Yamaha XV1000 Virago

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June 29, 2022
These are the parts I will be removing from the kit.
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June 29, 2022
Keeping the battery case on this one, but going to keep it exposed
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June 29, 2022
Bug eyes going!
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June 29, 2022
The forks will be shortened. A new rear wheel will replace the large front wheel. The speedometer will also be replaced with something a little more subtle. The seat will be replaced with a bratstyle seat.
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June 29, 2022
This is how the forks come. They need to be shortened.
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June 29, 2022
They have to be shortened from the centre to maintain current distance for other parts of the kit.
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June 29, 2022
The handlebars will be shortened.
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June 29, 2022
Chop chop!
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June 29, 2022
Ta da!
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June 29, 2022
This is how the tank comes in the kit.
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June 29, 2022
It will need to be reshaped.
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June 29, 2022
The tank has been completely reshaped with milliput. The old tank is somewhere under there. After milliput was dry the tank was sanded and sanded until it was smooth.
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June 29, 2022
The tank has been primed in Mr Surfacer 1200.
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June 29, 2022
Part of the scratch build fuel cap. Cut from styrene and shaped by sanding.
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June 29, 2022
One of these old PE wheel parts will add a nice touch to the fuel cap.
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June 29, 2022
Well, this is the idea. It will look better once sone
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June 29, 2022
These are indicators. One will be used a new rear light and the other will be used as the new speedometer.
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June 29, 2022
Uh oh. This piece broke.
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June 29, 2022
But I have a solution.
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June 29, 2022
1.4mm holes drilled
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June 29, 2022
This is a guitar string, cut to size.
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June 29, 2022
Much better!
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June 29, 2022
I forgot to take more photos of thr frame during the process, so this is the finished product. I have cut down the frame and added additional 2mm rod cut to size, to support where the scratch built seat will go.
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June 29, 2022
Exhaust pipes will be wrapped.
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June 29, 2022
First they are wrapped in medic tape.
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June 29, 2022
Then coated in Tamiya panel liner (dark brown). The copper is copper tape cut to size.
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June 29, 2022
Exhaust done.
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June 29, 2022
These parts done with SMS steel and a bronze sharpie.
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June 29, 2022
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June 29, 2022
Engine coming along. Copper parts done by painting them in a mix of Tamiya titanium silver, titanium gold and pink, then SMS clear brown and lastly SMS crystal topaz. Its more bronze than copper but I actually prefer the look.
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June 29, 2022
Ordered a custom air filter from a company called Impressed. This is actually a 1/24 sale air filter for a car, but is the correct size for this project.
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June 29, 2022
Air filter connected. This is where the air filter would have been on the original bike, but hidden beneath a big chrome cover. Its now upgraded and exposed.
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June 29, 2022
Big chunky electrical tubing will be replaced with finer tubing. To do this I have drilled 0.6mm holes and inserted brass guitar string to hold the ends of the tubing.
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June 29, 2022
Here is the other end of it.
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June 29, 2022
Tubing done with 0.5mm inserted into the kit tubing.
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June 29, 2022
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June 29, 2022
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June 29, 2022
Wheels done in SMS chrome and weathered with Tamiya panel liner (black) and Tamiya weathering kit.
51
June 29, 2022
I need a seat! How do I make a rubber seat that looks like leather. I could create something from scratch using milliput, or I could... use an eraser!
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June 29, 2022
Cut the eraser down the centre and rubbed away until I got the shape I wanted.
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July 7, 2022
Lines added with a metal ruler, albeit not the most e even. Seat is painted in Tamiya Nato Brown mixed with SMS Flex. Added a wash of Tamiya Light Brown Panel liner, but feel it looked better before I did.
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July 7, 2022
Exhaust wrapped and fitted. Love how this looks.
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July 7, 2022
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July 7, 2022
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July 7, 2022
Some additional electrics wiring.
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July 10, 2022
Seating plate shaped from styrene, using the rubber seat as a stencil.
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July 10, 2022
Rear indicators.
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July 10, 2022
Upgraded the stand. This was originally made to be glued in place. I drilled out the join and screwed it in.
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July 10, 2022
And now it works!
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July 14, 2022
Photoetch detail added to the new and improved handlebars using Top Studio Assorted Details for 1/12 MotoGp.
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July 14, 2022
Top Studio Assorted Details for 1/12 MotoGp added to the rest of the bike.
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July 14, 2022
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July 14, 2022
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July 14, 2022
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July 14, 2022
Fuel tank complete. Went for a flat finish on this one. Had originally wet sanded this in 4000, 6000, 8000 and 12000, but the gloss look just didn'tlook
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July 14, 2022
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July 14, 2022
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July 14, 2022
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July 14, 2022
Tank fitte
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July 14, 2022
Rear light fitted to custom seat. This was originally one of the front indicatora
73
July 14, 2022
Seat fitted.
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July 14, 2022
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July 14, 2022
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July 14, 2022
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July 14, 2022
Front forks have been shortened by 11mm and cemented back together again. The copper on the shocks and around the headlight is copper tape.
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July 17, 2022
Speedometer fitted. This was originally one of the front indicators.
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July 17, 2022
Ignition cut from the original control panel. This will be upgraded from a key turn ignition to a power on button.
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July 18, 2022
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July 18, 2022
Speedometer decal is left over from a Honda Monkey kit and just happened to be the right size!
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July 18, 2022
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July 18, 2022
1000 decal placed on the rear of the new custom seat.
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July 18, 2022
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July 24, 2022
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Comments

37 29 June 2022, 10:55

Spanjaard
wow, very interesting transformation.
I did the same virago ages ago and I want to rebuild it to something custom, but will not go as far as you do 🙂. And I have a new one to do as normal Virago as well....

29 June 2022, 11:48

Martin Oostrom
What did this bike ever do to you to deserve this treatment? You butcher!
I love all the little things you're doing. Keep it up Young Pete 👍

3 July 2022, 08:35

Spanjaard
An erase? Interesting idea

3 July 2022, 14:12

Jay Dubya
Much to see here young master, mind if I pull up a pew?

7 July 2022, 07:50

Peter Muldoon
Thanks guys!

Spanjaard, I am enjoying the modifications, but it is also making me want to build a normal one too now.

Martin, I am definitely butchering this one. Making it up as I go! Learning a lot.

Jay, please do!

10 July 2022, 09:17

Martin Oostrom
You really need to put in a (tiny) comment when you upload these gorgeous pictures Peter. Otherwise your outstanding work might go unnoticed.

14 July 2022, 07:25

Peter Muldoon
Oops! 😅

14 July 2022, 12:58

Peter Muldoon
Not long to go now, almost complete!

17 July 2022, 14:30

Peter Muldoon
All done!

18 July 2022, 08:21

Hanno Kleinecke
You've achieved a real badass-look on this one with number one scratch builing skills - love it ! 👍
Never thought the rather weak looking Virago could look as strong as this !

18 July 2022, 11:58

Peter Muldoon
Thanks Hanno! 😁

23 July 2022, 14:14

Martin Oostrom
This is such a cool bike. Put her in a nice surroundings outside and she could fool anybody for the real thing.

23 July 2022, 19:08

Peter Muldoon
Great minds Martin, just took a few shots in the sun! 🌞

24 July 2022, 04:52

Tom ...
Wow, Peter. She's totally awesome. Unfortunately I missed this build (and many others I'm sure). Really creative work! Very impressed indeed. Love the paint textures. I can imagine Steve McQueen gunning this over barb-wired fences!

24 July 2022, 05:17

Martin Oostrom
Awesome!

24 July 2022, 05:44

Neuling
Super schön!

24 July 2022, 08:54

Robin (WhiteGlint)
Sweet result 👍

24 July 2022, 09:15

Spanjaard
Awesome

24 July 2022, 11:44

Peter Muldoon
Thank you! I really enjoyed this one.

24 July 2022, 23:38

Lex Jassies
You turned a (in my opinion) not so fantastic looking custom into a mean looking bobber. Very nice result 👍. Good idea using medic tape for the wraping. Looks covincing.

26 July 2022, 21:04

Peter Muldoon
Thanks Lex 🙂

28 July 2022, 12:58

Peter Muldoon
Thanks Jonn!

3 August 2022, 13:41

Michael Kohl
great customization in style.

4 August 2022, 12:10

Christian W
I think this is my first comment on a motorcycle. Very cool transformation! This one I'd put into my shelf too. That looks very nice.

18 August 2022, 04:34

Album info

My first attempt at kit bashing. Converting this Virago into a custom brat (bratstyle), or my best interpretation of one anyway. Using two of the same kit so I can get the same size wheel for front and back. I don't really know what I'm doing, so this should be fun lol.

Yamaha XV1000 Virago

123 images

1:12

Completed

1:12 Yamaha XV1000 Virago (Tamiya 14044)

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