Airfix 1/8th Norton Commando

[kingpin141]

Evenin all. Welcome to the oldest kit i've ever made. This is my Mums blokes dream bike. This is it as I got it. 



Someone has started it but obviously given up quite quickly. The wheels are put together and the frame. The wheels look ok but the frame looks awful. 




Some clean up work needed me thinks. The decals worry me alot. All of the carrier has yellowed and I'm not confident enough to trim the carrier away. Aftermarket perusing to come. 


I've had a crack at the engine first. It comes pre coloured but the coating is far from consistent. It'll end up BMW Arctic Silver (Left overs from me car)

[Leon]

Nice start on the engine KP,You'll whip this into shape.

[TRM]

Off and running! Looking good KP, keep it coming!

[deafpanzer]

Good start there!

[Return_To_Kit_Form]

I havw had yellow decals before and have had mixed success with this trick. Try taping your decals to the window (marings facing outside) for a few days/ weeks ans see if tha helps



Cheers,


Brett T

[kingpin141]

Lots done tonight but the camera on me phone is playing silly buggers. It takes the pic but the computer wipes it. Not good. Anyways. The engine has been plumbed and carbs attached. The swing arm is attached and still swings too. The things that hang off the front off the chassis spine are on. 



  I've had a proper look at the front end and it's not good. Whoever put it together couldn't make a sandwich, never mind a model. There's so much glue on it that there's no way I can take it apart and clean it up. Damn and blast.
  Revert the decals are in the window and I can already see a difference, thankyou muchly. 


  How people used to make these without superglue is beyond me. It's vital. 

[deafpanzer]

So shiny... looking good!

[kingpin141]

  First up today we have my moans. The diameter of the headlight casing is smaller than that of the lense, leaving this. 
Much sanding to cum to remove the lenses inner lip. 
  Heres the pics of the engine and swing arm that didn't work the other day. 







 The battery and it's tray are in. Not easy. This kit is a massive challenge. There's lots of pre coloured sprues which I've decided I no like. The fit of the parts leaves something to be desired. And chrome parts. I hate chrome parts. No glue sticks so all mating faces have to be sanded, which makes attaching the rear light/number plate bracket an absolute nightmare as I daren't sand off too much chrome so the glue has something t grip. All in all the back end is looking a bit of a mess. I'll have to clean it up once it's finally secure. 
 The engine is in the frame. Not totally fitted yet. Whoever had this before cut some of the bolts off the sprue never to be seen again. Another problem to be solved. I couldn't resist finally seeing it with it's wheels on. Here it be. 

[deafpanzer]

Looking stunning!

[Deleted]

Looking great!

[WigWag Workshop]

Looking great, I always loved the sound of an old Norton!

-Steven

[Leon]

Looking good so far KP! A little TLC and it will look great when your done.

[kingpin141]

After a long lay off from this build I've finally picked it back  up. Over the last couple of nights i've scratched up a new head stock ( no idea were the last one went. Built the instrument binnacles and applied the decals. 









 As you can see the tank decals haven't come out quite as well as i'd hoped. On one side the decals just came apart. I'm not sure how i'm going to sort it and on the other side they're quite wrinkled despite lashings of decal soft. Bum.

[kingpin141]

One massively productive evening later and it's finally starting to look like a bike. It's taken copious amounts of plastic weld, as no glue known to man seems to work. One of the rear shocks snapped while i was trying to fit it inside the spring. that spring was so solid it's useless so i had to make one out of fuse wire. Looks a bit dodgy so it's going on the side with the buggered tank decal. The other side will be the beauty side. Here it is so far . 

[Leon]

Shaping up really nicely KP!

[kingpin141]

Tis finally done. This has been an awful build. Never again am I building a kit as old as I am. Here it be

[Leon]

Nice to see this cross the finish line despite all the issues KP! Karma to you for whipping this into shape.

[deafpanzer]

She is a beauty! Sorry for being late as I have been away on a vacation. Thanks for sharing with us!

[Mence]

Well done for taking one of these old dogs on!

I have tried to build this kit twice and abandoned both.

Credit to you.

[kingpin141]

Sept 16, 2015 13:52:05 GMT -5 Mence said:

Well done for taking one of these old dogs on!

I have tried to build this kit twice and abandoned both.

Credit to you.

If this wasn't a present for someone i'd have given up on it long ago. I thought i could already swear fluently. I certainly can now.