FINISHED - Kawasaki Ninja H2 Carbon - Tamiya - 1:12 Scale

[CDW]

Swingarm, drive chain, and rear wheel mated with frame and engine assembly.

 

[popeye the sailor]

really coming along nicely!   

[CDW]

Just now, popeye the sailor said:

really coming along nicely!   

Thanks Denis. It's something different. Unfamiliar parts to all of this requires careful study of the paint and decal placement guides.

 

Just for fun, I searched the net for prices of used Ninja H2 bikes. Lowest price I found was just under $18,000 for a 2018 model and as much as $55,000 for a 2021! Can't imagine paying that much for a bike.

 

 

[Old Collingwood]

7 minutes ago, CDW said:

Thanks Denis. It's something different. Unfamiliar parts to all of this requires careful study of the paint and decal placement guides.

 

Just for fun, I searched the net for prices of used Ninja H2 bikes. Lowest price I found was just under $18,000 for a 2018 model and as much as $55,000 for a 2021! Can't imagine paying that much for a bike.

 

 

And I thought the Dukes were pricey.

 

OC.

[CDW]

While there are slight color variations that can be found in photos of the Ninja H2 on the net, this one particularly seems to match the color reference instructions with my model. Will most likely use this one as my guide for the remainder of the model.

 

[CDW]

The kit decal sheet comes with the green color accents similar as seen in this photo, which differs from the photo in the previous photo (none). It might be that certain year models had color accents that were not applied to later or subsequent year models. Don't know for sure. I am not a Kawasaki expert at all. Builder's choice? I like the green accents. Breaks it up a bit. The side panel on the fairing seems to be a lighter shade of metallic gray, maybe silver. Decisions, decisions. 

 

[Old Collingwood]

Gorgeous looking machine.

 

OC.

[popeye the sailor]

is that your model.......can't tell for sure     if so.......you nailed it!

[CDW]

1 hour ago, popeye the sailor said:

is that your model.......can't tell for sure     if so.......you nailed it!

No, that's a photo of the 1:1 machine (the last photo I posted).

[CDW]

Be it ever so humble, the first carbon fiber decals were applied. The carbon fiber decals are on the thick side and require several coats of Microsol so they settle down and conform to shape. Time consuming, requires patience, can't rush it.

 

 

[Old Collingwood]

15 minutes ago, CDW said:

Be it ever so humble, the first carbon fiber decals were applied. The carbon fiber decals are on the thick side and require several coats of Microsol so they settle down and conform to shape. Time consuming, requires patience, can't rush it.

 

 

If that was me it would have been one of those gritting my teeth moments.

 

OC.

[CDW]

Exhaust system. Tamiya does exceptional chrome work in their kits. Maybe the best in the business.

Discoloring done to match 1:1 photos using highly reduced Tamiya clear blue and clear orange shot through the airbrush in a very light mist coat.

 

 

[lmagna]

Your ability to reliably reproduce your color of choice is nothing short of astounding!

[CDW]

3 minutes ago, lmagna said:

Your ability to reliably reproduce your color of choice is nothing short of astounding!

Thank you for the kind words, Lou. When I first started doing this in the 1960's with a hairy stick and Testor's Enamels, it was trial and error. When I got an airbrush in the 1970's it was still trial and error. Flash forward to the 2020's, and it's still trial and error. Practice, practice, practice. And in the 80's and 90's it was 1:1 cars and trucks, and that was trial and error, too. I love this hobby.

[Old Collingwood]

Same as What Lou said  - Amazing work on the pipes  and the rest of the build.

 

OC.

Edited January 30, 2021 by Old Collingwood

[CDW]

Tamiya employs the use of micro size machine screws to strengthen the join of the engine, kick stand, and exhaust system to the frame.

 

The water cooling system is installed.

 

[Old Collingwood]

Love to see those tubular frames.

 

OC.

[Canute]

Craig, you've got the discoloration down nicely with those clear colors. Very impressive. 👍

[CDW]

Buried within the frame, you can see the red supercharger.

 

 

The intake trunking to the supercharger is dry fitted in place prior to applying the carbon fiber decals to the trunk. "Fit check".

 

[CDW]

Just now, Canute said:

Craig, you've got the discoloration down nicely with those clear colors. Very impressive. 👍

 

Thanks Ken. The trick is to reduce the paint to about a 1:8 ratio of paint to thinner, and then airbrush very lightly to build the color. Less is better.

 

[Canute]

Right. It's a weathering technique, just isn't the usual dirt and rust buildups. Great technique for the jet exhausts.

[CDW]

Here is the air intake trunk after application of the carbon fiber decals. 

 

 

After trial and error, I switched from Microsol decal solvent solution to the stronger Solvaset decal solvent solution. The Microsol required too many applications and consequently, time. Even with Solvaset, several applications are needed for the Studio 27 carbon fiber decals to settle down and conform to shape. I think the end results are worth the effort.

 

[CDW]

The main paint call outs for this model are metallic black and gun metal. Those parts get a clear coat. Here, I have painted the parts that are metallic black.

 

 

The kit provides paint masks. The paint masks are applied to the parts that were painted metallic black

 

 

After the masks have been applied, gun metal color is sprayed on.

 

 

[CDW]

With masks removed, I think this two tone color gives a good representation of the bike in the reference photos.

 

[Old Collingwood]

Excellent work mate.

 

OC.

[CDW]

The fairing receives the lion's share of the carbon fiber decals. There are many individual pieces of decal required for the fairing. As a result, it's painfully slow getting the job done. However, the results are satisfying as the decals are of a high quality. 

Without a strong decal solvent like Solvaset, this task would be next to impossible. 

 

[CDW]

The paint work finished, decals were placed on the various body parts. After the decals dried over night, a clear coat of 2K urethane was given to all painted body parts. Getting closer to the finish line with this model. 🙂

 

[Edwardkenway]

Very nice Craig,  I love the touch of green, but then I suppose it is a Kawasaki!

[CDW]

42 minutes ago, Edwardkenway said:

Very nice Craig,  I love the touch of green, but then I suppose it is a Kawasaki!

 

Thanks Edward. Yes, I think the small touch of green break things up nicely.

[mtaylor]

I've often wondered if leaving the carbon fiber had more to do with bragging rights than anything else.   It does look good though.