1:8 Yamaha TY 125

The real subject

The Yamaha TY 125 belongs to the TY range, which the Japanese brand built for trials, that is for riding over rough ground where there is no hurry and where the point is to get through an obstacle without stopping and without putting a foot down. A motorcycle like that can be recognized at a glance: it is light and narrow, has a high-routed exhaust, long wheel travel and a seat that is only suggested, because the rider stands on the footpegs. The number in the designation refers to the engine displacement class.

What the kit offers

A model in 1:8 scale is among the largest that are built of motorcycles. At this size you can see into the frame, along the cable runs and at the wheel spokes, so the finished piece comes across more as a model of a machine than as a figurine on a shelf. The kit is supplied unassembled and unpainted; the number of parts, the sequence and the painting plan are given in the instructions in the package.

Building and painting tips

• Paint the frame before you start mounting assemblies on it; later on neither a brush nor a nozzle will reach it.
• Assemble the wheels on a flat surface and watch that the lacing stays symmetrical and the wheel does not buckle out of true.
• Paint the tank and the fenders separately and let them cure properly, as a smooth surface will take only a few touches.
• Mask and protect the gloss parts; a fingerprint shows on them more than a mistake in the build.
• Dry-fit the model and check that it stands and that the wheels touch the surface, and only then glue it permanently.

Who it is for

For builders of motorcycles who like a large scale and want a model that shows the engineering, not just the shape. The 1:8 size is rewarding for a display case too: the finished machine stands up on its own, without a scene and without surroundings. Paints and glue are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.