HONDA
Honda is the manufacturer of which I have built the most models. They include the CB750, the CB750F, the indestructable CT70, the CB72, the 350CC 6 cylinder Gran Prix Racer, the NSR500R, and even the venerable 750cc engine.
CB750
Honda CB750 Road Racing 1969 Daytona 200 winner ridden by Dick Mann. 1/6 Scale Tamiya with clear coat over original plastic color. Piano wire spokes replaced the original plastic ones. Just a joy to build, as is the case with most everything in the Tamiya line. Now available from Tamiya as a semi-assembled Premium model with a suggested MSRP of $801 USD$.
CB750F
Honda CB750F 1/12 scale by Tamiya. This model takes a huge leap forward in realism if bare metal foil (chrome) is used to accent the wheels and aluminum accents the rotors. Decals are included to allow finishing in either red, black or silver. Very thoughtful for those wanting a miniature replica of their original ride.
CT70
Dax 1/6 Scale by Tamiya. Known in Canada as the CT70, this one is like Frampton’s album of the time (ubiquitous and omnipresent). Packing more fun per pound than just about anything else, it was virtually indestructible and could be run at peak rpm’s for hours on end and reward its owner with sterling reliability. Folding bars for trunk storage just sweetened the deal even more. The plastic is molded in the original colour and Tamiya clear coat really brings it to life after the decals are applied.
CB72
Honda CB72 Super Sport 1/8 by Revell. The major gripe here, as with most products by this brand, is the chrome. Be prepared to vacuum up flakes of the stuff as you scrape areas of plated surfaces in preparation for gluing. It detracts from an otherwise appealing build with a precision level not as good as Tamiya but still producing a nice finished product. Wire spoke wheels added for realism. Tamiya masking tape to cover the pipes and tanks sides is recommended to prevent the marring of chrome by skin oil, glue and handling.
6 cylinder 350CC Gran Prix Racer
Honda 6 cylinder 350CC Gran Prix Racer by Protar in 1/9 scale. A stunning example of HP = RPM Squared, Soichiro Honda really provided Gran Prix spectators with an delightful soundtrack while the frame provided its riders with all the excitement they could handle.
NSR500R
Honda NSR500R 1/12 Scale by Tamiya. This one is done in the livery for Nicky Kinoshita and bare Metal foil help enhance the detail of this fine kit.
Honda 750cc Four Cylinder Engine
Minicraft 1/3 scale Honda 750cc Four Cylinder Engine. While advertised as having moving internals, I found that static display allowed finer matching and finishing of the joints. Great conversation starter. As one U.K. motorcycle manufacturer representative said in the early 70s “We aren’t worried about the Japanese. They are just making customers for our large displacement road burners.”
