Global Scale Modeller

Latest project - Great Wall Hobbies 1/35 release of the BMW R75 & sidecar - plus trailers. I didn't realise how SMALL its going be!! An interesting challenge for 68 yr old eyesight & dexterity....

The instructions












Sprues








Photo-etch & Decals




Bits 'n pieces


The build
First step is the engine/gearbox assembly. And we see where that tiny spring goes! The seat base had a moulded "spring" that had to be cut out and replaced with the tiny little metal one....






Next step is the wheels. 4 of them, each comprised of 7 parts. Its an interesting way of creating the tread patterns...

I picked up this kit and the Zundupp not long ago. So really curious as how the tyre sandwich fits together and if any filler is required. I've got a couple of Miniart kits that do their wheels in the same manner. If filler or sprue goo is required clean up would be challenging to say the least. I mainly bought my bikes as fillers in diorama's if I get to build any more. Diorama's of any subject would be good for a different group build ( might have to run the entire year), but would be good to stretch our skills some what.
The Pe in the wheels looks very good and I can imagine the axle hub and brakes really fleshing it out nicely.

digger303 wrote: Sun Dec 01, 2024 1:19 am I picked up this kit and the Zundupp not long ago. So really curious as how the tyre sandwich fits together and if any filler is required. I've got a couple of Miniart kits that do their wheels in the same manner. If filler or sprue goo is required clean up would be challenging to say the least. I mainly bought my bikes as fillers in diorama's if I get to build any more. Diorama's of any subject would be good for a different group build ( might have to run the entire year), but would be good to stretch our skills some what.
The Pe in the wheels looks very good and I can imagine the axle hub and brakes really fleshing it out nicely.

Once the wheel sandwich is complete it makes the tread of the tyres. What I did find is the assemblies need clamping tightly otherwise they spring apart. So no filler is required. Tread pattern at the moment looks a bit deep but I am thinking once primed and sprayed they will look better.

One thing to note is - so far - on every part the sprue attachment point extends onto the part so flat surfaces like the 5 wheel components need a very careful clean-up before assembly.

Nice idea on the diorama group build!!

Back to the build - the cylinder heads have had a coat of steel together with a container box that will go on the side.


The final drive to the rear wheel is complete and ready for paint. - another multi-part (6) assembly.


And the four wheels are now complete and ready for priming & painting.

Ok clamp the little blighters to hell and back...good to know... thanks.

Here's some interesting tit bits.
https://www.slashgear.com/1588295/bmw-r ... 2-history/

Interesting the gear change arrangement.


Cheers

From memory - the outer lever is the actual gear change, the inner one is the forward/reverse selector. Yes, these things had a reverse gear - handy with the sidecar and its driven wheel.

As a quickie - @digger303 - I strongly recommend painting the PE wheel centres BEFORE assembly!! I didn't and am having the devils own job getting the insides coated.....

RangerNeil wrote: Tue Dec 03, 2024 2:35 am As a quickie - @digger303 - I strongly recommend painting the PE wheel centres BEFORE assembly!! I didn't and am having the devils own job getting the insides coated.....

Now that you mention it I can see that now....thanks mate @digger303

Got a bit more done tonight. You can see how the stacked disc approach to wheel building has created the ture depth:


Engine is now in the frame, rear mudguard and seat are on:




Front wheel and forks are almost done:


And I've made a start on the sidecar:

Tyres look great and no seams

An overdue update on this - apologies for the gap, lifes been a bit yuck recently, wife is having trouble breathing and the "imported" GP said it was just asthma. We've been fighting for a second opinion and finally the cancer team got fed up and referred her to a specialist in the same hospital. Who promptly freaked at the asthma diagnosis and has her going in for a few days for analysis. Anyways - enough of the waily waily's - the build!!
We have the bike and side car 90% completed - same for the two trailers. Bike needs the cross-bracing for the side car fitted, the MG34 onto the mount and the decals added followed by the handle bars.
The trailers need the number plates and decals.

The bike & sidecar








The trailers






The build of the bike was quite nice - the trailers, though, were a PITA as the wheels are a butt join onto the axles and, as can be seen, they need reworking

I was hoping for more from GWH than what they provided you to work with. Doesn't sound like they put too much effort into this kit to make life hard for the modeller.

digger303 wrote: Fri Dec 20, 2024 12:26 pm I was hoping for more from GWH than what they provided you to work with. Doesn't sound like they put too much effort into this kit to make life hard for the modeller.

Theres a fair amount of detail in the kit Digger - most of it just can't be seen!! For example - the bike has ignition leads to the plugs and a real spring for the riders seat whilst the sidecar has a jack and air pump mounted behind the seat back
My biggest miffed point has to be the way the ammo cans attach to the side car. Carriers are sppose to be a clip fit onto the edge of the back of the cans - theres no way the edge of the ca would fit into the teeny weenty groove in the carrier so I had to fudge it.

Oh my god ! didn't realize how small it is until the picture with the eraser ! I wish you the best of luck ! But nice bike for sure. Can't wait to follow the rest.

Having recently built an 3D printed R75 in something near 1/25 scale, the detail in this scale actually surprises me, especially the things they got right. I agree with Neil in that the detail is difficult to see when getting this small unless your right o top of it. The only obvious thing I see missing in the kit are the air intake runners coming from under the fuel tank to the carburetors(?), handlebars, and speedo dial(?).

So, where is the final reveal?; did I miss it?

Perhaps when I build it in 1/9 scale all the mistakes can be clearly seen when it's done (smile)...

DRUMS01 wrote: Tue Jan 07, 2025 7:59 pm Having recently built an 3D printed R75 in something near 1/25 scale, the detail in this scale actually surprises me, especially the things they got right. I agree with Neil in that the detail is difficult to see when getting this small unless your right o top of it. The only obvious thing I see missing in the kit are the air intake runners coming from under the fuel tank to the carburetors(?), handlebars, and speedo dial(?).

So, where is the final reveal?; did I miss it?

Perhaps when I build it in 1/9 scale all the mistakes can be clearly seen when it's done (smile)...

No reveal yet - our (un)loving Gov't took our winter heating allowance off us this year so we've only been going upstair to sleep (hint - Greyhounds make the most amazing bed warmers!!) - and my build area is upstairs. Most of the time we are down in the living room which is easy to keep warm so the BMW build is on hold.
Handlebars, speedo glass, light lenses are still on the sprues. Speedo dial and plates are on the decal sheet. I dont think those air intake runners are included.

As soon as the weather improves building will resume.

Just caught up on this one - my first thought was along the lines of "that's a helluva lot of parts for something so small!"

Great work knocking it into shape mate & I hope Mrs Ranger is feeling better npw although I guess the current cold spell isn't helping

Saw the mention of a diorama group build too - I love building dios but just don't have the shelf space to put them these days!

Tomcat64 wrote: Thu Jan 09, 2025 11:06 am Just caught up on this one - my first thought was along the lines of "that's a helluva lot of parts for something so small!"

Great work knocking it into shape mate & I hope Mrs Ranger is feeling better npw although I guess the current cold spell isn't helping

Saw the mention of a diorama group build too - I love building dios but just don't have the shelf space to put them these days!

Thanks for asking, Mrs Ranger is doing OK thanks - we're still getting the hospital calling asking her to go in quickly for checks but so far the other shoe hasn't dropped so we are carrying on as near to normal as possible.

Back to the build - its been damned cold here the last couple of days so the heatings been more on than off and I've made the most of it to the point I am calling this finished so here are the final photos!!
















If anyone has this in their stash a quick caveat - the decals are made by Cartograph but unusually for them they are on the thick side and do not conform well!!

Glad to hear the wife is going as well as can be expected.

Energy should be cheap and plentiful and the governments should be pushing the R& D to make it happen.

I do have this in the stash so thanks for the warning. I might even attempt it this year and I've got some strong decal solution to give them a good soak.
Yours turned out rather well.

This is looking great
I like how the spokes of the wheels were done, very ingenious without having to spoke them or having chunky plastic ones
Nice project

digger303 wrote: Mon Jan 13, 2025 6:54 am Glad to hear the wife is going as well as can be expected.

Energy should be cheap and plentiful and the governments should be pushing the R& D to make it happen.

I do have this in the stash so thanks for the warning. I might even attempt it this year and I've got some strong decal solution to give them a good soak.
Yours turned out rather well.

Cheers Digger.

It's a nice little (emphasis on little!) kit and I enjoyed the build. I should point out some of the decals are on the minute side - noteably the BMW roundels on the tank and the tyre pressure stencils on the bike & sidecars mud guards and need a LOT of care to get in the right place.

Energy - thats more than a bit political in the UK right now. Suffice it to say we have the highest prices in Europe and between 3 to 4 times higher than the USA mainly because the idiot in charge is a first class idiot.

RangerNeil wrote: Mon Jan 13, 2025 6:07 pm

digger303 wrote: Mon Jan 13, 2025 6:54 am Glad to hear the wife is going as well as can be expected.

Energy should be cheap and plentiful and the governments should be pushing the R& D to make it happen.

I do have this in the stash so thanks for the warning. I might even attempt it this year and I've got some strong decal solution to give them a good soak.
Yours turned out rather well.

Cheers Digger.

It's a nice little (emphasis on little!) kit and I enjoyed the build. I should point out some of the decals are on the minute side - noteably the BMW roundels on the tank and the tyre pressure stencils on the bike & sidecars mud guards and need a LOT of care to get in the right place.

Energy - thats more than a bit political in the UK right now. Suffice it to say we have the highest prices in Europe and between 3 to 4 times higher than the USA mainly because the idiot in charge is a first class idiot.

Shame they don't know the correlation between a successful economy and cheapness of energy. These are the people who should know this stuff, being voted in to lead !

Great result mate - especially given how small some of the parts were - nicely done!

And good to hear Mrs Ranger seems to be doing ok too