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Speeder Bike Racer

By Ken Smith




Didn't you all just totally dig that speeder bike Darth Maul was cruisin on in SW EP1? I had to have one for the shelf. This was right after the Racers contest so I was inpsired by the entries. I rumaged through my parts boxes and sketched out a plan.

I wanted my speeder bike to look 'possible' and not too far fetched; somewhere in the near future but not in a galaxy far, far away. I started with an engine from an extra Pod Racer and picked up a suitable bike from the local hobby shop. I chose a Suzuki Katana 750, bent the frame with some heat to wrap it around the PR engine and added the main body parts (forks, seat, and tank). I then hit the spares box and greebled up. I used 1/48 scale A-10 stabelizers for the rear fins and 1/144 F-15 (I think) for the fronts. Finally, I used some thin flexable tubing and springs for detail. Pretty simple.

Painting was the best part. I'm used to detailing beat up, used, weathered, been in space a long time, type things. But I wanted this to be shiny and fast looking. Metallic Red was the only way to go. I used black primer, gray primer and white primer as an under-coat to no avail. Then I laid down some metallic silver and got much closer to what I was looking for. In the end I used MM Metallic Copper for the under-coat and MM Candy Apple Red Metallic Clear Coat on top. The pics just don't do it justice. The engine is your basic German Silver with dry brushing, washing, and highlighting.

When she was finished I wanted to set her in a 'show room' type place. So I used a CD Jewel case (these things make great, cheap bases) sprayed it chrome on the inside bottom part and left the top clear. Then I put a red LED in the center to give it light from below. POOF! A 22nd century bullet bike.

Here's a great hint; usually during the holidays, liquor companies will offer lighted trinkets at your local pub as a party favor. Look for these! They're pre-wired with batteries and switches. I got some from a famous Rum maker that not only burn steady but have a flasher circuit, too. Excellent ready-built lighting for free!

Image: Right side

Image: Right rear from above

Image: Engine detail

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