Airfix Model World
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Airfix Model World

http://www.airfixmodelworld.com

INTERMEDIATE BUILD

HARRIET ON A BIKE

INTERMEDIATE BUILD

HARRIET ON A BIKE

preparation work involved trying

to correct the wheels, as these

both suffered blemishes during

the casting process. By filing and

sanding it was possible to get the

front wheel to a respectable state,

but the rear wheel was beyond full

rescue; thankfully the lack of tread

wasn’t going to be too obvious on

the finished model.

A logical approach to the

construction resulted in there

being no major problems, apart

from how to position the equipage

balancing on its back wheel, as

this did not appear to have been

thought through properly. MDC

had got the first part right with a

copper tube cast integrally with the

tyre; this would be inserted in the

resin cobblestone base. However,

the second half of the idea didn’t

work too well, as the rear axle was

formed from a length of copper

rod inside a centrally mounted

copper tube. Unfortunately, this

join was insufficient to support the

weight of the chopper and figure.

Superglue and two-part epoxy glue

were used, together with a hefty

blob of modelling paste around

the hub, but to no avail. As soon as

Harriet was placed in the saddle,

the wheelie quickly deteriorated

into a mundane two-wheel pose.

After a close look at the rear of the

bike, it was realised that an extra

pin, drilled through the left side

of the swing arm and tyre, was

needed to stabilise the assembly.

An alternative fix to the problem

would have been to attach a pin

through the saddle.

Attention then moved to the

front of the chopper, where it was

realised that the brake and clutch

handles had been positioned the

wrong way around. These were

corrected and the handlebars and

front fork were added to the main

chassis, with the figure used for

an alignment check. The crystal

and its covers were left off until

after painting, and all parts

RIDE

{77}

Airfix Model World

http://www.airfixmodelworld.com

front wheel to a respectable state,

but the rear wheel was beyond full

rescue; thankfully the lack of tread

wasn’t going to be too obvious on

A logical approach to the

construction resulted in there

being no major problems, apart

from how to position the equipage

balancing on its back wheel, as

this did not appear to have been

thought through properly. MDC

had got the first part right with a

copper tube cast integrally with the

tyre; this would be inserted in the

resin cobblestone base. However,

the second half of the idea didn’t

work too well, as the rear axle was

formed from a length of copper

rod inside a centrally mounted

copper tube. Unfortunately, this

join was insufficient to support the

weight of the chopper and figure.

Superglue and two-part epoxy glue

were used, together with a hefty

blob of modelling paste around

the hub, but to no avail. As soon as

Harriet was placed in the saddle,

of the swing arm and tyre, was

needed to stabilise the assembly.

An alternative fix to the problem

would have been to attach a pin

through the saddle.

Attention then moved to the

front of the chopper, where it was

realised that the brake and clutch

handles had been positioned the

wrong way around. These were

corrected and the handlebars and

front fork were added to the main

chassis, with the figure used for

an alignment check. The crystal

and its covers were left off until

after painting, and all parts

Here the unpainted

bike, with corrected

handles, was added

to the base; the chain

guard and crystal

parts were added

later, after painting

had been completed.

 The main chassis featured excellent cast detail, especially the single-cylinder

‘dragon power’ engine and the equipment on the swing arm. To maintain the wheelie

pose, a second pin was added between the swing arm and rear wheel.

 Once assembled, Harriet received

primer coats of black and white.

By using two shades it was much

easier to decide where shadows and

highlights would be added later.

76-79_Harriet.CC.indd 77 17/03/2015 14:46