Mike Hailwood’s MV Augusta 4 cylinder 500

1
May 21, 2022
The box
2
May 21, 2022
… and what’s in it.
3
May 21, 2022
Oh dear! The plastic is horrible, flash a plenty!
4
May 21, 2022
And the seam lines. Well not so much seam lines as two halves of the part not meeting straight.
5
May 21, 2022
It all looks pretty chunky but there isn’t many parts.
6
May 21, 2022
The ‘chrome’ is flat and dull.
7
May 21, 2022
Air bubbles in the clear parts.
8
May 21, 2022
This should be a challenge! I used to get depressed with poor quality kits but now it is a challenge.
9
May 21, 2022
Sir Sandalot? Are you there? The “Raser” is a glass sanding aid that gets rid of sprue gates without trace.
10
May 21, 2022
The top of the engine does not fit anyway it is placed. I resolved to do the best I could by centralising the rocker cover and manually aligning the cooling fins with a file, panel line scraper, ceramic scraper and Tamiya extra thin to soften the plastic and capture any plastic dust not brushed away.
11
May 21, 2022
First step is to sand the high points down level with the low points.
12
May 21, 2022
Ok, it looks rough at the moment but it will get better. Trust me!
13
May 21, 2022
Starting to get there!
14
May 21, 2022
You can see just how far out of alignment the parts are.
15
May 21, 2022
The outside cylinders will get a similar treatment.
16
May 21, 2022
Halfway there.
17
May 21, 2022
The gap in the sump is horrendous!
18
May 21, 2022
The head is done. Both of the panel line scrapers were used in remaking the cooling fins.
19
May 21, 2022
I am not Harry Potter so no magic will help. How the hell did this get through quality control?
20
May 21, 2022
That’s about as good as I can get it at the moment.
21
May 21, 2022
Right side fairing. This would have been sheet aluminium not fibreglass and definitely not carbon fibre!
22
May 21, 2022
Large sprue gate at the bottom of the fairing. It will be removed with the glass sanding tool.
23
May 21, 2022
Gone! Love this Raser!
24
May 24, 2022
So, the saddle. I have in stock two potential seat coverings. On the left is black vinyl or on the right is tanned leather. The box art indicates a red seat covering but an internet search reveals plenty of pics of black seats.
25
May 24, 2022
Went with the black! Before starting to fit the cover I sanded down the back of the seat so it should still fit the bike.
26
May 24, 2022
All done.
27
May 24, 2022
The frame has to be in seperate pieces to fit the engine so painting would either be before fitting or after in a mess of masking tape. I have used a tacky Microscale glue that doesn’t make a permanent bond. I will paint it like this then pull it apart to fit the engine. The swing are is held in place by a tooth pic.
28
May 24, 2022
The Italari chrome just looked awful. I don’t like removing it because they use a bonding agent that doesn’t like to come off with bleach. I have had part of a lung removed so I try to avoid oven cleaner if I can. 36 hours in the bleach and the silver comes off, mostly. The bonding agent is removed using an SMS ceramic scraper.
29
May 24, 2022
The second wheel went in today so it should be ready next year sometime!p
30
May 27, 2022
Fairing edges are rough and in some places sharp edged.
31
May 27, 2022
This is a profiler used to shape styrene and put to good use on the fairing.
32
May 27, 2022
33
May 27, 2022
A bit of sprue glue used to close the gaps under the fuel tank. Some sanding ahead and again I will use a profiler to form a rounded bottom edge around the tank.
34
June 19, 2022
35
June 19, 2022
36
June 19, 2022
The gaps between the engine and transmission were wide. I have used sprue glue to fill the yarning gaps.
37
June 19, 2022
Under the transmission was sorta kinda a little bit ribbed to indicate cooling finning but it looked awful so I have used more sprue glue and Mr Liquid Putty to smooth it out.
38
June 19, 2022
Ignition wiring is red so I have used SMS Wine Red Lacquer to keep the period look about the electrics.
39
June 19, 2022
Four carbies done with bmf.
40
June 19, 2022
Some details to simulate bolt heads.
41
June 19, 2022
The engine still has the chromed intake trumpets to add but otherwise completed.
42
June 19, 2022
Italari chrome is difficult to remove!
43
October 2, 2022
This is a fully restored version of a later machine. I hope I can get that shine!
44
October 2, 2022
Fuel tank with SMS 2k clear over SMS Italian Red.
45
October 2, 2022
46
October 2, 2022
The four pipes with a heat signature added
47
October 2, 2022
Fairing primed
48
October 2, 2022
Test fit of the finished exhaust pipes
49
October 2, 2022
Mock up
50
October 2, 2022
51
October 2, 2022
I had four goes at painting the fairing. This one was a complete disaster
52
October 2, 2022
53
October 2, 2022
Getting the decal to form to the curved fairing. UMP standard decal solution used to get the decal positioned and start conforming.
54
October 2, 2022
I have used UMP strong to get the decal to the next stage.
55
October 2, 2022
UMP Very Strong starting to have an effect
56
October 2, 2022
Not quite perfect but I got called away for an hour and when I got back it had adhered.
57
October 2, 2022
Happy with the numbers sitting parallel with the floor.
58
October 2, 2022
2k airbrushed on and left for 4 days to make sure it is hard before sanding and polishing.
59
October 2, 2022
60
October 2, 2022
61
October 2, 2022
62
October 2, 2022
I had a try at trying to get the inside of the fairing to look like fibreglass.
63
October 2, 2022
Tried to get a rough and ready look as that is what they looked like inside!
64
October 2, 2022
Sanded back and polished
65
October 2, 2022
66
October 2, 2022
67
October 2, 2022
68
October 2, 2022
The fairing had to be held apart with a tooth pick to get it to match the visor Perspex
69
October 2, 2022
Not quite finished but nearly there.
70
October 2, 2022
71
October 9, 2022
Finished
72
October 9, 2022
73
October 9, 2022
74
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75
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76
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78
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84
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85
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86
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87
October 9, 2022
I wonder how long I will be allowed to keep it here?

Comments

23 21 May 2022, 07:40

LucLuke B
I'll be watching. I love those old Protar kits. They're not easy to work on like Tamiya, but they build closer to the way you assemble an actual bike. Good luck!

21 May 2022, 08:32

Peter Hardy
Luck shall be needed!

21 May 2022, 10:06

Spanjaard
There is no luck needed for builders like you Peter 😉

21 May 2022, 10:37

Peter Muldoon
Looks like a challenging it. That Raser looks to be doing a good job.

21 May 2022, 13:53

Martin Oostrom
Bike show! Front row seat please.

21 May 2022, 19:12

Kyle DeHart
Jumping in here too. What a cool bike!

21 May 2022, 19:18

Peter Hardy
Peter, "challenging" is underselling it I think.
Martin, place Belgian beer gently in the fridge.
Kyle, welcome along mate, pull up a pew and settle in for a long ride.

21 May 2022, 23:09

Kyle DeHart
You'll need another "break" build after this one my friend. 😂

22 May 2022, 02:32

Peter Hardy
Engine is nearly done, just held up a bit with a quick camping trip.

22 June 2022, 10:17

bughunter
Nice details in this thread here, eg. the bolt heads.
Regarding the chrome: I had also once problems with de-chroming. The problem was a clear coat on top of the chrome. After I removed the paint with thinner I was able to remove the chrome.

22 June 2022, 10:23

Martin Oostrom
Removing Italeri chrome: 1 brake fluid bath, 1 bleach batch and 1 brake fluid bath. Easy as 1, 2, 3!

22 June 2022, 13:21

Peter Hardy
Bugs and Marty, thanks for the tip on removing the Italari chrome! I have 2 of Casey Stoner's Ducatis in the stash so that will be used! Thanks again.

22 June 2022, 22:47

Kyle DeHart
Looking awesome Peter.

23 June 2022, 22:30

Jay Dubya
Mind if I pop on the pillion Pete, to have a peek at your progress?

24 June 2022, 09:53

Peter Hardy
Permission permit printed.

24 June 2022, 10:24

Peter Hardy
Sorry Jv, missed your comment. The Gunprimer tools I get from Canberra Hobby. Everything else I will get from around the net. Some from Hobby Tools Australia, some from BNA and various other hobby suppliers. Was there something specific you liked the look of?

8 July 2022, 09:25

Peter Hardy
Jonn, the seat is supposed to be red but I wanted to upholster it and only had black vinyl or actual tan leather. Yep, the kit is rubbish from start to finish, such a beautiful machine deserved better. I restrained myself from adding extra details as I wanted this over and done with. I have two of Casey Stoner's Ducati's, in the same scale and also Italari which I am now dreading!

9 July 2022, 00:30

Martin Oostrom
Now there's a nice piece of work!

7 October 2022, 13:55

Spanjaard
patience and craftsmanship required for this kind of results, fantastic job Peter!!!

7 October 2022, 15:27

Munkyslut
That's looks bloody brilliant mate! 👍
…….been eyeing that one up for a little while, is it really that shitty?

7 October 2022, 16:00

bughunter
You are the master of gloss coats! 👍 And a very impressive work on conforming this yellow decal!
It looks so great.

7 October 2022, 16:26

Michael Kohl
Cool progress.

7 October 2022, 17:18

Peter Muldoon
Just brilliant! Your patience really paid off on this one, it look awesome.

7 October 2022, 22:45

Kyle DeHart
Looking awesome!!

7 October 2022, 23:00

Peter Hardy
Munky, it is that bad but, to be fair, I do build mostly well crafted kits. Tamiya, ICM, Copper State, Aoshima, Fujimi ect so I suppose it's all relative. I suppose I should respond better to the challenge of a roughly moulded kit but I like the challenge of a build to be in the modifications I choose to add to it. I will start posting a build shortly of a heavily modified Model T to make it replicate a 1908 Humber. The level of difficulty in that is my choice. The Italari kit is a challenge, as most Italari kits are but it does make you a better modeller!

7 October 2022, 23:10

Peter Hardy
Bugs, I have to thank SMS and Micromark for the gloss finishes. The rest is just labour! The landing gear on the Fokker is challenging me! I'll PM you soon!

7 October 2022, 23:12

Peter Hardy
Michael, Peter and Kyle. I am happy with the results. The bike is actually finished now and waiting for me to paint the stand then a nice sunny day will see the finished pics posted. Watch this space.

7 October 2022, 23:14

Kyle DeHart
I look forward to seeing them!

8 October 2022, 01:20

bughunter
Oh, I hope I will not miss the Model T! Which scale?

8 October 2022, 09:42

Peter Hardy
Bugs, 24 scale ICM. I have been sawing, cutting and grinding all day! More sawing, cutting and grinding tomorrow!

8 October 2022, 10:07

bughunter
👍 I know that series 😉

8 October 2022, 10:49

Michael Kohl
Very beautiful result. Suits your living room quite nicely. 🙂

9 October 2022, 13:42

Spanjaard
Simply perfect job my friend. I hope you can keep it in the living room, it looks glorious there!

9 October 2022, 15:52

Ben M
Wow, I can't believe the result you got from that kit! Amazing craftsmanship. One thing you didn't show is how you dealt with the bubbles in the windscreen.

9 October 2022, 16:32

Kyle DeHart
Great result Peter!

9 October 2022, 21:25

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Mike the Bike’s championship winning machine

MV Augusta 500 4 cylinder

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