Doug Pollen's 888 Ducati superbike

[RossiM1]

Had this for ages sitting in the stash, had built this years ago, but like most modellers it sat in the cabinet gathering dust decals faded in the sun paint starting to fade, looking very sorry for itself, this kit was intended to partner the original build as I had a habit of building both riders bikes in a team.
These old Tamiya bike kits still build nicely, and there is plenty of scope for adding detail.
Started with the engine assembly fixing the crank case halves together, and the cylinder heads, primed with Alclad Black primer, then sprayed Valejo Dark Aluminium, painted the left hand crank case cover with H69 Dark Sand, and the left with Tamiya XF5 matt dark green along with parts of the valve covers, clutch sprayed aluminium, then detailed with various Citadel metallic colours.
Assembled the frame halves, primed with grey Alclad fine filler primer, as the base for the white section and black primer for the aluminium parts.
Airbrushed Tamiya XF2 white, and again Valejo Aluminium. Built up the shock and sprayed the spring with Valejo fluorescent Orange. Sealed all the frame and shock assembly with Alclad Aqua Gloss. Painted the fork legs with Humbrol gloss black, this was the base for Alclad polished brass, to achieve the anodised look these were then over sprayed with Tamiya clear Yellow X26. Brake calipers sprayed Alclad Titanium Gold, and the lower sections of the stanchions had polished aluminium foil applied. Exhausts sprayed Alclad black then Valejo Dark aluminium, then clear blue, hot sepia smoke and burnt metal Alclads applied to simulate the heat staining. Clutch cover carbon decaled, along with the exhaust cans.
Here is where it is for now.
































More soon thanks for looking

[exmoor]

Looking great gary

[RossiM1]

Thanks Paul, some progress today front end assembled, along with the rear swing arm rear wheel and the rear hugger, added some of the brake and throttle lines and the lower oil cooler hoses, just the body work to go now, off on holiday tomorrow so nothing happening for a week or so.
Here are todays progress photos
























Thanks Gary

[Davethepitch]

Fantastic detailed engine what a shame it will get covered up.

[Rallychef]

Looks great Gary, never built a bike before (but have the Panigale in the stash) so will be watching out for build tips.

Regards Ian D

PS Happy Birthday

[RossiM1]

Well almost a basket case the decals are shot particularly the large white racing number backings and the numbers themselves all are really badly cracked, so have attempted to mask and spray the white and pin striped areas and have used Black bare metal foil for the numbers hopefully the rest of the sponsor decals etc will be usable.

[m1ks]

A shame about the decals but always good to see a bike build, I had some difficulties with the decals splitting on the Bimota Tesi I did recently.
I have one of these and was considering it for a racing related GB on one of the sites, (can't recall which).
The engine will be like meeting an old friend as they use the exact same sprue for the 916, Tesi and 888, albeit with open cambelts for the 888.
It's looking good despite the decal problems.
Re the Panigale mention, that's a beautiful kit to build, practically falls together.
Tamiya Panigale 1_zps958n5dl6 by mike michael michaels, on Flickr

[Twokidsnosleep]

You guys make these builds look so easy peasy
Just superb modelling skills shown here to make that hunk of plastic look so realistic

[demarcation]

Beautiful work!!

[Modelfreek]

Very nicely done mate.

[exmoor]

Hi mate looking great i still got some decals for this bike looking at mine i can see I used the front number and the ducati fairing ones but you are welcome to them if you want them.

[exmoor]

PS just the ducati name not the police decal what red did you use

[RossiM1]

A shame about the decals but always good to see a bike build, I had some difficulties with the decals splitting on the Bimota Tesi I did recently.
I have one of these and was considering it for a racing related GB on one of the sites, (can't recall which).
The engine will be like meeting an old friend as they use the exact same sprue for the 916, Tesi and 888, albeit with open cambelts for the 888.
It's looking good despite the decal problems.
Re the Panigale mention, that's a beautiful kit to build, practically falls together.
Tamiya Panigale 1_zps958n5dl6 by mike michael michaels, on Flickr

Keep thinking about getting the Panigale got a bit of an idea forming for a Nicky Hayden tribute Ducati

Very nicely done mate.

Cheers MF

Hi mate looking great i still got some decals for this bike looking at mine i can see I used the front number and the ducati fairing ones but you are welcome to them if you want them.

Hi Paul that is a really kind offer mate I am going to try and apply some of the fairing decals this weekend if they turn to crap I may well take you up on that offer Thank you

PS just the ducati name not the police decal what red did you use

Hi Paul the Red I used was mixed at work for me it was I think called Ducati Rosso Competionie if you need some I can send the remainder down I have enough left for about another 10 Ducati's our paint guys at work think I must be painting a full size bike lol

[exmoor]

Hi gary thanks for the offer of paint but have some already and no probs with the decals just let me know and i will send them up

[m1ks]

A shame about the decals but always good to see a bike build, I had some difficulties with the decals splitting on the Bimota Tesi I did recently.
I have one of these and was considering it for a racing related GB on one of the sites, (can't recall which).
The engine will be like meeting an old friend as they use the exact same sprue for the 916, Tesi and 888, albeit with open cambelts for the 888.
It's looking good despite the decal problems.
Re the Panigale mention, that's a beautiful kit to build, practically falls together.
Tamiya Panigale 1_zps958n5dl6 by mike michael michaels, on Flickr

Keep thinking about getting the Panigale got a bit of an idea forming for a Nicky Hayden tribute Ducati

It's a great kit, one of the best of the Tamiya kits i've built so far, you'd be delighted with it.