This is built from the original 1983 MPC kit. I actually built it first back in '83. It never had a very good life so was in pretty sorry shape when last year I decided to give it a little TLC. After washing it in soapy water and reassembling, it didn’t look half bad (I was 16 when I first built it).
Well, this year I decided that it just looked too darn neat n tidy. I mean really, what self respecting Scout Trooper would be caught dead riding a clean Speeder Bike? Soooo, after a little detail brushing of Testors enamels, a wash with a mix of artists and Tamiya acrylics and a little sanding work, I finally ended up with this …
I look forward to your comments and critiquing of my work. Any replys at all will be much appreciated.
You have done a really great job on this. I still have my AMT one i built about 20 years ago. Its been bashed about a bit, but still on the shelf. But rather than do it up, i decided to get another one last year. If it turns out like yours i will be well happy. I love the work around the rivets.
I was afraid someone would ask about him[:$] Yeah,the trooper is still sporting the same paint job he got back in '83 (all brush painted Testors enamels applied with that crappy Testors brush that came with the paint set). Only thing done to him since was he got a bath last year. I plan to try leaving the original paint mostly intact while filling the seams and blend it somehow. But, here he is riding the newly finished bike. Sorry about the glare in pic (didn’t think anybody else was gonna see it).
Here’s a tip for anyone wanting to build this model. If and when it crashes, it WILL invariably land in a manner that breaks one or both foot rests. Go figure. After several repairs that involved the foot rests, I finally realized that I should stop gluing them back on. Instead, and I urge everybody to just do this to begin with, break the support about 1/2 inch behind the foot rest. Slide a short piece of electrical heatshrink tubing over support. Then while holding the foot rest for alignment, apply heat carefully and shrink the tubing just enough to grasp the support pieces together but leaving a little “bounce”. It prevents breakage during that next bump and gives the rider a more comfortable fit. No really, if done right, his feet will automatically fit snuggly on the rests. You only need to worry about getting the hand positions right.
I know, and the piece that came off if it must be one of the thinnest pieces of plastic i have ever seen. The ball is still in the socket with the rest super glued on. But it sits at an odd angle and i have to be careful where i place it or it all tips over. Next time i plan of replaceing the kit one with something a little more sturdy.
