Chopper 300

[joelwideqvist]

Hi!
Sorry for starting another WIP instead of finishing some of my ongoing ones. But there's a 9 months old in the house and I'm lucky if I get 15 minutes of modeling 3-4 times per week. I need something inspiring and as I usually build MotoGP bikes this build will be a free spirit build, using photos as inspiration more than as references.

I start out with the Aces wild RM Chopper from Revell. A pretty basic kit. I will try and kick it up a few notches. That process will include (larger modifications);

A 300 mm rear wheel (25 mm in scale) with a new swingarm

A wider tank

Secondary belt drive

Scratched suspension

First let's take a look at the kit frame;



This bike has a Softail frame with a sort of cradle swing arm that pivots in the mid section of the rear end frame. The Softail has a progressive suspension that is located in the bottom of the frame. The swing has to be reworked to house this;



This is a resin wheel from http://www.minitunning.com . Some more images.





The rim consists of three parts, two outer rim halves and a star like spoke disc;





The kit frame/swing has the swing pivot molded in. I've started by cutting off the rearmost end of the swing and sand the Softail details off the main frame. I then made templates off the inner frame sides and transferred those to 2*0.15 plasticard strips.





The plasticard was taped to the frame and some rectangular plastruct pieces was glued inbetween;





I'm now sketching up the next pieces. They will have to wait a bit until I know the width of the rear wheel and drive train.

In the meantime, off to the tank. To go with the wider rear end I was thinking a wider tank. The kit comes with two traditional, narrow, chopper tanks. I cut one in half and started adding plasticard strips between the pieces;





I added in the frame attachment line on a base of epoxy putty and started filling the gaps with putty;





Then it was just sanding/putty/sanding/putty/sanding/putty/sanding/putty/sanding/putty/sanding......and a bit of putty and sanding until I got to this;





Here's a pic to compare the starting point with the "finished" wide tank.



This is the first couple of trembling steps on to a, hopefully, interesting and fun build. As I said in the first sentences, it's great to do something "free hand" instead of a replica for a change. And what is more free hand than a chopper, huh??

More to come.

best regards
Joel

[Golden_Cross]

Nice start.!! Gotta tell ya I love the FAT tire Great Rim also..Great idea on the tank mod..!!!I'll stay tuned for this one!!!

[ALEX GAROLI]

Nice build, thats more like me, free spirit builds, no pressure, desicions over the going, I guess you have to modify the rear fender as well, are you going to scratch the seat or to use the original?

[Twowheelsrule]

Good start on the bike! Thank you for showing the tire and rim pieces because I was wondering how they look in higher resolution.


Great idea on the build,
Mark

[joelwideqvist]

Originally Posted by Twowheelsrule

showing the tire and rim pieces because I was wondering how they look in higher resolution.

The molds aren't totally crisp and there's a lot of flash on some of the parts. Over all though, I think they fill a gap in bike modeling and I'm glad I got them.

Originally Posted by ALEX GAROLI

I guess you have to modify the rear fender as well, are you going to scratch the seat or to use the original?

Among the parts I got from Minitunning was a 300 fender. I will use this as a base but modify it.

Thanks for looking
/Joel

[ketje]

Hey Joel, nice start on the bike. I've ordered the same wheels and fender . I'll be watching this thread.

[KevHw]

Nice work so far. It's good to see you build a "free spirit build" as you say, as a break form the normal. Looking forward to seeing how this goes.

[utzelu]

The start looks promising. I have the same kit started and wanted to modify the frame to look like a real softail. So I will watch your updates closely.

[joelwideqvist]

Do I have a reader that knows some basic chopper electronics? I need to wire this baby up and as there are quite few parts (compared to a GP bike) I'd like to get it right. If I do a schematic sketch would someone care to enlighten me what is to go where?

/Joel

[Spike123]

Nice start, will look forward to seeing more progress

[Roca46]

Originally Posted by joelwideqvist

Do I have a reader that knows some basic chopper electronics? I need to wire this baby up and as there are quite few parts (compared to a GP bike) I'd like to get it right. If I do a schematic sketch would someone care to enlighten me what is to go where?

/Joel

Hi Joel,

I found some schemes on google images, by searching chopper wiring.

http://www.rattlers.co.nz/wiringT.jpg
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y26...g?t=1242763139
http://www.bigbobtrike.com/wp-conten...mplewiring.jpg
http://webpages.charter.net/sgp9/wiringDiagram.gif
http://www.chopperkitsblog.com/wp-co...222f1335d3.jpg
http://www.650motorcycles.com/79PointsSchematic.jpg


Hope it helps a bit.

Bye!!!!

Edit: Oh I found a scheme for a CB750 http://www.hondachopper.com/garage.html would be awesome to find one of those Motogp bikes..

[Seventyseven]

Great work, I have little ones in my house also, so I feel your pain! I haven't yet even posted photo's!

[cinqster]

Nice project start Joel. Are you not tempted to cast the new tank - just in case you get the chopper bug?!

[joelwideqvist]

Thanks for the links Roca, I'll have a look at them.

I've definately had the thought John, but I have no stuff what so ever to try casting. The idea still lives though.
/Joel

[joelwideqvist]

Why aren´t the easy projects easy in the end? I´ve come to the conclusion that the rims need a lot more attention than I first thought. A lot of small crannies everywhere. I decided to sand the outer rimb of the rear rim off just because it wasn't possible to sand out. I added some grey microfiller primer and it still doesn't look good. I have to put down a few more rounds of putty.

I tried the Zero "Rubber black" on the rear tyre, looks promising. I'll have a few pictures ready in a few hours.

Next question is the paint scheme... I will need some help with that for sure. I'll be back.

/Joel