Honda NSR500 Mugello 2001

[Duncan1098]

There is a long story behind this build. For the last 10 years I have been offering to build a kit for my Daughter, and every time, she has asked for this bike! And for 10 years I have tried to put her off, because I know the Renaissance transkit is very very hard work, putting it mildly,
But it is her 21st this year, so I relented, and thought I would surprise her.
I have only ever seen one of these kits ever completed, and that is by a friend (Paul) also in our club, les Garagistes. The one advantage is that you get to know all the pit falls with the kit before you get to them, and there were loads and loads. It has to be one of the greatest liveries on a bike, shame Tamiya never bought it out as a kit (and the 2001 Bike)
I have been working on it for three Months, and didn’t want to start a thread before I was sure I could finish it. I will pace the updates, so you can follow the build, and all the problems on the way!

[Duncan1098]

The start of the build, had to re shape to front mudgaurd abit, removing the supports that run behind the front forks, no real problem, then re did the forks with the up grade set (nice set).


Then started on the engine. had to do major re working on the air intake to get it so the front fairing fitted over it, was a real pain, also had to remove alot from the front lower section sides aswell to fit into the fairings the pipes for the radiator had to be totally re done aswell as they wouldn't line up with the lower radiator. Also getting the lower radiator to line up and fit inside to lower fairing was hard work.

[John18d]

Really nice work so far Duncan -
I will follow your thread
John

[circuitR]

Very impressive! I'm subbed to this!

[KC27]

Nice clean work. The CF parts are excellent.

[dlphnfn]

Looking forward to this... Pauls build was great too!

[evilduse]

Looks interesting! I would like to rebuild my old kit someday and do a better quality, super detail job on it. I have never found many reference pics for this bike so your super detail project will be something I can use as a reference! Good luck!

[Duncan1098]

Next bit, the dry fit, it took five weeks to get it all to fit together right, loads of problems, one was the rear swing arm, when fitted onto the frame, it was off on the upright, so the wheel was sitting at 20 degree angle, and not straight. so had to plug the holes in the frame and re drill them so the swing arm sat right. then the ride hight was too low,so used the Tamiya suspension arm, not the resin one, but had to change the clearance of the bottom of the swing arm to the frame. Next problem was the casting of the resin, the front fairing was so thin, that the lower side bits that fit to the lower fairing broke off, so had to re make them with styreen, what fun, was getting tempted to give up, but didn't! the rear fairing anlge was totally wrong, so had to re do that, where it fits to the frame, to get it to sit right. and then getting the front fairings to clear the airbox, had to take the airbox off three times , filing the back off so it sat further back. Then the lower fairing didn't clear the lower radiator, so had to re shape the sides of that, to clear the fairing, and file the inside of the fairing where the molding was too thick.

[Lockheed]

Awesome!!! But the kit cannot assembly... fro me, would use the original kit modify!!!

[The Sheene Machine]

It's hard to believe one kit had so many problems with it....

[Duncan1098]

Small up date, no real problems with these bits, decals a very good, and go on well, do need stronge decal solution though to soften them. also had to use the resevoir for the rear brake from the Tamiya frame, as it was omitted on the resin one.

[John18d]

coming along nicely Duncan
keep it coming - good explanations and pics
John

[Duncan1098]

Starting to get it all together, decalled the fairings, and got the exhausts together, the upgrade set for the exhausts is very good, metal tips, and springs and good mounts for the springs.

[The Sheene Machine]

[Duncan1098]

Last bit, the exhausts were a real pain to fit in the right way under the rear cowling, but got there in the end with endless tweeks. the screen was a problem as well, had to make a sill on the inside of the front fairing for it to sit on, bit of a fiddle, but worked ok.