Tamiya model number: 14103 as base kit
After market:
Renaissance decal sheet
Tamiya Front Fork set
Crazy Modeler PE-sheet
In progress through: 2006-10-20 - 2007-03-06
 
 
 

       
 
 
 
 
 

I love test bikes. When Renaissance released the test version of the Rolfo bike I knew I had to build it. I tend to get hooked on these test bikes that are just painted flat/semi gloss black. Mostly as I hate CF work... The build will follow parallell to the race version of the same bike and will be not be updated in the same way.





 

Started working on the cowls. All parts that is to be connected is glued with CA glue. Then the extensive putty work began.

Worst is the rear seat cowl as it is built of several pieces and has a pretty tricky shape. It took me three layers of putty to smooth out the glue lines. Can be really good looking in the end though.
Cowlings got some primer and I then started laying down some Tamiya TS-14 Black decanted and sprayed through the airbrush. I think I got a pretty decent shine with the final wet coat and I lifted it even further with some polishing. Really sad I have to dull it down with some satin clear later on...
This is how they turned out with the decals on. After this picture I gave them a few light coats of Modelers' Flat Super Clear. Turned out great.
Close up image of the decalled seat.
 
On this bike I used the Crazy Modeler PE set for the Desmosedici and a Front fork set from Tamiya. I was thinking it would go as a comparision between this bike and the race version that didn't get any PE. Chain gave me hell, but then again, I did it completely wrong... Chain halves is supposed to face each other with the "dotty" sides and then the links are to be glued on the flat side of the chain halves. You can figure out by yourselves that I had some problems with the links sliding off the small rivety things huh...? As that wasn't enough it turned out that I got it all upsidedown. I thought it was best to put it aside. But to compare it to the kit chain I give you this image.
Front wheel. Inner section of the disc rotor is a PE part. Can't seem to spot much difference on the black parts but as I painted them with enamel paint it was an easy job to pick out the metallic rivets undernieth. That gave a better look than to paint them silver again. Dunlop tire decals was horrible and just kept on wrapping up.
Front wheel installed. Interesting detail compared to the race version is that the team tested with Brembo calipers and raced with Nissin... Nice detail though. Brake line is .6 mm fishing line.
On the lovely screamers I used Tamiya wheatering master set. Blue and burnt metal. Just dip the little pad and smear it on where you like it. Just as when you are going out on a saturday night ;-)
Picture from the top with meter, airbox and screamers installed. Fork head parts from the Fork set was crappy. They are nice and black but shall be painted anyway and worst of all, as they are metal you can't drill them out...
Rear disc is PE. Disc itself brings out a better look but the center part got painted black in the rush... My mistake, it would have looked much better in metal.
Rear end put together. Different marking set up from the race back but nothing fancy. The reservoir is brass and comes with the fork set. Looks good and I can't get why Tamiya doesn't give you a shaped reservoire in the kit.
On to some CF decalling. This has been like a poison to me and I have to add it to all of my builds. The airbox have been covered with SMS high definition carbon fiber and the rear mud guard with another regular sheet from SMS. Mud guard has to be clear coated to get rid of the decal edges. They appear as I cut several pieces of decal as it forms more easily to the bent surface.

 
 
     

 

Will see if Renaissance decals are the same as the Tamiya ones, I've heard they are a bit tricky.

The Renaissance set is a semi set as you have to use decals from the Tamiya Dántin Pramac kit as well. Keep this in mind if you are thinking of converting the standard Desmosedici GP4 kit into this test bike!

Most of the decals went on really well, in contrary to my earlier fears. Larger decals conformed very well to the irregular surfaces. What's bugging me is that Renaissance missed out on quite a few details. I'm very impressed with most of the decals but there are some size problems and one of the magnoliasfor the top cowl is not printed in the right direction.