Honda Blackbird CBR1100XX Tamiya 1:12

[pjgtech]

I have decided on my next build and it will be the Honda Blackbird CBR1100XX, by Tamiya in 1:12 scale.
As a biker myself, this was a bike that I always lusted after, but never owned.

This bike, along with the Suzuki Hayabusa, were quite controversial at the time, as they were pretty much both the fastest bikes around at the time, both capable of 200+mph (ish) but both having self imposed / informal speed restrictions of around 186mph.

Not sure if it is true, but I read many years ago that Suzuki only called their flagship bike "Hayabusa" as it is their name for a Peregrine Falcon, that hunts Blackbirds as one of its prey, so a little "dig" at the Honda machine?

Seems a nice kit, we'll see. I have already decided to use the bleach method to strip the horrid silver paint from one of the sprues, and will hopefully get a more realistic finish.

Some obligatory box / sprue shots....

[PaulTRose]

This is a really nice kit

As i remember the only problem i had was where the fairing halfs meets under the bike.......its a bit tight

Have fun with it

[HAWKERHUNTER]

This will be a real test of your skills Peter. Good luck.

[pjgtech]

Have now stripped the silver paint off one sprue, using bleach, came off ok.
Cleaned and dried that sprue and it has its first coat of primer, but will need another (brush painting).
Started to sand the tyres to get rid of the mould seam and to give them the scrubbed in, worn look.

[pjgtech]

Thinking I might go with the classic Honda Gold wheels, used to have a CB500s with Gold wheels, looked great....., not the same bike I know, but I have seen Blackbirds with Gold wheels also....
Googled couple of pics....

[pjgtech]

Well I finally made a bit of progress with this one..... ? See photos....
Done a few bits....

Exhaust down pipes (above) only have first coat after priming, so will need ay least another coat, if not two....
Engine pretty much done, but needs tidying a bit....

Front fairing started, put in the front light section and lens/glass....

Getting the tiny mesh grill inserts in was a faff, firstly cutting them to size then getting them to sit correctly....

Made the indicators and rear light assembly, with coloured lens/glass....

And have done the wheels, Honda Gold, they look fab (to me)!

Put a couple of coats of matt black on the seat and it is less shiny now, so happy with that.

So some progress, most sub assemblies are now done, so will get on with building/putting it together tomorrow maybe.

After removing the horrible silver paint from the factory sprue, (with bleach), I then primed and painted the exhausts with Tamyia chrome, as most photos show the Blackbird having quite shiny exhausts, but not happy with the finish at all!
I also want to try a heat/burnt exhaust look, so I need the finish to be reasonably good.
So might change to an aluminium finish maybe?
We''ll see......

[pjgtech]

The Honda gold colour is "Gold Leaf", and I had it on one of my early bikes, CB500s, lovely bike, Couriers loved them as they were so reliable, parallel twin, and sounded very "throaty" with a nice exhaust on them, mine had a Remus can and was quite loud! A pic of my old CB for reference to see the gold wheels....

[Airborne01]

My penultimate bikes were a 750 VFR in silver followed by a standard livery RC30 - scarily fast!
Steve

[HAWKERHUNTER]

Coming along nicely Peter.

[pjgtech]

Bit more progress today...
Front suspension and handlebars grips, etc done.
Rear wheel and swingarm attached.
Battery tray attached, (not shown).
Bike stand attached, another coat on the exhaust rear boxes, look a bit better, but still not ideal.
Put another coat on the down pipes, but I think they will need one more.
Dry fitted the downpipes for fit to the engine main block and seems to line up ok.
Also repainted the main frame as it was a bit patchy/blotchy, still not ideal, but looking better. The vagaries of brush painting I suppose?

[pjgtech]

Received my exhaust weathering set from the SMS this morning, so no excuse not to try it out on the bikes exhausts!
Went slowly slowly, building it up, and for my first attempt and using brush technique not airbrushing, I am quite pleased with it.
Pics....

[Jim R]

Exhausts look good. Like most weathering effects building up in layers is the way to go.

[pjgtech]

Almost complete, couple of pics, might add a bit of rust weathering to the brake discs, maybe bit of oil weathering underneath?
Pics...

[Jim R]

Looking good. I'd go very light with any weathering. These were enthusiasts bikes and as such were usually kept pristine.

[pjgtech]

Yep, I agree, all my bikes were kept spotless, Lol..... but maybe a bit of rust to the brake discs.... 8-)

[Steven000]

Nice work so far Peter ? and second Jim on the weathering ?

[pjgtech]