P.O. Box 14572, Scottsdale, AZ. 85267. Tel: 480-258-1050
New Product Showcase from AZRM
updated 6/3/2008
This page is just to showcase a new detail product.
This
week is going to be a little different for the showcase and is aimed at the
Motor Cycle modelers. I am going to show you three products from three
different manufacturers. "Chain sets" in 1:12 scale.
The first comes from Model Factory Hiro, part # P-941,
it has been out for a
while, and I thought they were the best on the market when they were released.
MFH were the first company to address the assembly of the chain in a realistic
and practical way. Well worth the $20.00 price tag.
All the "rollers and pins" are cast in a thermo plastic resin on a "sprue"
with the correct spacing for the links. The links are Photo etched and
completely separate, mounted on a film, so no trimming is required.
Once the links are in place, you melt the end of the pins to hold the links in place, which also allows the chain to flex..
Their set includes white metal cast sprockets
for three different bikes;
Ducati Desmosedici, Honda RC211V and the Yamaha YZR-M1. Click
assembly to see how they go together.
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Then came Top Studio with their version. They have approached the assembly in
a different way. They supply a jig
which is multiple photo etched parts and
you have to assemble it before you can start assembling the chain. They also
include photo etched front and rear sprockets, plus a small shaft for the front sprocket.
The pins/rollers are machined pieces, from what I can tell. And you have to "pein"
over the ends to hold the links in place,
quite similar to a real chain.
At the moment they have them for the Honda RC211V part # TD23012,
and Yamaha
YZR-M1 in silver, part # TD23013
and 1 in gold, part # TD23014.
These retail
at approx. $37.00. Actual price to be advised. Se how to
assemble them.
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The latest addition to the chain making crew is "Hobby Design" out of China,
also. A little like Top Studio, in as much as they supply a special jig
for
assembling the chain. The pins/rollers are machined pieces, there would appear
to be 3 pieces to each, so careful assembly
will be required.
You can see most of the parts in the previous picture, and it looks like they
are using "Loctite" to assemble theirs. They have chain
sets for; Honda RC211V,
part # HD02-001, Yamaha YZR-M1,
part # HD02-002,
Kawasaki ZX-RR.,
part # HD02-003 and the Ducati GP4, part # HD02-004.
These
sets also come with Photo Etched front and rear sprockets. These retail at
approx. $28.00 actual price to be advised. Click
assembly to see how these go together.
One of the things all three sets require....................................................is a great deal of patience. ;) Also I would assemble these inside a container of some sort, so as not to loose any parts..
I also suggest the use of NON metallic tweezers, etc. I'm sure we have all been there...........................................working with small stainless parts and find the tweezers are magnetized, so you never get to let go of the piece, but you don't find this out until you get the part in JUST THE RIGHT PLACE and let it go only to discover it's no longer where you put it, and find it stuck the end of the tweezers. So tooth pics and plastic tweezers.
Each of the three chain sets have their own advantages.
I like the MFH set for the separate links, so much better with no edges to clean.
I like the Top Studio sets for the way they assemble, and peining the end of pins.
I like the Hobby Design sets as it seems easy to assemble.
They are all very good. It will depend on your own personal preference of detail, which manufacturer you choose. However, if you are like me............................you will have one of each. ;)
What I would like to see from all of them is Aluminum links, separate like MFH then anodized in Blue, Gold and Green.( .................................Um! Idea, maybe I can get that produced.) Because at one point Kawasaki had green outer links, Yamaha, I believe had Blue, Honda used Gold etc.
The Top Studio and Hobby Design sets are a new release. I will be ordering from both in the next week. If you would like any of these sets, please let me know so that I can order enough.
If you have any questions, or want to order some, please email me at orders@macsmodeling.com
Mac
Links to previous Showcase items.
AZRM 1:20 scale
Anodized wheels
AZRM colored heat shrink tubing