KH400 Kawasaki

1
March 18, 2022
With cars and bikes I usually start with the bodywork.
2
March 18, 2022
The pink primer is UMP. It’s an acrylic that settles very smoothly and self levels. Very forgiving.
3
March 18, 2022
I let it settle for a day before I sand if it needs it.
4
March 18, 2022
The spark plugs will be replaced with more accurate parts. I am not going overboard with details with this one.
5
March 18, 2022
The engine looks very detailed and doesn’t need much fiddling around. To highlight the castings I have used Alclad II Hi Shine Aluminium and Alclad II Polished Aluminium over Alclad Black Base.
6
March 18, 2022
Hose clamps of BMF added
7
March 18, 2022
The Air box is painted in SMS Jet Black for the shiny plastic while the rubber parts have SMS Black which give a flat finish.
8
March 18, 2022
The supplied cables are oversized but I didn’t have any lighter in my stash. Must fix that! I have a jig for building bikes but it doesn’t allow for Hasegawa bikes.
9
March 18, 2022
Seat done in SMS “black” over UMP grey primer.
10
March 18, 2022
The tank, tail unit and side covers done in SMS “Signal Red”. It should give me a more ‘orange’ shade.
11
March 18, 2022
SMS 2k clear coat.
12
March 18, 2022
The tail unit and side covers settled perfectly with no trace of orange peel.
13
March 18, 2022
The fuel tank however did have a very slight orange peel over the top of the tank.
14
March 18, 2022
You can see the orange peel on this shot
15
March 18, 2022
I cannot leave it like this, Yoda would would be very disappointed!
16
March 18, 2022
The side covers were perfect as they were
17
March 18, 2022
The tank here has had a quick and very light wet sand with Micromesh 6000 grit. The uneven surface starts to reveal itself.
18
March 18, 2022
Wet sand with 6000 grit leaves a flatter surface but dull from micro scratches.
19
March 18, 2022
A few minutes with a wet 8000 grit and the tank starts to come back to life.
20
March 18, 2022
12000 grit starts to bring up a shine and the scratching has all but gone.
21
March 18, 2022
UMP polish brings back the shine. The polish kit also has a cutting compound but this wasn’t needed.
22
March 18, 2022
Looks good but it does still need a wax.
23
March 18, 2022
Wax down and buffed off.
24
March 18, 2022
From the side.
25
March 18, 2022
Ok, I’m happy with that so onto the next thing!
26
March 25, 2022
Test fit of the tank, seat and tail unit. Not happy with the side cover Alclad. It has rubbed off from the handling.
27
March 25, 2022
I have had a mountain of problems with the front wheel and guard.
28
March 25, 2022
Just to prove the CDI unit is in there! Battery detail.
29
March 25, 2022
I repainted the side covers and the outside engine cooling fin.
30
March 25, 2022
“But the front fell off”! Famous line from Australian comedy skit. Apologies to International audiences.
31
March 25, 2022
Nobody ever said that modelling had to be ordered and organised!
32
March 25, 2022
Compare the pair. Earlier build, Kawasaki KH 250 with the latest subject. Of note at this point is I retained ALL of the kit supplied chrome. Normally I would remove it but I questioned myself as to why I do. I did not come up with a reason so I left it all in situ and I do like the result.
33
March 25, 2022
I have one more Kawasaki Tri Stars kit to build from what is available, the H1-500. I would love to get my hands on a H2-750 but there is only the old Hella kit from the eighties which is impossible to find at a price I would be game to build and the Aoshima pre built kit, which takes the fun out of it!

Comments

21 18 March 2022, 09:11

Spanjaard
wow, perfect shine Peter

18 March 2022, 09:41

Peter Hardy
Been a long haul Spanjaard but I am making progress!

18 March 2022, 09:44

bughunter
Another shiny project 👍

18 March 2022, 13:21

Michael Kohl
Like that.

18 March 2022, 16:22

Dietmar Bogatzki
Prfect paint and repair job, Peter 👍

18 March 2022, 16:35

Peter Muldoon
That tank! 😍

18 March 2022, 21:22

Villiers de Vos
Very nice.

19 March 2022, 04:23

Jv
Butiful Peter
And thanks for sharing all the steps
What polish did you use

19 March 2022, 10:03

Peter Hardy
Jv, I use UMP polishing system. A little expensive but I get much better results from using it than anything else I have tried. And I have tried everything from Tamiya through to car polishes.

umpretail.com/collec..mate-polishing-cloth

19 March 2022, 10:36

Jv
Thanks yes you are getting very good results
Thanks agen

19 March 2022, 11:05

Peter Hardy
Anyone confused with the "The front fell off" remark should watch this. Famous political satire skit from and Australian TV show. Very funny! Youtube Video

25 March 2022, 23:48

Alec K
Omg, funny. I almost pissed myself…

26 March 2022, 01:24

Villiers de Vos
Flawless.

26 March 2022, 07:12

Peter Hardy
I have hidden the flaws very well! 😀

26 March 2022, 09:45

Michael Kohl
This video is funny indeed 😂. Thanx for sharing

26 March 2022, 10:04

Michael Kohl
Ah. And I like the bike too. Pretty much indeed.

26 March 2022, 10:05

Peter Hardy
Pleased you like the bike Michael. Thanks for dropping by!

26 March 2022, 11:23

Villiers de Vos
I find the pink base coat technique very interesting.

26 March 2022, 21:19

Martin Oostrom
Hard to choose what I liked more; the bikes or the video 😄
Stunning build Peter, very well done!

26 March 2022, 21:24

Spanjaard
a total beauty

26 March 2022, 22:43

Peter Hardy
I wouldn't call it a technique Villiers, more of a control on the saturation in the end colour. The colour I wanted was red with a hint of orange but I didn't want a yellow tint to it. The pink keeps the red but keeps it light.
Martin, the comedy duo were on a current affairs show every Friday evening and always too the p-ss out of a train wreck interview with a political figure for the week. Heaps of them on You Tube, anyone can relate to them because politicians are all the same.
Spanjaard, me or the model? 🤣

27 March 2022, 05:34

Spanjaard
you know the answer Peter 😉

27 March 2022, 10:16

Julian Herrero aka Yuri
Like it!

9 April 2022, 05:03

Tom ...
Excellent build, Peter. I believe the UMP primer is Stynylrez and it is fantastic stuff. I've also started using 2k clear and it is fantastic too.

9 April 2022, 08:14

Peter Hardy
Yuri thanks mate. It's nearly done. Just got side tracked atm.

9 April 2022, 11:40

Peter Hardy
Tom, the UMP primer is very forgiving and self levels. Love the stuff!

9 April 2022, 11:42

Project info

Kawasaki Tri Stars of the ‘70s Stage 2

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1:12

In progress

Scratchbuilt

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