Tamiya BMW R75: Learning To Swim in the Kiddie Pool

[spock1701]

Hi guys. I have been out of modeling for a few months due to my lack of funds. Last week was my birthday, and I got a big package of goodies, including this oldie and a few others.



Not a big kit, just one sprue for the bike and two for the included figure set, which is what makes this kit a good deal (got it for $6 online).



Started on the first step; trying to pace myself with this one and do one a night.

As with all Tamiya kits, the casting isn't great and there is flash (not too much) and ejector pin marks (easily filled with Squadron putty)

[OneSmallStep1966]

[spock1701]

Thanks. It's good to know that I have an audience.

So, another update on the build. This kit, surprisingly, has few parts that are annoyingly small. If you take away the flash and pin marks, this kit would be superb.

Unfortunately, doing one step a night failed after one night, and I did several steps Wednesday night.

The main body of the bike is now mostly built.





Also, the two main pieces of the sidecar have been put together. The front of the sidecar had a rather large gap between the two pieces, with the top much higher than the bottom. I had to do some intensive sanding with the putty to get it to come out right.



The putty on the side of the sidecar is filling a hole that I added as a bullet hole. Unfortunately, I then discovered that the hole was actually covered by the tire, so I had to fill it in.



Until next time, good night and good luck.

[OneSmallStep1966]

I bought this kit last week (it was only 6 quid) and I'm interested to see what you do with it.

[spock1701]

I bought this kit last week (it was only 6 quid) and I'm interested to see what you do with it.

So am I, my friend, so am I.

I was thinking maybe a vignette of some kind.

[InitialProduction1]

Well first off happy belated birthday. cool start, looking forward to your vignette.

[spock1701]

Hi guys, and welcome to another update.

My apologies to those who may have come to this thread and found the annoying photbucket kitten telling them that the pictures were not found. I am new to using photobucket and apparently moving the pictures to an album screws with the image hosting. The issue is now fixed, but if any of you come across the problem again, just let me know and I will get on it. Now, to the model.

The bike itself is essentially finished. The last step would be to join the sidecar to the bike but that will be done after painting to ensure that all the surfaces get equal treatment and that I have access to the tires so that I can handpaint them. (the painting you see in the pic was just to test some new colors that I got)



I have also begun work on the figures included in the kit. I will be using only the ones actually riding the motorcycle because I want to save the others for an diorama idea I had the other day. The kit figures are typical Tamiya: okay detail and a little too much flash. But they are fine for a modeler of my quality.





Finally, these are all the extra bits and bobs that will be placed on the final model. All included in the kit, I might add, none from the spares box.



I hope you all are enjoying this build as much as I am. Until next time, good night and good luck.

[AridTalons]

Looking good! I'm looking forward to seeing it painted.

Seems like you picked a fun and easy kit to do. Mine is going the same minus a few tiny parts.

[Madmattmodels89]

Good progress mate ! Looking toward to the vignette

[spock1701]

Thank you all for the kind encouragement. Unfortunately, this build must be put on hold for the next week or so. The Ultimate primer I ordered has not come yet and tomorrow I am leaving to attend a week-long program. I will be back, though, so do not despair.

Until then, good night and good luck.

[chalkyw]

Waiting to see this finished as it's a kit I remember from when I was a kid.....lookin good so far
Cheers
Chalky

[spock1701]

Hi guys. Welcome to another update.

I was gone at Boys State for a week so the projects got put on hold.

My Ultimate order came while I was gone, so immediately I set to work priming. I forgot to take pics until after I had started the detail painting, so unfortunately you have been denied the sight of this kit with Ultimate black primer, which is excellent, by the way.

I used Vallejo Model Air German Grey for the base coat. The extra bits have been painted Vallejo Model Color Leather Brown. I think it looks pretty good, but that's just me. The tires are painted a mix of about 50/50 Vallejo Black and Vallejo Dark Rubber.

The metallic color you see is Vallejo Gunmetal Grey, It's a little lighter than the Tamiya paint i have, and I might go over the MG with the Tamiya to make it darker. Let me know what you think.

I would also like your opinion on the color of the MG stock. I used a mix of Vallejo New Wood and Leather Brown, but I'm not sure what color it is actually supposed to be.

[Twokidsnosleep]

That is fantastic!
I really like the luggage painting details

[spock1701]

Hi guys. Welcome to another update.

A couple things have happened since you last saw this kit.

One, I did a gloss coat of Alclad Aqua-Gloss, which I recommend to any modeler with an airbrush. Then the decals went on. Then another gloss coat.







The came the Ultimate Dark Dirt wash, which I absolutely LOVE. Totally worth the shipping price.

Lastly, there came a coat or two of AK Interactive Ultra Matte Varnish, which gives the kit a superb dirty, weathered look. The way the model is set up in the photos is how all the stowage will look on the final product.









The model itself is almost done, just some oils to do. Then work on the vignette will begin and after that, environmental effects will be added to the model depending on what the vignette is like. (Muddy, grassy, etc.) I was thinking I'd do a sort of cobblestone street type deal, but I haven't come up with a good method for making the actual street. Any suggestions?

[spock1701]

Hi everyone, and welcome to the last update for this build.

This kit took me a lot longer than I expected, mostly due to the appearance of other obligations and my ongoing jaunt with a British Universal Carrier.

It was a fun kit, good for practicing new techniques on, trying out new products. It will make a good addition to a larger diorama someday.

A quick look at the finished product:

You can find the rest of the final reveal in the Land Gallery: http://www.intscalemodeller.com/viewtop ... 46&t=19237

[chalkyw]

Looking very nice