"Big Tank" Crocker OHV motorcycle - 1/9 - Model Factory Hiro

[DocRob]

1 hour ago, Peterpools said:

Seems the Crocker is putting up quite a struggle at the end stages of the build. Glad you were able to resolve the chain issues as it seems the instructions weren't as perfect on this one assembly as all the other assemblies. 

WOW, the exhaust and the tank look so good and just have the right 'polished' look and feel to them.

All the troubles were about the chain, Peter, the manual is very good with only some tiny mistakes, most of them obvious. Having that behind me now, I´m coming into a flow again, like with most parts of the build.
A drive chain in this scale is fragile no matterer what and I have no idea, how to produce a better one in metal. I would wish for a 3d-printed option though.

Cheers Rob

[Peterpools]

Rob

Right with you and glad the chain portion of the build is completed. After nearly destroying my 3D printed Aces II seat ejection rails, I'm not so sure how strong a 3D printed chain would be and how easily it might just snap and break.   

[DocRob]

On 6/23/2024 at 2:37 PM, Peterpools said:

Right with you and glad the chain portion of the build is completed. After nearly destroying my 3D printed Aces II seat ejection rails, I'm not so sure how strong a 3D printed chain would be and how easily it might just snap and break.   

My experiences with 3D-printed parts are limited, but I never had breakages, even with the tiniest details, like the 1/350 gun carriages of the AA guns of USS Arizona, which included printed railings. I have some printed chain sets for my 1/12 motorcycle kits and they seem sturdy enough. I will tell, after I tried them .

Cheers Rob

[DocRob]

I added more of the crockeristics, beginning with the stands. There is one for the rear end and a side stand, which are both movable. I will see, If the side stand will hold the bike, when ready, as it feels pretty heavy now. It is also becoming difficult to handle, with all those parts added.
For the stands, 1,4 diameter mm screws were used. I drilled 1,2 mm holes into the white metal and used a 1,5 mm drill bit to drill a cone into the opening. With a good fitting screw driver, it´s now possible to screw direct into the relatively soft metal.

The tank, with it´s various fittings was added. The fuel tank caps were made from chrome plated white metal, which didn´t look too good, having marks in the surface, so I polished them. The shifting lever got it´s counterpart below the tank connected with a shifting rod. The mid section with the instruments is only added loosely as a guide for now. Next is some plumbing, connecting all the fuel lines and other wiring, before I will turn to the front fork.







Cheers Rob

[FullArmor]

Looking real good so far.👍

[Bomber_County]

Absolutely stunning Rob way above my abilities…….

[FullArmor]

Just realized how versatile inventory Model Factory Hiro has. Tanks, racing cars, TT bikes. All full detailed🤓. But most of them out of stock and expensive. Impressive passion for detail.👍

[BlrwestSiR]

Fantastic work Rob. The chain really is a test of perseverance. 

[DocRob]

10 hours ago, FullArmor said:

Looking real good so far.👍

 

4 hours ago, Bomber_County said:

Absolutely stunning Rob way above my abilities…….

 

2 hours ago, BlrwestSiR said:

Fantastic work Rob. The chain really is a test of perseverance. 

Muchas gracias, after the chain obstacle, I start to get in overdrive again with the Crocker. I finished the plumbing for the engine with all the metal tubes connected and I´m lucky that I did it now, rather than earlier in the build, like the manual suggested. 
I also polished various parts, like the headlamp, steering bar and started to build up the steering head and front suspension.

@Bomber_County : I don´t think so, what´s needed is proper planning of all the steps and very good parts preparation. The chain was a beast to tackle, but most of the rest went together beautifully. It´s my first MFH kit and I would have thought it to be more difficult. In fact, it´s more fun than building plastic models, somehow.

Cheers Rob

[DocRob]

6 hours ago, FullArmor said:

Just realized how versatile inventory Model Factory Hiro has. Tanks, racing cars, TT bikes. All full detailed🤓. But most of them out of stock and expensive. Impressive passion for detail.👍

Their main business are cars and bikes with only a bit of ships and armor. New releases are sold very fast often and then gone forever or until a re-release, so it´s better to be fast if you like a subject. I guess, the type of kits and the prices call for relatively small production batches. 
Not all the kits are full detailed, some are called proportional kits are a bit simpler made for a faster build.
I have four more MFH kits in my stash, beside the Crocker and they all look gorgeous. The Crocker is my first venture in this direction, but I found the build so far relatively straight forward, with no real problem areas, besides the fragile chain. The quality of the parts and engineering are in a league of their own.

Cheers Rob

[Peterpools]

Rob

Brilliant progress and the level of finish is museum quality - just gorgeous work.🏆

I take full credit for handling the #D printed ejection rails so clumsily and ham-fisted at the same time and have no one to point the finger of shame at but me. I'll be so much more careful the next time I venture into the world of 3D printed parts. 

[DocRob]

19 hours ago, Peterpools said:

I take full credit for handling the #D printed ejection rails so clumsily and ham-fisted at the same time and have no one to point the finger of shame at but me. I'll be so much more careful the next time I venture into the world of 3D printed parts. 

I think, there may be different types of print material which are more or less brittle. I found the Eduard Brassin prints to be slightly flexible.

Cheers Rob 

[DocRob]

Some major steps got done, as I married the ready assembled fork with the rest of the bike. Alignment of the various parts connecting the fork struts was a bit fiddly, as you had to join a dozen tiny pegs into their holes, while adding CA glue all at the same time.
The electric wires for the horn and headlight should be wrapped around tiny bolts, which I couldn´t do. I drilled three millimeter holes into said bolts and glued the wires in, after threading them through. 
The headlight got polished, as is the reflector for a nice and bright appearance. 









Cheers Rob

[Peterpools]

Rob

Incredible progress and you're quickly approaching the finish line. Nice solution and work around on the electric wires. 

BTW, the headlight looks so real, I'm waiting for you to turn it on.

 

[DocRob]

13 hours ago, Peterpools said:

Incredible progress and you're quickly approaching the finish line. Nice solution and work around on the electric wires. 

BTW, the headlight looks so real, I'm waiting for you to turn it on.

Thank you Peter, I may be on track, to add the Crocker to the Twin GB , just joking. I like the headlight too, but it seems, it was mostly painted and not polished on the real bike, but as it only has to please me, I took the freedom.
The wiring was a bit delicate. It called for un isolating 0,3 mm wire and then wiggle the bare part, a hair thin around the tiny connection pegs, which have a diameter of 0,5 mm or 0,6 mm and finally glued into place. Not with my clumsy hands . Drilling through the connector pegs was enough of delicacy for me.

Cheers Rob 

[BlrwestSiR]

Fantastic work Rob. It looks like the real thing. 

[Peterpools]

Rob

Delicate, doesn't come close. I know I could never do it at this stage of the game.

[DocRob]

7 hours ago, BlrwestSiR said:

Fantastic work Rob. It looks like the real thing. 

It comes close Carl, these MFH bike kits are a pleasure to work with. Still the best alternative, than buying an original one, which is the most expansive bike in the world.

Cheers Rob

[DocRob]

6 hours ago, Peterpools said:

Delicate, doesn't come close. I know I could never do it at this stage of the game.

Some of the works are a bit delicate, but besides the chain, everything is flowing and pure joy. It´s somehow like a TamiWingnut kit in metal .

Cheers Rob

[DocRob]

Despite some progress, today was kickback time. In the morning it dawned to me, that I haven´t seen the round clear acetate instrument glazings for a while and after a very long search it was confirmed, they were gone .
After that, I installed various bits and pieces around the handlebar. Among them the very prominent finely engraved and polished large head nut, which seems to pre-tension the fork suspension. When wanted to glue it in place, I saw a tiny dot of CA, which was left by my fingerprint. Back to polishing, but guess what, the part flew away, never to be seen again . I heard it hit somewhere in my shelf and searched for more than two hours without finding it, browsing through all the tools and boxes there. I´m pretty frustrated now and will reach out to MFH, to ask for spares to purchase and drown my bad mood with some Manhattan´s 

Anyhow, that´s how the Crocker looks now.









Cheers Rob

[Peterpools]

Rob

Just blown away and the photography is world class.

Yup, for whatever reason, the carpet monster strikes again. I'm sure MHF will replaces the lost parts and their customer service will equal that of Tamiya, who I've always considered the shining star.

 

[BlrwestSiR]

Oh, that's got to be so annoying. 

Hope they can get you replacement parts and have you back at it. 

[DocRob]

20 hours ago, Peterpools said:

Just blown away and the photography is world class.

Yup, for whatever reason, the carpet monster strikes again. I'm sure MHF will replaces the lost parts and their customer service will equal that of Tamiya, who I've always considered the shining star.

 

20 hours ago, BlrwestSiR said:

Oh, that's got to be so annoying. 

Hope they can get you replacement parts and have you back at it. 

Thank you Carl and Peter, it´s indeed annoying. I´m nearly done with the kit and this is some kind of a sour ending, but totally my fault. I sent an email to MFH and hope they will answer soon.

Cheers Rob

[belugawhaleman]

Looking great Rob! Hope you get the parts replaced.

Twice in the last few months I was able to get replacement parts from

Tamiya USA......Free of charge!  Including "polycaps" and a set of decals.

[DocRob]

Today, I attached the foot rest, and finished the instrument panel, which is a little kit in itself. The main instrument consist from different PE layers, which receive decals then, to add some depth to it, nice touch, MFH. As the fuel tank is polished, I decided to only brush finish the IP for a bit of contrast. There are also tiny PE hands for the main instrument, but I´m not sure, if I use them.

 

Then, I airbrushed the saddle with semi matte black, after some relatively less thinned black Mr. Surfacer 1000, to achieve a tiny bit grainy finish to simulate the leather. Afterwards, I inserted tiny rivets around the saddle, which was extremely tedious. With the last rivet, I smeared a tiny dot of CA glue onto the saddle and will have to finish it again. Maybe, I will use the hairspray method for this, airbrushing flat black on top and then rub partly away, for a slight worn finish. The seat is not finally attached in the pics.









I hope, MFH reacts soon and I can purchase the missing parts. Other than that, the Crocker is near ready, but I hope the bad mojo of the last days doesn´t carry over to the next built, as it already spoilt this builds end.

Cheers Rob