, this might be old news but last time I went on there site they where advertising pre-anodized fittings I've never been particularly good at the anodized look so I went and bought some and there pretty awesome. Also got the oil cooler scratch built for them to go on.

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd396/dragsterlover/honda/DSCN3055.jpg
(just a note you can't see the dust in real life)
http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd396/dragsterlover/honda/DSCN3053.jpg

Next off will be some of Pro Tech's .80 line, but I still have to get that ordered.

Anyway I also got the front light finished:

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd396/dragsterlover/honda/DSCN3054.jpg

Got the clutch/chain cover finished:

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd396/dragsterlover/honda/DSCN3050.jpg

And built a fuel pump, the stock pieces is the gray plastic blob and my thing in the tweezers:

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd396/dragsterlover/honda/DSCN3047.jpg

And here's kinda a overall pic of whats going on:

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd396/dragsterlover/honda/DSCN3057.jpg

Sorry not a ton done but the cotton wood is out in force right now and thanks to allergies most days i cant even see. http://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/public/style_emoticons/default/sad.png

Anyways thanks for watching.

Hi,

This isn't much of an update but its the begin of the two parts that I've dreaded the most.

First of the electrical panel, the stock piece is just one molded in piece, so first I drew out the panel and copied it in to plastic, I've also made all the little boxes but for some reason photo bucket wouldn't load them, will have to try again later.

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd396/dragsterlover/honda/DSCN3049.jpg

And the handle controls, I was inspired by BetoBrazil's amazing Yamaha and tried to do half a good job on them. so far I don't have much done but it took a few hours just to get here.

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd396/dragsterlover/honda/DSCN3065.jpg

Thanks for looking, And hopefully more progress next update.

Update time!!!

First off the braided line showed up yesterday and is already installed:

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd396/dragsterlover/honda/DSCN3107.jpg

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd396/dragsterlover/honda/DSCN3117.jpg

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd396/dragsterlover/honda/DSCN3108.jpg

The hand controls are also done, on one side, I found a tiny spring that's inside them so it all actually works.

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd396/dragsterlover/honda/DSCN3114.jpg

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd396/dragsterlover/honda/DSCN3113.jpg


Also made the cable tensor for them, some how the paints already chipping, will have to retouch it later......

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd396/dragsterlover/honda/DSCN3116.jpg


The other side hand control was also built. I cut off most of the stock piece and rebuilt it more like a sports bike would have, before it was the set up most cruisers have.

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd396/dragsterlover/honda/DSCN3124.jpg

More.......

The kick stand has kinda been a ongoing problem, I wasn't happy with the first few tries I posted before so here what I think (hopefully) is the final one.

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd396/dragsterlover/honda/DSCN3104.jpg

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd396/dragsterlover/honda/DSCN3120.jpg

Some of the foot controls where also scratch built.

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd396/dragsterlover/honda/DSCN3118.jpg

Half the resin this update took so long was that I idiotically knock the bike of my workbench so after rebuilding I need to make sure I couldn't do this again, looking again to Moto GP bikes I added this thing under the rear swing arm, the half circle is for a stand when the bike is finished and displayed and the tinny holes bolt the bike down.

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd396/dragsterlover/honda/DSCN3119.jpg

The front break is kinda sucky in this kit, so it was chucked in the dremel and turned to in my opinion looks better, then it was painted in MM aluminum and put again in the dremel and polished while spinning.

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd396/dragsterlover/honda/DSCN3126.jpg

The side body work was also done in a way to look like is going through repairs

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd396/dragsterlover/honda/DSCN3127.jpg

And a fuel gauge was added to the tank

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd396/dragsterlover/honda/DSCN3125.jpg

And lastly the front wheel got a bit more detailing, its the part that connects to the spedio.

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd396/dragsterlover/honda/DSCN3129.jpg

Thanks for watching and please leave some input.

Hello,

Some progress,

First off the story of the rear shocks,Here's a comparison pic, the shock on the left is basically stock, in the middle is the best I could do to modify it, not that great. But on the left is the great shocks from RB motion.

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd396/dragsterlover/honda/DSCN3182.jpg

Then installed and so on.

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd396/dragsterlover/honda/DSCN3186.jpg

The foot controls shown before have also been completed and installed:

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd396/dragsterlover/honda/DSCN3188.jpg

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd396/dragsterlover/honda/DSCN3190.jpg

The other side was also built, on this side some of the pieces are still Tamiya's plastic just messed with, then some other scratch built stuff was added.

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd396/dragsterlover/honda/DSCN3187.jpg

a bit more.......

An oil overflow tank is a popular addition in 1:1 so I built this, The braided line appears to travel in a weird path, but it must do this to clear the air cleaner.

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd396/dragsterlover/honda/DSCN3191.jpg

And the tank it's self was scratch built then just bolts in and then was accented with some Pro Tech breathers, and some detail master fittings.

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd396/dragsterlover/honda/DSCN3193.jpg

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd396/dragsterlover/honda/DSCN3195.jpg


Then the horn was built up, I added a mount for this early on when the frame was first built but forgot about it till now.....

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd396/dragsterlover/honda/DSCN3197.jpg

Then comes the seat, this ended up being a bit of a project, I carved out some foam then covered it in some white fabric, then added a million rivets(at least it felt like it) then weathered and beat it up.

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd396/dragsterlover/honda/DSCN3198.jpg

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd396/dragsterlover/honda/DSCN3199.jpg

still a bit more.....

Back a while I showed the chrome accent for the tank, have since decided that it wasn't very cafe looking, so I cut it down and have reshaped it since.

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd396/dragsterlover/honda/DSCN3201.jpg

Then on top two gas/oil caps will go, yes there isn't a oil tank in the tank but it looks cool....

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd396/dragsterlover/honda/DSCN3202.jpg

Also got these cool 1/6th scale boots to go with it all, weathered them a bit before this pic and added some initials to the back.

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd396/dragsterlover/honda/DSCN3203.jpg

When you get um' by the bike it really puts in to perspective how small this bike really is.

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd396/dragsterlover/honda/DSCN3204.jpg

And here's a overall shot with the new shocks:

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd396/dragsterlover/honda/DSCN3200.jpg

Anyway thanks for looking everyone, any comments are appreciated, and if you have any question feel free to ask...

Hello again, time for a small update, the Nissan has been taking up much of my time but I got a bit done..

Got one of the side pods on, scratch built some brackets and pins to hold the panel up, it comes off and the pins work..ect. Also added the license plate bracket

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd396/dragsterlover/honda/DSCN3283.jpg

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd396/dragsterlover/honda/DSCN3282.jpg

And i decided that the stock brake wasn't gonna cut is so I scrachbuild a new front rotor, it still needs to be painted.

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd396/dragsterlover/honda/DSCN3285.jpg

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd396/dragsterlover/honda/DSCN3286.jpg

also build a frame for the seat to sit on out of some plastic strip, painted it all black, then used some brass rivets to attach the frame to the aluminum seat pan, this was then all connected with some of RBmotion's 1/24 scale shocks, sorry this pic. seriously sucks, I'll try to get new ones quick and replace um'

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd396/dragsterlover/honda/DSCN3526.jpg

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd396/dragsterlover/honda/DSCN3527.jpg

Thanks for looking!!..............

Hi, back to work, realized a few days ago that this build been going on for more than 6 months! So I figure I need to get it done.........

First off I got the exhaust done and all mounted up:

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd396/dragsterlover/honda/DSCN3651.jpg


Then I mounted the seat, built a new plastic frame that attached to the seat pan then used some rivets to connect the two, then lastly used some rbmotion shocks to attach it to the car, Here's the modified shocks:

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd396/dragsterlover/honda/DSCN3284-1.jpg

Then all mounted up:

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd396/dragsterlover/honda/DSCN3526-1.jpg


http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd396/dragsterlover/honda/DSCN3527.jpg

This is kinda a stupid thing to point out but it took some time: I went back and filled all the bolts that had been added so far and added more washers and stuff, an example of all that work would be the shock mounts before they where just one nut, now a bit different:


http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd396/dragsterlover/honda/DSCN3635.jpg

Also did more on the electronics basically got all the wires in that lead up the the circuit boards, and electrical boxes, main thing was the kill which, witch almost everything needs to be connected to,

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd396/dragsterlover/honda/DSCN3664.jpg

The other electrical stuff was the front head light and all the switches behind that, also got part of the hand controls and brakes on...

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd396/dragsterlover/honda/DSCN3663.jpg

The front brake line was run,

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd396/dragsterlover/honda/DSCN3658.jpg

sorry this is kinda silly but, look at the tinny bolts, smallest I've ever used..... http://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/public/style_emoticons/default/laugh.png

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd396/dragsterlover/honda/DSCN3640.jpg

And not much in the way of progress but in the styling department I've decided to move all of the electronics out of the side pods and remove the side pods all together..., so were I had all the mounting point I just filled then with empty screws.....

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd396/dragsterlover/honda/DSCN3665.jpg

And the next project showed up in the mail.....:evillol:


http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd396/dragsterlover/honda/DSCN3666.jpg

Thanks for looking, I realize this isn't much in the terms of an update but it took a lot more work then it looks like, thanks... also I hate to be rude, but a comment once in a while would be nice, I'm not asking for praise, if you want to tell me it sucks then that's fine, just say what sucks so I can try to fix it.......

Wow, your attention to detail is stunning and I love how realistic the weathering looks. The boots are a lovely touch as are the tool bag.

Before I saw your last note I did want to say how I'm surprised how few comments this thread has. I know pretty much nothing about bikes but just reading through your progress I feel I've learned a lot about them! Does the exhaust really get that colourful from heat staining? It looks a little over done to my eyes but again I'm not the most experienced on this.

I'm really looking forward to your upcoming Porsche build! Please don't stop with the updates on this. Great job on the detailing, photos and explaining everything out.

thanks man. means a lot, Here's the porsche build if ya haven't seen it, http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=1081405, (thanks to everyone who has helped!!)

anyways I'm almost done with this, all i got do is get all the spacing right on the front and rear tires, and find a air cleaner

I decided to leave off the big air filter boxes, and moved the electronics to the frame, figure out the a lot of the stuff on the the stock tamiya piece was just fuses and I already had these in the line so I just had to do the coil...

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd396/dragsterlover/honda/DSCN3684.jpg

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd396/dragsterlover/honda/DSCN3880.jpg

also finished the hand controls

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd396/dragsterlover/honda/DSCN3682.jpg

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd396/dragsterlover/honda/DSCN3876.jpg

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd396/dragsterlover/honda/DSCN3878.jpg

and here's the top of the tank, kinda made it look like a work in progress....

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd396/dragsterlover/honda/DSCN3881.jpg

And here's the stance I'm aiming for....

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd396/dragsterlover/honda/DSCN3882.jpg

Thanks for looking!! your comments would rock...........

thanks man. means a lot, Here's the porsche build if ya haven't seen it, http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=1081405, (thanks to everyone who has helped!!)

anyways I'm almost done with this, all i got do is get all the spacing right on the front and rear tires, and find a air cleaner

I decided to leave off the big air filter boxes, and moved the electronics to the frame, figure out the a lot of the stuff on the the stock tamiya piece was just fuses and I already had these in the line so I just had to do the coil...

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd396/dragsterlover/honda/DSCN3684.jpg

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd396/dragsterlover/honda/DSCN3880.jpg

also finished the hand controls

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd396/dragsterlover/honda/DSCN3682.jpg

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd396/dragsterlover/honda/DSCN3876.jpg

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd396/dragsterlover/honda/DSCN3878.jpg

and here's the top of the tank, kinda made it look like a work in progress....

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd396/dragsterlover/honda/DSCN3881.jpg

And here's the stance I'm aiming for....

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd396/dragsterlover/honda/DSCN3882.jpg

Thanks for looking!! your comments would rock...........

you can not imagine how exciting it is to see your work.

thank you very much for showing pictures of the process.