I got off track for the last two years building 1/1 motorcycles but did finish the Stuka and the motorcycle in the last few months. I found I’m a little rusty on the small scales and I never was fast, usually building models in the dead of Winter. I’ll try to do bettter in 2017!
The modifed 1968 Hodaka did get Best of Show/ Motorcycle in the local and annual Car/Motorcycle show. Not too big of a deal but a good start! Also I wrote and photographed an article on the restoration hopefully to be published in the future.
Building things of any size is a fun hobby and always a challenge which in turn is good for the brain and well being in all of us. I am truely amazed at the work the Gang puts out and I’m always humbled when looking at your presentations and creativity.
Anyway, that’s my excuse and everybody keep up the good work!
Excellent work on both, Max! Most people do not understand the amount of work (and $$$$$) that goes into restoring nearly anything, let alone a 1:1 vehicle. As someone who has built 1:1 cars from scratch and restored several others, my hat is off to you, sir! That Hodaka is KILLER!! Surely a feat to be proud of. Congratulations brother!
Hey, Big Thanks for everyones comments! I didn’t know how the Gang would take my 1/1 motorcycle building addiction which are just big models with the same problem solving and scratch building. I have more of these creations that I rarely ride and they do take up lotsa space and being vintage eat up small fortunes when under construction.
It’s been fun getting back to 1/48 scale for many reasons. There’s still the challenge, they are easy to display and I can build them on a desk and take several to a show in a box rather than one or two in truck. Also there is no more room in the garage or at least that is what my wife tells me. I tell her I have improved, it used to be Volkswagens. LOL! I finally had to go to VWs Anonymous to cure me from stopping to look at VW carcasses in fields when driving down the road. See, I’m much better now.[:)]
Hey Greg, I could have been Stukamax. LOL. BTW that’s me in the picture, photoshopped in the cockpit of something and the German medal hanging around my neck. A funny friend did all that and gave it to me for my birthday. Long story and Happy New Year all!
Great looking builds Max [B]. Full scale resto takes a lot of time and effort. I remember years ago when I restored my 55 Chevy hardtop. Took me about 5 years to get things looking correct.
For all my friends that commented on the 1/1 motorcycle project, I thank you! I think the one shown for 2016 is the last one I’ll be doing due to cost and space. They did entertain me. Here’s the remaning three that I still own. They all start as junk and end up as expensive storables, but with a history, lol!
The first one was my successful short-track racer of the sixties, sold, lost for years, recovered as junk two decades ago, restored and displayed in my living room as all models should be!
The second one was a friends project that never happend and was stored for decades. I also kept on him to finish it for decades. He gave it to me on my 70th birthday as a gift. A grim start but a very successful show bike and fun to ride as a modified vintage 1980 Cafe Racer.
The third one was a barn find a couple of years ago I drug home as junk to restore as a modified Vintage Cross-country Racer. After restoration, It was entered along with me in a National Vintage 38 mile cross country race. I had to be over 70 and the bike over 40. At 72 we both qualified, traveled to and competed in what my wife called “The Last Great Race”. All goals were met, I survived and finished and the brought-back-to-life Hodaka performed flawlessly. It was a memorabile life adventure for sure!
That’s the story on the 1/1 models and even though it was great fun, it’s time to work on the 1/48s and stock the Museum with one of my other passions namely Aircraft!
I have a member of my 4x4 club who is 87 and is into the vintage bikes as well. He has raced in a couple of vintage races, until his wife put an end to it (doesn’t heal like he used to).
Surprised the better half lets it in the house…mine wouldn’t have. lol
Funny Goldhammer! The number one comment when someone visits our house is: “My wife wouldn’t let me hang a motorcycle from the living room ceiling.” I tell them that they have the wrong wife! LOL!
I must say that my wife approved of the project wholeheartedly and we always get a big laugh out of that comment! BTW there’s a stick P-40 in the entranceway. Models and things we like are to be displayed we say.
My wife was also supportive of the “Last Great Race” and even pitted for me and photographed the adventure.
Enough racing for the old guy, It was just a bucket list thing to do on a whim. I hadn’t raced for over thirty years and even though I prepared weeks in advance it was not the thing for old people to do. I finally admitted it was not a good idea but it was good for my spirit but not my aches and pains. LOL!
