Eighties Contest Entry: Barry Sheene's 1980 YZR500

[robrex]

Originally Posted by sjelic

Brilliant! Since you made such effort with clutch assembly I supose you will replace all of the molded nuts/screws on engine (I am dreaming of this but I hate to use so much material for one model , call me cheap )

Thanks Sasa, yes I do plan on using Sakatsu bolt heads (I'm waiting on another delivery from HLJ). I'm also using SMS and Model Car Garage detail packs.

Originally Posted by klutz_100

feedback ...that's as little as I can make it j/k

Seriously awsome...any plans for the pistons in the cylinders? piston rings?

No, I think I'll leave the engine internals alone? Although......

Thankyou everyone for the encouragement!

[robrex]

lots of work!

Barry's bike had a different fuel cap location to the Team bikes. Here is the first stage of remodelling. I intend to make the whole tank and have the cap loose.

[Nobbys Nuts]

Unbeleivable imagination and skill to be able to physically do all those alterations.

[Murray Kish]

Sheesh Rob! You've done more scratch/machining work in those few parts than most people will do in a lifetime!

Looks great. I'd love to see some in progress 'machining' pics. Great job!

Murray

[klutz_100]

This is just NUTS!!!!
If someone to describe what you are doing, it wouldn't sound possible!
I'm in shocked awe

PS I'd love to see some in progress machining shots too

[Grampas Club]

Fantastic work on a legendary man and machine!

Another vote here for a little machining step-by-step...keep up the very nice work!

[Eric Cole]

Your work is amazing. I don't know what else there is to say.

[robrex]

I got some more progress done over the weekend.
-Finished off the engine
-Completed the exhaust (how-to coming)
-fabricated the screen (how-to coming)
Problem is the AF picture server doesn't seem to be working so until that is sorted out I can't show any pictures!!!!

I'll also take some pictures and do a progress post on machining the mufflers next.

[willimo]

Outstandingling wonderfully awesomely amazingly beautiful! This is one for the record books.

[robrex]

more updates
The spark plugs

I made some modifications to this thing on the engine - compare the original part to my modified part.

and here's another picture of the engine

I have started on the bodywork and had to find a way to correct the screen, which protrudes down further than the Tamiya kit. Also I wanted to try to get a more scale appearance by using thinner plastic which means that I will be able to connect the screen to the body with screws, just like the real bikes.
Here's how I did it.
First I made a template using the original screen (this was an experiment so I was really in trouble if it didn't work)

next I heated some clear plastic over a candle and once it started to get really soft I pulled it down over the template

This took a lot of trial and error until I got it right. In the end the screen is made out of the plastic that my mobile phone charger came in.
I'll have more shots of this during the Bodywork stages but I can tell you that it looks awesome in real life and I'll probably use this method for all my bikes!!!!.

On to the exhausts.
They are quite plain out of the box, so I added weld seams using a hypodermic needle and liquid nails

Then I sprayed them with Tamiya Gloss black enamel then Alclad II chrome. Once that dried I sprayed clear blue over all the weld seams.
I then hand painted masking sol over the welds and clear blue

Once the masking sol dried I sprayed Tamiya X-9 brown over the mask trying to achieve a minimal over spray. As soon as I had finished spraying the brown I peeled the mask off. What do you think??


Also a BIG thanks to Sticky Fingers , who put me onto www.photobucket.com Thanks Stuart!!!!
I was about to give up on this forum due to the problems with downloading images!

Next I'll take some higher res photo's of the progress so far. Thanks for looking!

[DukeMan]

WOW, extremly nice work! Good to see you making such progress.

[joelwideqvist]

Wow, Rob! Those exhausts are amazing. You really caught what many others miss out on when it comes to getting the bike to life. All the progress looks absolutely stunning! Keep it coming!
Joel

[RallyRaider]

Astounding ingenuity Rob! Inspirational work.

[klutz_100]

[Roca46]

Wooow!!! this is one of the best bikes i have seen ever!

The exhaust looks extremely awesome!!

Sincerely i need more big photos of those exhausts!! i love them!!

Best Regards