Vincent Black Shadow Revell 1/12

[digger303]

Looking squish ( you keep laughing at smicko ) Shame about the forks giving you the works.
Do you think some of that metallic powder worked into the black would be any good ?

This is a Revell: weak frame, poor visual instructions, reinforcements necessary. I just built the Baja dirt bike and knew to reinforce it
I knew I should have done brass inserts at test fit stage, but I painted final colour on the forks instead
I knew the pathetic locators would not be strong but I kept fitting the forks with glues
I knew that ca glue doesn’t like to be stressed laterally and the forks were all glue retained but I patched them up twice
Tonight I broke off the RHS fork again except for at the point where I had added a pin already ….so I added brass pins to all joints
Mechanical retention + cement usually wins

Oh like that chrome effect powder not a bad idea, might try that
I have some
For looking my friend

I was talking to Terry Ashley of the PMMS site ( name dropping now ) and he pins every joint when building resin kits. I know this isn't resin, but same principle I guess any weakness pin it. Ca gets more brittle over time too and with resin bits start to drop off.....bit like old age.

[Twokidsnosleep]

Some test pics of
*rotors in silver…yuck too blobby, will be re-done
*Front and rear fenders…not bad, bit to modify and some supports to add
*Paper form of a seat shape

[Stokesy44]

Beautiful work. I love the piping on the tank

[Twokidsnosleep]

Beautiful work. I love the piping on the tank

Classic English styling that

[Stokesy44]

Beautiful work. I love the piping on the tank

Classic English styling that

Understated yet classy. Just like me.

[Casper]

Looking very nice Scott
Love the fenders and the tank looks superb in black with the trim

[Garion77]

Wow ! really nice Scott ! Always impress by bikes but and old style one like yours even more nice !

[BigWall]

It's really coming along nicely!

[Twokidsnosleep]

Cheers guys,thanks

I find every bit I put on it makes it look weighted and closed in.
I can understand the Cafe Racer ethos of striping it all down and riding it light and fast
but only a Neanderthal doesn’t have fenders Vs splashes

[digger303]

Very cool

[Casper]

Cheers guys,thanks

I find every bit I put on it makes it look weighted and closed in.
I can understand the Cafe Racer ethos of striping it all down and riding it light and fast
but only a Neanderthal doesn’t have fenders Vs splashes

mud and tufts of grass up your backside in the UK but ok in sunny California

[NoelSmith]

A previous post criticising this kit said 'This is a Revell'.
I think that the kit was originally one of the Matchbox range before Revell bought the moulds.
The kit is very long in the tooth but well worth the extra effort in super detailing it.

[Twokidsnosleep]

A previous post criticising this kit said 'This is a Revell'.
I think that the kit was originally one of the Matchbox range before Revell bought the moulds.
The kit is very long in the tooth but well worth the extra effort in super detailing it.

Turds of different names and origins....are still turds

[NoelSmith]

But the only turd in town!

Those old kits define skilled model makers who can make a silk purse from a sow's ear as apart from just kit assemblers who just expect their parts to just fall together.

[kpisnuts]

It's looking incredible and quintessentially English old boy.

[Casper]

"Turds of different names and origins....are still turds"

[Twokidsnosleep]

But the only turd in town!

Those old kits define skilled model makers who can make a silk purse from a sow's ear as apart from just kit assemblers who just expect their parts to just fall together.

So true bud
My ultimate goal in modelling is to be able to make a scale model total scratch from start to finish. Every part
So far not got there yet

[Stokesy44]

But the only turd in town!

Those old kits define skilled model makers who can make a silk purse from a sow's ear as apart from just kit assemblers who just expect their parts to just fall together.

I think its possible to differentiate between people who want different things out of the hobby. I'm a model maker but I would not touch a kit like Scott's. I don't have the skill set, nor does that type of project interest me (except as an onlooker where I love his work)

If I've pad decent cash for a kit I want to be able to follow the instructions, use my own knowledge of the subject and build it up to where I can begin painting it - which is my skill set.

Being labelled 'just a kit assembler' is a tad tiresome. You're just lucky you made the point here and not on Facebook where it would be pistols at dawn and dead horses heads in beds as the unwashed masses weigh in

[digger303]

But the only turd in town!

Those old kits define skilled model makers who can make a silk purse from a sow's ear as apart from just kit assemblers who just expect their parts to just fall together.

I think its possible to differentiate between people who want different things out of the hobby. I'm a model maker but I would not touch a kit like Scott's. I don't have the skill set, nor does that type of project interest me (except as an onlooker where I love his work)

If I've pad decent cash for a kit I want to be able to follow the instructions, use my own knowledge of the subject and build it up to where I can begin painting it - which is my skill set.

Being labelled 'just a kit assembler' is a tad tiresome. You're just lucky you made the point here and not on Facebook where it would be pistols at dawn and dead horses heads in beds as the unwashed masses weigh in

I think we all start off as assemblers following instructions then as time goes on if you want to be better or add details then your skill set naturally grows. Then when viewing a finished product we get those that tend to stand out from the crowd and we can all appreciate that and the skills that person has. I think of us all as modelers, but there are some ( not me ) who can easily be classed as master modelers.
When models these days cost almost as much as one persons weekly grocery shop then yes we should expect a higher level of kit that fits properly. Don't we aspire to better things. No one likes or wants to be wasting precious time filling and filing when in this high tech world things should work and fit properly.

[Twokidsnosleep]

I added some details to the engine
Polished aluminum and used the kit chrome tops with Molotow

[Stokesy44]

That engine detail is beautifully crisp. Top drawer stuff.

[Kevthemodeller]

Yet more lovely work Scott

[Casper]

the molotow looks great on bolt heads and around the engine scott, she's looking very nice wheels look so cool

[Twokidsnosleep]

Thanks guys, appreciate the motivation from your comments
I waffled between stripping all the chrome and using Molotow, but it is such a pain in the butt and Molotow is not especially durable. Plus worried the top detail would be lost.
It is nice to have another shade of chrome with the kit stuff, but boy is it hard hiding the sprue attatchment points

I have been working on what turns out to be the oil lines....thanks to Casper for pointing me the right direction there.
Completely left off the kit, I will add this chrome circle of piping in. It reminds me of the Circle of Willis blood supply in the brain. ie complicated

[Casper]

Don't ask me why but when you said "Circle of Willis blood supply in the brain" It reminded me of a walking kinesin
The molotow is good but I find it goes thick and dries quickly, I try and get it to pool on the part if possible and self level. I tried it with a brush but it was drying too fast and didn't lay down very well, leaves brush strokes. I haven't tried it through an airbrush yet.

[Twokidsnosleep]

Don't ask me why but when you said "Circle of Willis blood supply in the brain" It reminded me of a walking kinesin
The molotow is good but I find it goes thick and dries quickly, I try and get it to pool on the part if possible and self level. I tried it with a brush but it was drying too fast and didn't lay down very well, leaves brush strokes. I haven't tried it through an airbrush yet.

I have not seen the walking kinesin before....creepy walking protein video watched

Ya spray the Molotow it is great, I added a smidge of Mr Levelling thinner
Best to use the refill tube rather than pen as the former is less gummy than the latter. The refill also has a great small tip to allow control of the material out.
Highly recommend it despite a bit spendy.
Then leave the Molotow alone for a week and give it a shot of clear.
Now it is reasonable to handle only slightly and look at it only glancingly from the corner of your eye, never directly on or staring too hard.... or it goes dull.

[digger303]

Thanks guys, appreciate the motivation from your comments
I waffled between stripping all the chrome and using Molotow, but it is such a pain in the butt and Molotow is not especially durable. Plus worried the top detail would be lost.
It is nice to have another shade of chrome with the kit stuff, but boy is it hard hiding the sprue attatchment points

I have been working on what turns out to be the oil lines....thanks to Casper for pointing me the right direction there.
Completely left off the kit, I will add this chrome circle of piping in. It reminds me of the Circle of Willis blood supply in the brain. ie complicated

Sweet build

[Twokidsnosleep]

Thanks guys, appreciate the motivation from your comments
I waffled between stripping all the chrome and using Molotow, but it is such a pain in the butt and Molotow is not especially durable. Plus worried the top detail would be lost.
It is nice to have another shade of chrome with the kit stuff, but boy is it hard hiding the sprue attatchment points

I have been working on what turns out to be the oil lines....thanks to Casper for pointing me the right direction there.
Completely left off the kit, I will add this chrome circle of piping in. It reminds me of the Circle of Willis blood supply in the brain. ie complicated

Sweet build

Hope you are keeping well this winter

[digger303]

Thanks guys, appreciate the motivation from your comments
I waffled between stripping all the chrome and using Molotow, but it is such a pain in the butt and Molotow is not especially durable. Plus worried the top detail would be lost.
It is nice to have another shade of chrome with the kit stuff, but boy is it hard hiding the sprue attatchment points

I have been working on what turns out to be the oil lines....thanks to Casper for pointing me the right direction there.
Completely left off the kit, I will add this chrome circle of piping in. It reminds me of the Circle of Willis blood supply in the brain. ie complicated

Sweet build

Hope you are keeping well this winter

Very well thank you. It's those guys running "On the bench" podcast having it a little rough with all the lock downs.

[Twokidsnosleep]

Same photo again

This time the two chrome oil pipes are sitting in close to final position
I have added thin copper strips to the tube to mimic the hose clamps
This loop adds so much obvious detail to this engine and is one of its defining features, so really needed to be added
Looks like I need to touch up chrome my wire as it has chips exposing brass from all the handling

[digger303]

[kpisnuts]

Looks great

[Stokesy44]

Looks like I need to touch up chrome my wire as it has chips exposing brass from all the handling

Very nice work sir. There's always a need to go back for the ritual touch up!

[Kevthemodeller]

Great looking oil lines there Scott, it's that level of detailing that really brings it to life

[Twokidsnosleep]

Great looking oil lines there Scott, it's that level of detailing that really brings it to life

Thanks Kev
it has slowed the build down a lot, but is such a prominent feature of the engine
It took me forever to figure out they were oil lines and were they came and went from
I had fuel injection in my head...but this engine has carbs

[NoelSmith]

I took a bit of flak for some of you guys over my reference to using the term 'just kit assemblers' in my earlier post.
The term was not meant to be derogatory in any way. It was just meant to differentiate between those modellers who like to take on tasks like the Vincent in this thread, and do a lot of extra work on a kit that leaves a lot to be desired, and those who prefer to build a kit with little or no hassle out of the box.
I hasten to add that there is nothing wrong with either approach, and as long as we all get fun and satisfaction from our builds it does not matter one iota.
All of us start by assembly and develop our skills to the level we are happy with. I lost count of all the Airfix Spitfires and ME109s that I used as target practice with an air pistol back in the late 50's when I was at school. But things move on and more recently I have done some model car scratch building. Others prefer to build state of the art kits, and others like to make something out of an ageing kit like Scott is doing on this thread.

I must say that Scott is doing a remarkable job on that old motor bike kit.

It is a case of each to their own and whatever turns you on!

[Casper]

Great looking oil lines there Scott, it's that level of detailing that really brings it to life

Thanks Kev
it has slowed the build down a lot, but is such a prominent feature of the engine
It took me forever to figure out they were oil lines and were they came and went from
I had fuel injection in my head...but this engine has carbs

I thought I would look at the wiring diagram for a Harley WLA to add some detail and it confused the hell out of me so just a couple of prominent wires to give some detailing is enough for the eye. I was surprised the oil feeder pipes weren't included in the kit scott but your mods look perfect and make all the difference

[Casper]

I took a bit of flak for some of you guys over my reference to using the term 'just kit assemblers' in my earlier post.
The term was not meant to be derogatory in any way. It was just meant to differentiate between those modellers who like to take on tasks like the Vincent in this thread, and do a lot of extra work on a kit that leaves a lot to be desired, and those who prefer to build a kit with little or no hassle out of the box.
I hasten to add that there is nothing wrong with either approach, and as long as we all get fun and satisfaction from our builds it does not matter one iota.
All of us start by assembly and develop our skills to the level we are happy with. I lost count of all the Airfix Spitfires and ME109s that I used as target practice with an air pistol back in the late 50's when I was at school. But things move on and more recently I have done some model car scratch building. Others prefer to build state of the art kits, and others like to make something out of an ageing kit like Scott is doing on this thread.

I must say that Scott is doing a remarkable job on that old motor bike kit.

It is a case of each to their own and whatever turns you on!

Assembling and adding mods to kits is probably my favourite part, painted or not. I just love the engineering that goes into producing such an amazing model old or new especially the newer Tamiya and Bandai kits but these days its much easier for the leading companies (he says ) to engineer a model kit with all the software and Tech available. I like doing the older kits even though they make you work hard to get a somewhere near perfect finish but its very rewarding. kits that go together with ease and fit together with no filler or major mods are great especially for the newer Race and road bikes that Tamiya produce, and the military kits are just incredible. Its amazing how they do it. I love building things and have a Lego stash that's growing all the time but don't tell the Mrs I also like building the DE Agostini 1/8 Model cars and bikes, they go together a dream and look amazing built OTB.
My next project if I can sort out delivery from France is this amazing Altaya Indian Springfield No gluing or painting, unless you want to mod it of course.
https://www.altaya.fr/modelisme-maquett ... pringfield

[digger303]

Assembling and adding mods to kits is probably my favourite part, painted or not. I just love the engineering that goes into producing such an amazing model old or new especially the newer Tamiya and Bandai kits but these days its much easier for the leading companies (he says ) to engineer a model kit with all the software and Tech available. I like doing the older kits even though they make you work hard to get a somewhere near perfect finish but its very rewarding. kits that go together with ease and fit together with no filler or major mods are great especially for the newer Race and road bikes that Tamiya produce, and the military kits are just incredible. Its amazing how they do it. I love building things and have a Lego stash that's growing all the time but don't tell the Mrs I also like building the DE Agostini 1/8 Model cars and bikes, they go together a dream and look amazing built OTB.
My next project if I can sort out delivery from France is this amazing Altaya Indian Springfield No gluing or painting, unless you want to mod it of course.
https://www.altaya.fr/modelisme-maquett ... pringfield
[/quote]

Look forward to that.

[Twokidsnosleep]

Ya you guys can take that discussion elsewhere…it is a touchy subject with many strong opinions opening multiple cans of worms

[NoelSmith]

The Atalya Indian Springfield motor cycle link that Casper placed in his post was really interesting. If anyone is wondering who Johnny Halliday is who's bike it is modelled on, he passed away recently and was the most well known pop star in France. I believe that he may have been an English guy who became famous there in the 60's, liked the French lifestyle and stayed on.

Scott, you are probably right about the discussion drifting a bit and perhaps getting touchy. I said what I had to say in my last post to try and put it all into perspective, and have nothing more to add to that.

Getting back to your Black Shadow motor cycle, I found out recently that the actual factory that built them was located in a town named Stevenage about 12 miles away from where I live. Being of local interest there may be some archives about in a local museum of library that might be interesting to look at it any still exist.I

The Matchbox/Revell kit is the only one of this vehicle that I know of. It is nice to see your hard work in improving it. I think that it was first produced back in the 70's. So, I am looking forward to the final completion of your build that is now well under way.
I wonder if MFH will produce one, as they have already done a Brough Superior?

[Twokidsnosleep]

The Atalya Indian Springfield motor cycle link that Casper placed in his post was really interesting. If anyone is wondering who Johnny Halliday is who's bike it is modelled on, he passed away recently and was the most well known pop star in France. I believe that he may have been an English guy who became famous there in the 60's, liked the French lifestyle and stayed on.

Scott, you are probably right about the discussion drifting a bit and perhaps getting touchy. I said what I had to say in my last post to try and put it all into perspective, and have nothing more to add to that.

Getting back to your Black Shadow motor cycle, I found out recently that the actual factory that built them was located in a town named Stevenage about 12 miles away from where I live. Being of local interest there may be some archives about in a local museum of library that might be interesting to look at it any still exist.

The Matchbox/Revell kit is the only one of this vehicle that I know of. It is nice to see your hard work in improving it. I think that it was first produced back in the 70's. So, I am looking forward to the final completion of your build that is now well under way.
I wonder if MFH will produce one, as they have already done a Brough Superior?

Yes MFH has done a black shadow in 1/9 scale
It is rare and super expensive…as the the Superior
Would LOVE to get my mitts on either; even just to build one and pass it back built to the kit’s owner
Cool you are so close to the factory

I have been watching uTube videos of a great English guy in Oregon restoring and maintaining his Vincents
Huge breakthrough for me as he shows how the oil tank has a connection at its lower middle that runs a line to this silver metal oil supply line I have been making. So nice to get that last bit of the puzzle and lets me move forward as I have a full circle and understand the locations.
Some screen shots show the connection between the two heads, just above the left side carburetor





I am super happy now

[Twokidsnosleep]

Code: Select all

Great looking oil lines there Scott, it's that level of detailing that really brings it to life

Thanks Kev
it has slowed the build down a lot, but is such a prominent feature of the engine
It took me forever to figure out they were oil lines and were they came and went from
I had fuel injection in my head...but this engine has carbs

I thought I would look at the wiring diagram for a Harley WLA to add some detail and it confused the hell out of me so just a couple of prominent wires to give some detailing is enough for the eye. I was surprised the oil feeder pipes weren't included in the kit scott but your mods look perfect and make all the difference

Noel got me looking at the MFH Black Shadow…it doesn’t have the oil feeder lines on its engine either!?
That kit is almost $1k on eBay

[Casper]

Those photos look really useful scott. I didn't know the MFH kit was missing the oil pipes
engines look great on these older bike, nice chunky parts and well engineered.

[NoelSmith]

Scott, the Vincent factory is long gone, but it will be interesting to find out where it was actually located in Stevenage, the town I mentioned. Maybe some local history archive might have the answer?

[Twokidsnosleep]

Those photos look really useful scott. I didn't know the MFH kit was missing the oil pipes
engines look great on these older bike, nice chunky parts and well engineered.

Nope I am wrong
I see another MFH Vincent with the oil lines in there
The videos I have watched make it so I could almost service the real bike if needed
Super helpful with a Vincent Black Shadow Anatomy that are sorely lacking in the instructions

And now after watching MFH building Videos, I want a Magnetic Tumbler Polisher

[Kevthemodeller]

Ya you guys can take that discussion elsewhere…it is a touchy subject with many strong opinions opening multiple cans of worms

Yep stop there guys move the conversation to the general section Everybody can then chip in should they wish without high jacking this thread

[Twokidsnosleep]

Ok not a great Sunday here
I have dropped my big iPad and cracked the screen


I am working from my iPhone and realize how small print everything is and how my eyes hate it and my thumbs must be huge and I am f’ing old
Not wanna spend another grand or more on an iPad so will suffer it out for a while
There are some big pieces of glass missing, I have just clear taped over to hold them together


Got the tubing for the oil supply completed and cemented in.
Working on the carb cables and then the fuel lines to the carbs

[digger303]

Ok not a great Sunday here
I have dropped my big iPad and cracked the screen


I am working from my iPhone and realize how small print everything is and how my eyes hate it and my thumbs must be huge and I am f’ing old
Not wanna spend another grand or more on an iPad so will suffer it out for a while
There are some big pieces of glass missing, I have just clear taped over to hold them together


Got the tubing for the oil supply completed and cemented in.
Working on the carb cables and then the fuel lines to the carbs

Did the same thing to my phone ( don't we all ), but with less cracks. It was ok for about 3 months then it must have flexed a little and died. Afraid it's living on borrowed time.
Very nice pipe work and I'm not just talking about the shine. Getting the angles and bends right is no easy task if the material is a little resilient.

[Stokesy44]

Cracking build and thread.

I have no idea what's going on but my mind tells me I likes it!