Build #7 Tamiya 14013 1:12 scale Suzuki RM250 Motocrosser COMPLETED

[TheSmoo]

- BUILD COMPLETED - one of Tamiya's early kits which has been re-released, I love dirt bikes, great wee kit although I had an issue with mine as one of the front forks was bent/ deformed I know they are still using the orignal 80's moulds, maybe I was just unlucky.

This kit retails around £20.00 and was really fun to build.
It gave me a break from the decal issues I have been having of late on older kits.

All hand painted using Tamiya acrylics as I don't have an airbrush as yet.


Tamiya number 14013 1:12 scale Suzuki RM250 Motocrosser - Box art

as usual I started my build by hand painting all the parts before building them into sub assemblies, lot's of chrome parts in this early 80's kit but it was to a decent enough standard, just makes painting a bit awkward

engine and frame all painted up along with the chrome front forks (i hadn't noticed the bent right fork at this stage)

rear swingarm and chain and sprocket painted ready for assembly

some of the other wee bits and bobs all painted up, front fork still doesn't look all that bent at this stage but it is I assure you, the bottom of the two forks is the right hand one, looks straight at this angle

rear suspension damper all painted and assembled onto the rear swingarm, love the wee springs you get in these kits, bit of a pain to paint though

the engine on this bike is a stressed member and is attached directly to the rear swingarm, a real pain with chromed parts so much scraping of chrome and cussing and it finally went together, in hindsight I should have used superglue

jumped on a bit with the build before I noticed I hadn't taken any pictures so I have built the wheels up and fitted the tyres and painted the hubs (again chrome) fitted the frame around the engine, added the airbox and radiators and exhaust which was an awkward twist through the frame to get it in without damaging the paint, rear wheel fitted

top down view - love the big knobbly rear tye, my partner helped remove the flash, which was excessive, on both the tyres, when she was bored with her eyebrow plucking tweezers, I think she found it quite theraputic lol

left side picture showing the ignition coil and ht lead detail along with how gnarly that exhaust was shape wise and tight to get through the frame

radiators are split, one on either isde of the frame and the lovely big two stroke expansion pipe detailed here

rear view detailing exhaust baffle box, rear shockie and that lovely realistic knobbly tyre

front end goes on along with front brake cable and clutch cable, handlebars and grips

even at this stage I still can't quite make out the bend in the poorly moulded right fork untill the next stage when I fitted the front mudguard and all became horribly apparent but it was too late then, even with some twisting but it's only a cheap kit and loved the build

Completed kit and even though the body panels were all hand painted (would have loved to have airbrushed them but no airbrush as yet) I was pleasantly surprised with the results

completed kit



all finished

[Twokidsnosleep]

Hey, this one is awesome too!!!
I was just looking at the kit on E Bay the other day
Good choice

[TheSmoo]

cheap wee kit don't pay more than £20.00 for it

[Twokidsnosleep]

Ha ha, glad I was just looking then, it was much more than that!!
I made a Tamiya Ducati and dirt bike as a kid, so these kits bring back some memories

[TheSmoo]

Yeah these kits are the basic of basic tamiya kits, has been re-boxed and re-released and retails in normal shops for around £19.99 which, in my opinion, is overpriced for a very basic kit

[m1ks]

You can use household bleach to strip off the kit chrome, either dipping complete parts or in the case of small areas for gluing or painting, paint on thick bleach using a cheap paintbrush and wipe or rinse being careful not to let it encroach on other areas you want the chrome to remain on.
https://youtu.be/GaXuYX6bv2M

[TheSmoo]

You can use household bleach to strip off the kit chrome, either dipping complete parts or in the case of small areas for gluing or painting, paint on thick bleach using a cheap paintbrush and wipe or rinse being careful not to let it encroach on other areas you want the chrome to remain on.
https://youtu.be/GaXuYX6bv2M

yeah thanks for the tip someone else (I think it was Paul) mentioned using thick bleach, some use ovencleaner which is scary, I got a Bandai C3PO kit for the better half to do and all the crummy chrome will be coming of that with bleach, I havent tried bleaching as yet so will take a look at the link you posted up thanks.

Tamiya bike chrome is usually not bad but can be awkward to paint over

Terry

[Twokidsnosleep]

I have done it using a lemon scent oven cleaner, it worked well and wasn't too scary...kind of a thick gel and smelled ok
I watch it pretty closely though, wore safety glasses

[ChubberLang]

That is really good. Looks fantastic and I'm gonna do a motocross bike in the future.

[DJKn]

hey i think i went out on that same boat in the early, early 80s,, port aransas the dolphen. yep caght my first king fish 27lb i was twelve... any way thats some good lookin tuna.....