WIP:01' Suzuki RGV Telefonica GP moto Kenny Roberts Jr.

[SkylineFan]

Off on another bike!! This time its Kenny Roberts Jr's 2001 RGV 500. FIrst of is a major discovery in the painting of the bike. Tamiya reccomends TS-51 Racing blue. I am sure you all that are familiar with this color can see by the real pics that TS-51 is way too dark. In fact from the pics I have found and looking closely at the box top its not even metallic to me..... I was hell bent on painting the bike fairings tonight that I improvised!! I sprayed all the body parts with KRYLON TRUE BLUE.....yes thats right KRYLON! then I applied 3 coats of tamiya acrylic clear blue as a candy top coat. Then I 2 part cleared the paint.... YES again.... I cleared over acrylic tamiya and Krylon paint! it came out great.. some polishing needed before decals, but I think the color represents the bike better than tamiyas reccomendation of TS-51...what do you guys think?

Here is the 1:1 bike:




Here is the parts painted up like described above:





I was cursing a few times, but managed to getthe decals applied.... Tamiya decals are strange. You put them on, blot them and then add solvent and they look horrible for about 10 minutes, then they look great. The body parts were polished first, then decals were applied... now the blue is looking right to me...alot better than TS-51!!!




Here is a pic out in the sunlight to give you an idea the vividness of the blue... it comes alive in bright light! Whats really interesting is the suzuki on the side. It was printed in that blue from Tamiya... look how close it is to my paint. TS-51 my foot!! If you guys build this bike, find the most vivid blue you can find. I think even TS-44 Brilliant blue would be good. then put a candy blue over top. About 3-4 coats should do it and you will have this color.



I love the way the swing arm fits the frame on this kit... very very clean!!




I threw the tank on the frame just so you could see the contrast between the polished frame and the cobalt blue



I also took the plated forks and coated them with clear orange and yellow acrylics... it looks like real anodized metal. Then I detailed the brake calipers. The fork plates were painted with Dark copper tamiya acrylic.



I also added SMS CF to the air box sides ONLY. I dont bother doing the whole box because it wont be seen once the bike is together.... when I do a full blown build someday, I will cover the entire box.

[mike@af]

Stunning work Dave. Im running out of things to say about your builds. There's not much to say other than magnificent.

[Modelcrafters.GP]

Great start so far. I agree with your color choice on the blue. I'm going to try your clear techniques over the plated forks tonight and see how they turn out. On your's, it looks super so far.

[sportracer02]

Wow,

looks very clean

[migper]

Excellent work you are doing on that Suzuki.
The "brembo" word on brakes is wonderful. How you do it so clean?

Miguel Pereira

[SkylineFan]

Originally Posted by migper

Excellent work you are doing on that Suzuki.
The "brembo" word on brakes is wonderful. How you do it so clean?

Miguel Pereira

After you paint the caliper gold, or whatever color it needs to be, Take some Tamiya clear red and fill in the lettering and wipe it off quickly with your finger.... thats it!!

Thanks guys, I am glad you all like it!!!

DaveT

[migper]

Thanks alot for your answer.
Good luck on it.

Miguel Pereira

[jdmaccordian]

I used ts-51 (telefonica blue) when I did this kit and it turned out okay. I think you more accurately matched the real color though. The kit looks great so far, can't wait for more progress!

[SkylineFan]

Thanks guys....

Exhaust is complete.... quite time consuming, but worth it.....

[SkylineFan]

MAJOR progress on the bike tonight... not only did I get the engine done, its installed!! Along with the Lower exhaust pipes.....

[SkylineFan]

I was not satisfied with the decals on the muffler "Cans" They dont look convincing and also came out crappy. They had a ton of wrinkles in them that would not come out with Solvaset.....

Here they are before:




I decided to remove the nasty kit decals and cover them with scale motorsport CF twill weave cut straight and the ends were treated with regular parttern strips. Then I detailed them out with Bare metal foil strips on the front and MCG O rings...



Dave T

[mike@af]

Dave, the exhaust system is a model in itself. Great work.