Revell 1/12 chopper

It's been a long time since I've built anything without wings but I was browsing in the hobby shop when I was captivated by the Revell Chopper kits. I hadn't seen them before and they brought back happy memories of building custom choppers and trikes kits as a kid. So I snapped one up and with little idea of what I'm doing or where all this is leading I jumped right in.

I'm the first to say that I know very, very little about bikes and I'm sure that I've already goofed up plenty but here's the motor mostly finished.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v294/complete/models/paintedmotorhigh.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v294/complete/models/paintedmotorlow1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v294/complete/models/paintedmotorlow.jpg

I'm not looking for a showroom finish more of a cooling down after a long run kinda look. I added some scale bolts( probably in the wrong spots) which is a first for me and some spurious hoses. ( I'm pretty sure that the oil connections on the bottom left of the motor should hook up to the oil tank and possibly an oil cooler but I'm not sure how.) What's really bugging me is I'm kind baffled as to just where the spark plug should locate. Any ideas? See picture.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v294/complete/models/paintedmotorhighback.jpg

Been busy drilling out the disc brakes and the chain sprocket. Getting the frame ready to put together and thinking about what color to paint it. I'm not that great with high gloss finished and so I'm slowly prepping the fenders and tank for a, hopefully, smooth coat of paint. So far the kits gone together beautifully and I've had a blast.

Thanks for stopping by for a look. I hope you enjoy.

Dan

Great start!!! I'm doing the same kit and your engine looks terrific. I've done a lot of research on the chopper set up as I don't know much of them either. The spark plugs should go where the left arrow points, and your assumption of their attachment point is correct.

Regarding the oil linkage, you have one line from the oil tank to the pump and then two from the pump to the oil filter and back. You also have one back from the punp to the tank and one from the engine to the tank. I have a great picture I'll try and post some day. If you want you can also use an oil cooler. There is one molded in the kit, just above the pump.

If you have questions, ask away, I think I can answer several of them.

Again, great start and much welcome to the bike section!
/Joel

Thank you for your reply Joel, just the kind on info I needed. I think I'll just connect the oil tank to the filter and leave it at that for this build, though for the next one....:naughty:

I've not much to show for a weeks tinkering. Most of my time has been with assembly, sanding and priming. I couldn't think of a way to paint the rear fender and then add it to the assembled frame so I went ahead and painted the rear fender and once it sets up nice and hard I'll mask it off and put the frame together around it. Thinned the edges of the fender and then tried out Tamiyas TS-50 Mica Blue from a rattle can. Tried out clear coating the finish with Tamiya clear TS-13 which worked better than I would have thought.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v294/complete/models/fender1.jpg

I need to prep the parts a bit better as I ended up with a few fine scratches and a bit of orange peel. Hope to get a better finish on the tank, we'll see. For the frame I'm going to go with Tamiyas gloss black but I think I'll attempt to decant the paint and then spray it through an airbrush. I haven't tried that before so it should be some fun.

I hope to have more to share by Sunday evening. Until then thanks for stopping in and having a look.

Cheers,
Dan

That fender looks great! I think I'd paint the frame unassembled and then glue it together with the painted fender. The split in the frame won't be visible when everything is assembled on top of it.
/Joel

Thanks again for the advice Joel. I've gone ahead and painted the frame halves separately gloss black. I hope I don't make a hash of the join in the front where the forks attach.

Worked on finishing the tank.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v294/complete/models/tankside.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v294/complete/models/tankfront1.jpg

I didn't like the fuel cap so I dusted off the lathe and turned a replacement from aluminium rod. I wanted it to sit more flush with the top of the tank and I think I managed to get the look I was after. I just need to add a coat of Future over the polished aluminium to keep it from tarnishing.

Oil tank got a shot at the paint booth.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v294/complete/models/oiltank.jpg

These close ups really show I need to work on my paint prep... Oh well it's all in good fun.

I'm trying to turn a replacement air cleaner but I'm not having as much luck as I did with the cap. I can't get one that looks like I want it to. Just another of the joys of model building.

Later tonight I'll put the frame together and insert the engine.

Till then thanks for looking.
Cheers,
Dan

Tank looks great! I think you should have turned a cap to the oil tank as well. The kit part looks aweful... When mounting the frame use just a tad bit of glue on the frontmost part of the frame and hold it together while drying with a bit of masking tape.
/Joel

The motor looks really realistic. Also the blue paint looks smooth and shiny. Keep us posted, from what i see its going to be a great chopper.

PS Can you explain the procedure for the wash you used? Type of paint, etc?

Thanks for sharing :thumbsup:

Long week with not much accomplished. Messed about with the lathe to get the air cleaner turned. Came out petty well but really needs to be a touch bigger and smoother. But I think it looks better than the plastic part.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v294/complete/models/aircleaner1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v294/complete/models/aircleaner.jpg

I'll try and get the frame together tomorrow and start to tackle the front forks.

Joel- You're right, the oil tank needs a new cap and I'll be turning one up for it. Thanks for kicking me in the pants. :)

MidMazar- Thanks for your kind comments. I used an oil paint wash on the motor. Winsor & Newton Burnt Umber and Paynes Gray in about a 50-50 mix. I then thin them until nice and runny with a 50-50 mix of thinners and lighter fluid. (Pretty flammable stuff so be careful) The lighter fluid cuts the drying time of the oil wash down to about 24 hours maybe less depending on the weather. I do my washes last thing before finishing for the night and they are usually dry by the next evening. You do have to work a bit faster than if you just thin with thinners. It's also helpful to keep adding thinners and lighter fluid to the mix to keep it workable. Oil pants are one of my favorite mediums I just hate to wait for them to dry :).

Thanks for stopping in for a look.

Cheers,
Dan

Knocking off for the weekend. Managed to get the forks finished and some basic construction started. The forks were replaced with lots of bits of aluminium tube all polished up. While I was at it I replaced the oil tank cap. Here's what she looks like now.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v294/complete/models/left.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v294/complete/models/right.jpg

I have to get started on the front fender and seat. Most of my time has been trying to get the exhaust pipes de-chromed and cleaned up so I can paint them and thinking about just what I'm going to do with the wheels. Right now I'm contemplating black spokes with silver rims but I haven't figured out how to do that without it going all pear shaped on me.

Cheers,

Dan

Nice work Dan, I'm hooked on this build!

Engine looks even more super when installed into the frame!
/Joel

CrateCruncher-- Thank you for your kind words I'm glad you like her.

Joel-- Thanks!

A little more progress.
I decided against using the spoked wheels. I dechromed and cleaned up the other wheels in the kit and turned up a valve stem for it.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v294/complete/models/wheel.jpg

Added the exhaust after removing the chrome, opening up the ends and spraying them with Tamiya TS-30 Silver Leaf (I like this color).

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v294/complete/models/pipes.jpg

Here's an over all picture. I've got to get started on wiring this beast.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v294/complete/models/leftside.jpg

Thanks for dropping in for a look.

Cheers,
Dan

Must again say what I've said in all of my posts, that engine is STUNNING!! A few wires and it'll be a killer.
Great job on the forks and the wheel, the latter looks very nice. Will be fun to see the rear one as well.
Can you give a short tutorial about how you opened the exhaust pipes?
/Joel