1:12 Yamaha RZ250 (4L3) 1980

Hasegawa 1:12 Yamaha RZ250 (4L3) 1980

A plastic kit of the Yamaha RZ250 motorcycle in 1:12 scale from the Japanese manufacturer Hasegawa. The designation 4L3 in the name is the type code of the real machine; the year 1980 relates to the motorcycle, not to the scale. The model is supplied unassembled and unpainted.

The real subject

The RZ250 is a Japanese two-stroke quarter-liter machine from the early 1980s and one of the motorcycles that defined the sporting two-strokes of that generation. Against older machines it brought a more modern chassis and a liquid-cooled engine, a combination that then became the standard. The model captures the early form from 1980, that is the unfaired version with the engine and frame exposed; that is exactly why how the powerplant and its surroundings turn out matters so much here.

Building and painting tips

On an unfaired motorcycle everything is visible, so it pays to give time to the engine, the exhausts and the small plumbing. Finish and paint the frame and the engine before you start putting the rest together. Spray the tank and the side covers onto a sanded surface over primer and bring the gloss out with clear coat: the surface under the decals has to be glossy, otherwise their carrier film will show. Leave the chromed and polished parts alone and handle them with gloves. Bring out the discs, the chain and the springs with a dark wash and knock back the rubber items and the seat. Cables and control runs can be added very simply with thin wire, which adds a lot on a machine this exposed.

Who the model is for

• those interested in Japanese two-strokes of the turn of the 1970s and 1980s
• modelers who build motorcycles in 1:12 scale
• builders who enjoy detailed work on an exposed engine and frame
• collectors building a line of Japanese quarter-liter machines

The model is supplied unassembled and unpainted. Glue, paints and accessories are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.