Hi all - Starting a new build log here . This kit has tremendous appeal to me as I am a big fan of British bikes . The only thing that would make it better would be if it were a Norton !
I started with an inquiry to the UK based BSA Owners Group regarding some paint details. I received a very prompt and helpful reply from their General Secretary including a shot of a period ad or brochure…
I’ve made a start by cleaning up a great many white metal castings - drilling holes , removing flash and parting lines , etc . What you see here is nearly a week’s work .
Included in this group are the components for the Lucas Magdyno , engine crankcases, gearbox and cradle, kickstart lever and gearchange lever , fuel tank, saddle frame and springs , cylinder head , rocker box and rockers , cylinder base and fins , main chassis (frame ) members, various bolt and fastener castings, axles , rear mudguard ( fender) stays and package carrier members .
Yet to be cleaned up are the fork , wheel and mudguard components.
First to be assembled will be the Magdyno as it’s hold down strap is entrapped between the crankcase halves.
It is a little model unto itself and I can attest to it’s accuracy as it is the same unit that sparks my 1/1 1950 Norton ES 2 . I’ll post some picks of the model unit posed on the real thing when it is built .
Thanks gents for the kind words - indeed this one was calling to me very loudly !
Modeling has been interrupted briefly not by what the postman brought but by what the stork brought…
First grandchild yesterday afternoon - granddaughter
Raegan - just thrilled with this ! All involved healthy and happy - I’m a lucky guy !
Cheers- Richard
A little progress to report . I’ve begun cleaning up the various bolt castings. The task was made easier by sandwiching the castings between two strips of balsa and clamping all in a hand vise .
Engine starting to go together. White metal components finished by media blast with baking soda which gives a finer finish than glass beads . The Magdyno was soda blasted first than masked and the triangular drive end glass bead blasted to give a coarser texture.
More progress on the engine . Cylinder and cylinder head done . As can be seen on the instructions the cylinder is built up by stacking individual fins and capping with the cylinder head. Individual valve guides go in the head , along with real valve springs and photo etch collars. Tiny separate spark plug. The rocker box has separate rockers and includes the exhaust valve lifter ( compression release) complete with a tiny spring. Crankcase has two separate tappet blocks topped by pushrod tubes trapped between the tappets and rocker box- just like the real thing. More amazing detail from MFH .
Richard,
Impressive work putting together this masterpiece of a 1/9 scale motor bike engine. To bad that so much exquisite detail will never be seen by the viewers.
I’d betcha that if you put it besides a picture of the real engine, we couldn’t tell them apart.
joel
Some real motorcycle stuff has been taking up my time but I have made some progress.
The cast in bolt detail on the frame components was polished up with the glass fiber brush and then hit with liquid mask . After the mask dried it was carefully trimmed with a new #11 blade , primed with Tamiya fine grey primer ( rattle can) and then finish painted with Tamiya Semi Gloss Black.
Richard,
1st off, it’s great to see you back at the bench once again, creating your special brand of magic.
Absolutely it’s already getting difficult to tell model from the real deal, as that engine mounted in the frame is one of those: Is it real, or is a model?
