Imai 1/12 Honda Z50J-III Gorilla (Orange) - Notes

All the bodywork was painted with Tamiya white primer. And then with Testors Orange Enamel. The frame was painted with TS-14 Gloss Black.

Step #1
I stripped the chrome plating from wheel and brake drum and painted them with BAP. Then I removed the plastic axle and drilled a 1/16" hole to accept a brass tube axle. This allowed me to assemble, clean up and paint the frame less the rear wheel.

I shaved off the brake lever from the drum and made a new one from Coca-Cola can aluminium.

Step #2
I stripped the chrome plating from the engine case halves, carburetor and cylinder head. The tail pipe on the muffler was replaced with 1/16" brass tubing so the pipe tip has a nice round opening. I primed the muffler and tailpipe before painting with BEX.

A hole was drilled in the top of the carburetor to accept the throttle cable. The carburetor was painted with BM and sealed.

The engine case was painted with Alclad II White Aluminium.

Step #3
I stripped the chrome plating from the shocks and rebuilt them using 1/16" music wire 15.5mm long, 1/16" ID brass tubing 6mm long and 28gauge wire spring 12.5mm long for a more realistic look.

Step #4
I stripped the chrome plating off the license plate/tail light. The turn signals and tail light lenses were first painted with NBA and then with a couple coats clear orange and clear red respectively.

Step #5
The seat was given wrinkles on its upper surface and painted with muted black. The 'rubber' on the foot peg and shifter was painted with muted black.

Step #6
The 'rubber' on the foot peg, kick starter and brake was painted with muted black. I added an arm made from Coca-Cola can aluminium to the brake lever and brake rod made 26 gauge wire.

Step #7
I stripped the chrome plating from wheel and brake drum and painted them with BAP. I also removed the plastic axles and drilled 1/16" holes to accept some brass tubing.

The handle bars were painted with TS-14 and the controls were detail painted with NBA and muted black. A hole was drilled in the throttle control housing to accept the wire cable.

Step #8
The turn signals were first painted with NBA and then with a couple coats clear orange.

I stripped the chrome from the speedometer and painted it with NBA and muted black. Once dry I coated the speedometer face with Kristal Klear to form a 'glass' instrument face. The 'Neutral' and 'Head light' indicators were first painted with NBA and then with clear green and clear yellow respectively. You can make clear green by mixing clear blue:1 + clear yellow:1

I cut out the moulded in headlights lens leaving the mounting ring. I then made a new lens from clear plastic. The headlight ring was painted with Chrome Silver.

Step #9
All control cables and brake lines were made from thin black coated wiring rather than using the vinyl tubing provided.

Step #10
Micro Sol used to apply 'Honda' decal to the seat. Micro Set was used on the remaining decals.

Contact Coaster http://home.interlog.com/~khartlen +/hobby/kits/imai/2243/notes.htm Last revised on: March 2, 2004 Copyright © 1998-2003, Kenneth W. Hartlen. All rights reserved.

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