What is your favorite Tamiya bike kit? Which bike would you most like to see Tamiya produce next? I’m hoping for the new Ducati Desmosedici GP bike.[8D]
So far I would say the Suzuki RGV500 Gamma 01.It is a nice kit.
I would like Tamiya to produce the ZX-9 or a ZX-7RR.
Mark
the next bike i hope they make is all of the rest of the v-4’s+the kr proton as i know that they have made the v-4 of the honda[:p]
95 people view the post but 2 reply. What a bunch of MAMA’S BOYS!
That’s too bad, I guess there are’nt too many real motorcycle enthusiasts on these
forums.
Mark
Hi All!!
Ah, the first post. I am currently building the Tamiya Yamaha YZF-R1 ('98/99). This is the first model I have tried to build in at least 10 years.
Anyone know of any good tips for someone who is trying to start building nice models?
DH…out
I would love to see the 1997 Suzuki TL1000 - I am surprised they haven’t made this bike into a model, considering how much of a stir this Japenese V-Twin made. I test rode a heavily modified one last year, which scared the crap out of me, and brought me back into the modeling hobby! I am doing the Suzuki RGV500, blue & white,
davetaylor
I’d like to see the newest superbikes done, the VTR 1000 hondas and the TL1000 suzis, be nice to see an aprilia done too!
Revive the 1/6th scale stuff too, get a few new grunty machines instead of re-issues of the monkey. I’ve just started on a 1/6th Yamaha XS 1100 that I’ve had tucked away for some time, it’s awesome!
No specific recommendations, but I will put in my $.02 worth, and that is one of my favorite kit builds ever was a Tamiya bike kite. Don’t remember the exact bike, probably a mid 80’s sport bike. But, it was a fun buildup, and getting the tank just right was fun and fairly easy.
I’d like to see a V-Max kit: is one available?
quote:
Originally posted by alanks
I’d like to see a V-Max kit: is one available?
[/quote]
Not that I know of.
Mark
Aoshima has the Yamaha V-max. Have a look at www.hlj.com it’s about $20 + shipping and handling.
Razor -
My favorite is the old Yamaha YZR500 gp bike (with or without the Kenny Roberts figure).
I’m a vintage - mostly Italian - motorcycle guy, and I’d like to see more vintage kits: a 60’s Ducati single, the Moto Guzzi V8 race bike, or even older: Indian boardtrack racers, or early BMWs. These modern bikes hide all the good stuff behind plastic!
What I would like to see is some BMW’s, an R1150 GS or an R1150S.
How about some of the new Triumph’s? Or a Britten perhaps?
One more: a Ducati 999.
I’ve got two bikes still in the box and one complete (Bimota Tesi 1D). The fit and precision of the Tamiya kits is unbelievable.
M.
I’d love to see a 1999 Kaw 1500 Vulcan Drifter. My brother has one and its awesome. Would love to give one to him for his birthday.
Regards,
Steve
I just wanted to say that I love tamiya bike kits! I have built about 6 of them. And won many first place prizes with them. Im currently going to put a fur coat on the body of a Ninja. Im excited to see what it turns out like. Ill post a picture when its finished. I wish Tamiya would come out with an Aprilia, amazing bikes.
I’ve just started back into modeling and Tamiya kits are truly amazing. I’ve been out of modeling for 20 years and can’t believe the detail these kits provide. Glad to see some people with expierence here-I’ll certainly be here asking questions and picking ya’alls brains for information.
Regards,
Steve
Motorcycles have not been my forte, but the new Tamiya Hayabusa caught my eye (Not only the real bike - but the model, too). I’m about 75% through it now - and I am impressed.
The highlights are the superb fit and casting quality. Including the printed maskings for the paint scheme is a real plus - although painting it is really tricky. The base coat should go on and be allowed to cure for a few days, and then rub out any blemishes. For cutting out the masks, just make sure you use a brand new #11 blade cutting them out - or they will tear. However, they are precisely correct when laid out on the proper place on the parts. Burnish them down really well. I airbrushed Tesors German Silver Metallic as the base coat, and then followed it with Anthracite Gray Metallic for the pattern. As it turned out, the second coat is not quite accurate (a bit on the brown side), but it looks great anyway (What the heack, it’s MY bike!!). I alowed the top coat to cure for a few days, rubbed it out, and then followed with the decals and then 4 coats of Tamiya clear. I am absolutely delighted with the reults.
Tamiya molded the gas tank and front cowl in one piece each(no seams - good news!), but them molded the front fender and rear fender as TWO pieces each - with the seams right down the middle. Which meant, of course, some sanding and rubbing to get rid of the seams. I question the lack of consistency in this approach. I am also mildly diappointed that there are no mechanicals molded above the carburetors (no airbox, filters, etc.), and the engine seems a bit lacking in plumbing and wiring detail. Not a big issue, because the tank and side cowls pretty well hide everything, but, if these were to be removed for display, then some extra detail will need to be added.
Finally, the four-pipe exhausts coming off the head are all molded in one piece - wonderful idea for a good, strong positive fit, but the chrome exhaust pipes which run between the header and the mufflers are molded in two pieces each - which means that, if you leave them as chrome, there is a visible seam present. I removed the chrome, filled the seam, and then used chrome foil on them - a bit tricky because of the compound bend, but they look a lot better. Alclad would likely be a better solution for this.
Overall, though, a wonderful kit - it looks right, and the screws which hold the major components together are very effective, and don’t negatively affect the overall appearance. A real winner.
This would be a wondeful choice for a 1/6 scale bike - any body listening at Tamiya??
Otherwise, I just ordered a 1:1 scale 2003 Yamaha V-Star (honest… a real one!), and I would love to see Tamiya offer a model of this one - especially since it is quite a popular bike.
Final comment - a wonderful website and forum. Very well executed. Let’s all support David Voss in his efforts to keep it clean and topical.
Dear Darth - since you are just getting back into building models your choice of Tamiya Motorcycles is GOOD…they go together quite nicely …Use Testor Metalizers to make them really look Terrific. As for over all tips…Tell your wife to go shopping for 2 days to give you some peace and quiet so you can CONCENTRATE and work slowly and carefully…
BETTER YET - tell her to go get a job?..
yuk yuk…