My First Motorcycle - Yam YZF-R1

I picked up a couple Tamiya 1/12 motorcycles at Hobby Lobby's last 1/2 price sale: A Yamaha R1 and a Kawasaki Ninja. I decided to build the R1 first to get the fell of building bikes and I dont really want to muff up the Ninja.

I started this model a couple of weeks ago when I moved into my new apartment. Dry fitting went well and everything fit like a dream. So far this has been a very enjoyable build. Painting has been a pain at times, but also lots of fun.

http://www.photobucket.com/albums/0903/Ibaneezer/Cover01.jpg http://www.photobucket.com/albums/0903/Ibaneezer/Cover02.jpg
http://www.photobucket.com/albums/0903/Ibaneezer/Thing.jpg
Some of the engine covers and stuff I finished detailing. W/ the black frame I decided to give the covers a little extra so they are flat metallic black instead of just flat back.
http://www.photobucket.com/albums/0903/Ibaneezer/Cowling.jpg
http://www.photobucket.com/albums/0903/Ibaneezer/BodyParts.jpg
http://www.photobucket.com/albums/0903/Ibaneezer/Body.jpg
Some of the body parts with a couple coats of white. I figure one more wet coat of white and I'll be ready for red then black.
http://www.photobucket.com/albums/0903/Ibaneezer/Chain.jpg
It's all about the detail right? Here's the chain, this took me a while but I think it worth it :iceslolan

http://www.photobucket.com/albums/0903/Ibaneezer/Brakes.jpg
Drilled brake rotors after paint. I might strip them down and re sand them cause they aren't really as smooth as I'd like.
http://www.photobucket.com/albums/0903/Ibaneezer/Forks.jpg
http://www.photobucket.com/albums/0903/Ibaneezer/Wheels_2.jpg
http://www.photobucket.com/albums/0903/Ibaneezer/Wheels.jpg
I used Krylon Real Chrome for the wheels. What do you guys do to polish out chrome paint? I have a couple of spots that aren't really smooth and I dont want to put on another coat.
http://www.photobucket.com/albums/0903/Ibaneezer/OddsNEnds02.jpg
http://www.photobucket.com/albums/0903/Ibaneezer/OddsNEnds01.jpg

I work with most of my parts on bamboo skewers, which I learned from building Gundams. It works pretty well and I can reuse the skewers because I use Tacky glue balls on the end. You just stick the part on, paint, pull the part off, and stick the next peice on. :smokin: I've also got a couple skewers w/ gator clamps on the end for quick jobs or big peices.


http://www.photobucket.com/albums/0903/Ibaneezer/Disaster.jpg

I seriously f*ed up on this one. I wanted to go with the satin black frame and I didn't take the chrome off before I painted the black so now I have to strip the paint and then strip the chrome. :headshake It sucks balls

Thats Awesome i need one of those

Looking good so far. :) What color is it going to be?

That is looking awesome. I love it. Keep us posted.

Well, i'm going for the red white and black livery but I wanted to do something a little different. I'm going with a satin black frame and I probbably add some black to the bottom of the main cowling.
http://www.photobucket.com/albums/0903/Ibaneezer/Refrence.gif

I put the frame, swingarm, brakes, and exhaust in brake fluid and stripped the black paint off. Then to get the rest of the chrome plate off the frame I put it in a bath of bleach. Now that it's all down to bare plastic I can get it painted and start some of the assembly. I'll try and get more pics up asap.