2009 Yamahas
In 2009 Yamaha fielded four motor bikes in the Moto GP championship. Two were works bikes, sponsored by Fiat, and two were entered by the satellite team Tech 3, sponsored by the Monster energy drinks company. Tamiya have produced three kits enabling us to make all of that year's bikes. I set myself a project to build all three during the two week Chinese New Year holiday, and although I built the engines and frames together, saving time and paint, I didn't make my self-imposed deadline! However, they are finished now, and here they are. The Fiat team's riders, Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo, had much success, and for the Estoril race, changed their livery from the normal blue and white to silver and white in order to publicise the launch of the Fiat Punto Evo car. I've chosen to model Rossi's machine in blue and white, and Lorenzo's in silver and white (especially as Lorenzo won the Estoril race). The Tech 3 machines sported a very attractive black colour scheme with Monster Energy's three claw mark logo, their riders were Colin Edwards and James Toseland, I've modelled No 5, as raced by Colin Edwards. As well as pictures of the finished models I've included some views of part built kits, the box art, and examples of the real thing. Hope you enjoy looking, and thanks to iModeller for having such an easy to use site
It would seem you have this motorcycle thing down pat, George. All excellent renditions, sir...beautiful work.
Great looking set of bikes George.
1/12 scale! Nice sized bikes. (Very nice models as well!) Are the cowlings held on with screws so they can be removed? I know Tamiya has done that trick in the past and it would be a shame to hide all the work you did!
Thanks for looking, Josh. The side cowlings are held on with screws, and, in turn, hold on the front cowling. The bottom cowling just clips on, so, yes, they are removeable.
Brilliant work again George .
N.
Wow!, George, these are beautiful models you have produced. I am a bit of a motorcyclist, with a Norton Commando and Kawasaki Concours, both bought new, and still have them. I had a Ducati Darmah for some years, and built a Tamiya kit of a 900 SS, which I have hung on to for some reason, though sadly, I no longer have the Darmah! A couple of old Protar kits remain in my closet. It is amazing the detail they put into these motorcycle kits now (the Protar kits look positively primitive), and you have done an incredible job of building these. And your photography is very professional. Thanks for posting!
You own a Commando?
Lucky guy...
Hi Robert, thank you for your kind comments. I remember those Protar kits, when you opened the box it looked like a lot of black spaghetti!
Beautiful bikes. Immacualte builds George.
Not a 'bike guy' personally, but lovin' this go-faster plastic. Superb modelling skills on view here.
Perfection!
Those bikes George, up to your usual high standards.
How you build and paint them is fantastic, you have the rattle can knack.
Very well done George.
fantastic collection george...really a pleasure to look at...thank you
Skillfully built and Beautiful to look at for sure. I've never built a motorcycle kit so I'm curious to know how much masking and painting you do on a typical project vs decaling? Your builds are tempting me to give a motorcycle kit a go. Thanks for sharing your work.
Hi Erich, thank you for your kind comments. Generally Tamiya make it easy for you by supplying masking that you have to cut out, but you must remember to mask everything else as well! How much masking or decaling depends on the specific model, for example, the black Monster bike here had no masking at all, whereas the two others had quite a lot in order to achieve their two tone colour scheme. Thanks for looking.
George,
You are definitely the "Maestro of the Motorcycle". Absolutely stunning models.
I thought you had been up to something! Amazing mate, being a Yamaha fan myself this tremendous. If its alright with yourself I'm going to print that photo of all 3 bikes out and put it on my wall in a frame. Where it can be viewed by younger generations, accompanied by my ramblings on about how bikes were better in them days!
Hi Richard, you're very welcome to print out the picture, but I think you have pictures of your real bikes to prove the point! Thanks again for your kind comments.
Yes but I don't own an M1! And unfortunately never will! Amazing article George, personal preference but the best I have seen yet on imodeler.
You've done it again, George. They look real ! and beautifully competitive
Nice clean builds, nice model photos, look like they're from a showroom catalog.