Since nobody manufactures such a kit, I’ll be piecing this together using a combination of scratch-built and 3D printed parts, along with whatever I can use from a Tamiya Africa Twin kit.
I have the real deal in my garage, so the goal will to be to recreate it faithfully, including mods that I’ve made like aftermarket hand guards, tail tidy, center stand, etc.
Being notorious for starting and not finishing projects, I’m hoping that documenting progress here will help keep me on track
The 3D model I’m using is definitely not a 2024 model, it’s an earlier version, but as far as I can tell there haven’t been significant changes over the years. Mostly minor things like the instrument screen and LED versus conventional turn signals.
To be sure, I pieced together a bunch of drawings from the maintenance manual and overlaid them on a rendering of the model to see if major components still line up. Most importantly, the frame and suspension.
With the model checking out, I used the wheel rims from the Africa Twin model as size references, scaled the “blue prints” I had rendered, and printed them actual size. Here they are along with the rims assembled and the mold lines on the tires removed. The rim seams still need putty/sanding.
Welcome to the forums. Looks like you’ve done your homework for this build. Lots of luck on your build and I’ll be looking forward to following along with your progress!
Have you considered trying to find automotive touch up paint in that colour? Lots of motorcycles have a matching paint colour to a car manufacturer. My old Kawasaki Vulcan was a direct match for a colour from Saturn cars. The other possibility could be nail polish - lots of colours for that. It might mean learning how to work with hotter paints than usual, but might get the colour you need.
Those are excellent alternatives, thank you! The LP-45 is here, just have to find the time to try it out. Painting has never been my forte. First time spraying lacquers with my airbrush, kind of nervous.
Even with a more patient and even application, I don’t think it’ll work. I’ve ordered some model-specific touch-up paint, which should work if the metallic flakes don’t throw off the scale.
I have the frame somewhat planned out. Not trusting the durability of a bunch of resin-printed tubes, I’m going to use styrene for most of it and just 3D print some of the more complex parts.
Probably pinning parts together and cementing tubes within tubes where possible to create a very sturdy frame. The entire process has been on hold for weeks while troubleshooting my printer. The new LCD that I need should be showing up tomorrow, so I’ll hopefully be printing parts soon!
