Tamiya 1/6 Harley Davidson Police Bike.
This is a monster of a kit and so much chrome that has to be destroyed in the process, but carefully done and most of the damage can be disguised.
I covered most of the large chromed units with parrafilm to preserve the surface of each item.
The frame was the first to get the treatment of gloss black and the seat mounting strut. (Spring loaded).
The swing arm is rough and needed a whole lot of 'cleaning up' before I installed it in the frame. 🙁
The heads.
Much care when handling chrome items, as it is easily marked and can spoil the overall appearance.
Much care when handling chrome items, as it is easily marked and can spoil the overall appearance.
This is the plastic chain kit with individual link construction and really looks the goods when completed.
Gloss white for all the panniers, fenders and tank halves.
What a beast. !!!
Constantly wiping away dust and the odd finger mark from when I don't wear my cotton gloves.
Constantly wiping away dust and the odd finger mark from when I don't wear my cotton gloves.
The pannier frames are being fitted up here.
Most of the ejector pin marks will not be seen once everything is in place.
For it's age, the fit is fantastic, and with the odd dab of superglue here and there, it is becoming a real joy to work on.
The line provided by Tamiy for the coiling of the radio hand set wiring did not 'take the shape' or hold the coil once done, So I used my trusty copper wire and this will be painted black and look a 1000% on what it was.
I found some vinyl clad wiring for the rotating red light that has the right scale look to it and can be stretched out that little bit to reach where it needs to go.
THIS is the biggest pain of all the build I have tried to deal with.
These two soft vinyl 'insulators' are meant to conform with the base of the speedo unit that rests on top of the two tank halves once assembled.
BUT, there was no way the bloody things were going to play ball, no matter how carefully and diligently I tried.
FAILURE. ! Duh. 🙁
These two soft vinyl 'insulators' are meant to conform with the base of the speedo unit that rests on top of the two tank halves once assembled.
BUT, there was no way the bloody things were going to play ball, no matter how carefully and diligently I tried.
FAILURE. ! Duh. 🙁
SO. Being the ever creative little worm I am, I had some thick vinyl tubing left over from the oil lines it was originally needed for, then carefully running my scalpel blade on the outside curve, it was just what I needed to replicate the soft vinyl insulators that came with the kit that failed to cooperate, and personally, I think it will look better than the original parts. 👍 🙂
I stripped the chrome from the unit and will alclad it tomorrow, as the amount of superglue I used really did a lot of damage and had to be removed for these new vinyl tubes to fit.
The R/T box for the radio.
Wiring will happen, once I have all the starter motor all connected with the wiring bits I made.
Metalic blue with yellow raised lettering and the space left over is for the decal stating the registration information.
Just the 'Harley Davidson' decal to be fitted to these chrome strips.
wITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE DECALS AND REAR VIEW MIRRORS AND A COUPLE OF HOSES CONNECTED, IT IS FINISHED. 🙂
nOW COMES THE SPIT AND POLISH ATTACK WHERE i TRY TO GET RID OF ALL THE FINGER MARKS AND DUST.
nOW COMES THE SPIT AND POLISH ATTACK WHERE i TRY TO GET RID OF ALL THE FINGER MARKS AND DUST.
Complete.
The speedo consoul has turned out perfectly, including the replacement isolators. The twisted copper wire will be painted black.
Comments
1 29 May 2020, 13:43
MunkyslutAhh I love these big Tamiya bikes!
The Electra Glides make for a great looking kit too.
Are you doing it as box cover bar the chrome stripping?
29 May 2020, 13:53
Kerry COXAs it comes out of the box Monkey. 🙂
As much chrome as I can possibly show and what problems I have had with some of the chrome, I have turned to alclad for the parts that were badly disfigured, especially the speedo housing that fits on top of the tank. Just a pain in the patoot with what is provided, so I got creative and made my own vinyl insulators that fit on the base of the speedo housing using some thick vinyl tubing I had left over from all the other requirements it was used for, like oil lines and such. But the images will explain this issue a lot better.
29 May 2020, 14:10
MunkyslutAhh yeah I see the fix for the bottom edge of the speedo housing, good simple mod & one I'll use on my Electra Glide when I get around to doing it 👍
Amazing how some of the big chromed pieces are absolute shit when generally these kits are pretty bloody good.
29 May 2020, 14:36
Kerry COXSome chrome areas suffer when the assembly does not go according to planned. 🙁
The speedo housing is one example, but unavoidable really, especially when you think it woill go as planned, but sadly, this one was not one of them. Grrrrrrrrrrrrr !
29 May 2020, 15:46
Spanjaardi have the very same monster in my stash, so certainly interested in seeing what you with it 🙂
29 May 2020, 20:23
Kerry COXGuys. There is a LOT f chrome removal on parts that need gluing. !
Keep your supply of alclad chrome for plastics handy, as there will be some items that will need a total replacement of the chrome that gets removed when cleaning up flow gate points from removal from the tree. Especially the valve push rod covers. 🙁
29 May 2020, 21:42
Peter HardyKezza, you told me you were busy on this bike and you weren't kidding! It is going to look impressive next to the big Kawasaki!
29 May 2020, 22:35
Spanjaardi wish i could get 30 minutes around the real deal (in LA for example) to get proper pictures before starting mine....
29 May 2020, 23:47
Kerry COXSpanjaard, There are quite a few good images around on Google of the cop bikes, just ask Google for some. 🙂
And as for the full rechroming, yes, on some parts that will be fully visible that have had scrape marks that detract from the look and finish. 🙁
Peter, the effort in keeping the finger marks at bay will be worth while in the end, and this brute will need a shelf all of it's own, and no sharing with other builds. hahahahahahah 😉 👍
30 May 2020, 00:19
Kerry COXMany problems to contemplate and solve. 😉
But that is the fun part of all it is. 🙂
Much time spent building, but the looking at it for the many hours ahead will be my reward. 👍 🙂
30 May 2020, 07:24
Lode SchildermansKerry, this blows me completely away. I've looked every photo over and over again. I'm speechless. What a fantastic build. Just one expression...You nailed it
30 May 2020, 21:10
James CFabulous chrome work Kerry and I especially like the transparent coloured lenses. 👍
30 May 2020, 21:45
Kerry COXLode, Acki and Jim C. Thank you for your most uplifting and welcome comments. 👍
It's been a while that I had the desire to tackle any model and I really needed to get this 'right', as I will be entering this one in the next QMHE comp, which at the current standings here in Oz, has been post pones till' next year, all due to the Chinese head cold that every one has been living in fear of. 🙁
No doubt I will be constantly attending to all the little 'niggles' I will see and correct them. But over all, I am really pleased with the result. 🙂 🙂 🙂
30 May 2020, 22:51
Kerry COXAugie and good friend Peter. 🙂
Thank you both for your looking in and your assessment. 👍
And now the second of the 1/6 builds, the K CB-750 Honda, and wit eight by ten colour glossy pics from all angles. 🙂
But the chain comes first, and then. ? Who knows. 🙂 🙂 🙂 👍 hahahahahah
31 May 2020, 04:26
Album info
Tamiya 1/6 Harley Davidson Police Bike.