StarWars Speeder Bike
![Album image #1 Album image #1](/albums/img/8/8/6/1002886-11453-37-720.jpg)
Page 2-1 - Clever combination of different colour parts - precise assembly
![Album image #2 Album image #2](/albums/img/8/8/5/1002885-11453-14-720.jpg)
Page 2-2 - bending and rolling on this large part - this dowel was the perfect size!
![Album image #3 Album image #3](/albums/img/8/8/7/1002887-11453-44-720.jpg)
Page 2-2 - after careful conical bending, bringing all the above together. Very detailed bending here, so make sure you "get" the instructions.
![Album image #4 Album image #4](/albums/img/1/9/8/1003198-11453-49-720.jpg)
Page 2-3 - It pays to have plenty of variation in dowel/rod diameter
![Album image #5 Album image #5](/albums/img/2/0/3/1003203-11453-38-720.jpg)
A very handy tool when working with small metal parts - magnetic light!! - Found It!!!
![Album image #6 Album image #6](/albums/img/2/0/0/1003200-11453-69-720.jpg)
Page 2-4 - bringing together the earlier assemblies.
I continue to be impressed by the accuracy & fit of these parts!!
I continue to be impressed by the accuracy & fit of these parts!!
![Album image #7 Album image #7](/albums/img/1/9/9/1003199-11453-47-720.jpg)
Page 2-5 - more detail and contrasting colours
It pays not to fold this part closed until after you fit it!!
It pays not to fold this part closed until after you fit it!!
![Album image #8 Album image #8](/albums/img/2/0/1/1003201-11453-53-720.jpg)
Page 3-1 - building the foot-rests - very delicate
![Album image #9 Album image #9](/albums/img/2/0/2/1003202-11453-49-720.jpg)
Page 3-2&3 - adding the footrests etc to the main assembly.
![Album image #10 Album image #10](/albums/img/2/0/4/1003204-11453-72-720.jpg)
Page 3-4 - building the engines (I guess) don't know the mechanics of a Speeder Bike!!
![Album image #11 Album image #11](/albums/img/2/0/5/1003205-11453-66-720.jpg)
Page 3-5 - Adding the engines to the assembly.
![Album image #12 Album image #12](/albums/img/2/0/6/1003206-11453-16-720.jpg)
Page 3-6 - Tail-light assembly?
![Album image #13 Album image #13](/albums/img/2/0/7/1003207-11453-86-720.jpg)
Page 3-7 - add the tail-light & rotate the engines into correct place
![Album image #14 Album image #14](/albums/img/2/0/8/1003208-11453-90-720.jpg)
Page 3-8 - put the badge on the top-front
![Album image #15 Album image #15](/albums/img/2/0/9/1003209-11453-48-720.jpg)
Page 3-8 - and on the bottom too! (end of page 3)
![Album image #16 Album image #16](/albums/img/2/8/2/1003282-11453-59-720.jpg)
Page 4-1 - adding the fore-fins & upper frame to the front
![Album image #17 Album image #17](/albums/img/2/8/3/1003283-11453-53-720.jpg)
Page 4-2 - Part A31 is a many folded piece - study instructions & web-site carefully - They even disagree on whether the triangular braces are folded in, or not - I folded them in!
![Album image #18 Album image #18](/albums/img/2/8/4/1003284-11453-16-720.jpg)
Page 4-3 - fitting the above part to the nose
![Album image #19 Album image #19](/albums/img/2/8/1/1003281-11453-31-720.jpg)
an inside view of the above part
![Album image #20 Album image #20](/albums/img/2/8/5/1003285-11453-46-720.jpg)
Page 4-4 - joining the fore-frame to the aft-frame (?!?!)
![Album image #21 Album image #21](/albums/img/2/8/6/1003286-11453-37-720.jpg)
Page 4-5 - Part A33 is incredibly fine, with lots of folding & bending. Fortunately it gets protected when you add it to Part A34 - No, it's not a cockroach!!
![Album image #22 Album image #22](/albums/img/2/8/7/1003287-11453-38-720.jpg)
Page 4-6 - adding the cockroach - err - parts A33/4 to the frame assembly - then you can bend the "antennae" to touch the side of the frame.
![Album image #23 Album image #23](/albums/img/0/6/0/1004060-11453-59-720.jpg)
Bending & twisting the body outer - take it slow, after prebending the hidden eyes/tabs in the first 4 locations
![Album image #24 Album image #24](/albums/img/2/8/8/1003288-11453-52-720.jpg)
Page 4-7 - Add the cover to the engine - Etched side down! that's right!!
End of Page 4 - only 4 more pages to go!!!
End of Page 4 - only 4 more pages to go!!!
![Album image #25 Album image #25](/albums/img/0/5/9/1004059-11453-37-720.jpg)
The hidden eyes/tabs work well here, and in the last 2 locations too, where they wrap around the top-piece
![Album image #26 Album image #26](/albums/img/0/6/1/1004061-11453-11-720.jpg)
View inside of the hidden eyes & tabs - helps to give them a bit of a twist as you bend them over - but not too tight!
![Album image #27 Album image #27](/albums/img/0/6/2/1004062-11453-84-720.jpg)
The storage section with attachments - easy so far
![Album image #28 Album image #28](/albums/img/0/6/3/1004063-11453-74-720.jpg)
Then try to work out how to roll the swap/prayer mat/whatever - finally add the straps over the top.
So the rolled mat needs to still have some "body" to it, so that the straps appear to be strapping it down.
More fiddling might achieve a better result.........if you need to look that close!
So the rolled mat needs to still have some "body" to it, so that the straps appear to be strapping it down.
More fiddling might achieve a better result.........if you need to look that close!
![Album image #29 Album image #29](/albums/img/0/6/4/1004064-11453-36-720.jpg)
Trying to get the storage rack to fit with the body is painful - I've scratched it rather badly in the process. I tried to use hidden eye/tabs, but I think that just made it more troublesome!
Hope you have a better time of it than me!
Fashioning the seat to fit is FUN! - just take your time...
Hope you have a better time of it than me!
Fashioning the seat to fit is FUN! - just take your time...
![Album image #30 Album image #30](/albums/img/0/6/5/1004065-11453-48-720.jpg)
On to Page 6, and the controls & dash are added, including the "speed-dial" - right-handed favouritism again!
![Album image #31 Album image #31](/albums/img/0/6/6/1004066-11453-33-720.jpg)
Closer shot of the seat & swag
![Album image #32 Album image #32](/albums/img/2/4/8/1004248-11453-42-720.jpg)
Next are the handlebars - lots of fine bending & rolling, using a range of pliers.
![Album image #33 Album image #33](/albums/img/2/4/9/1004249-11453-45-720.jpg)
Mounting the bars on the bike - you'll probably have to twist them a little to get them aimed correctly - or perhaps do that after the next step.....
![Album image #34 Album image #34](/albums/img/2/5/0/1004250-11453-48-720.jpg)
The rear bodywork guards get added to the main body - I've pre bend the eyes & tabs in anticipation of later hidden eye/tab requirement.
![Album image #35 Album image #35](/albums/img/2/5/1/1004251-11453-82-720.jpg)
Page 7 -There's a total of 8 tabs to go into eyes in this merger of body to chassis. Went together better than I had expected, with some bending/coercing/nudging to get the final tabs in place. The instructions suggest that the 2 front tabs are closed flat - I've added a bit of a twist to that to hold it more firmly.
![Album image #36 Album image #36](/albums/img/2/5/2/1004252-11453-94-720.jpg)
Step back & have a look - yeah, that's OK!!
WHOA!!!
The next step in the instructions want you to bend over the rear guards, attach the 2 leading points.............I found this to be impossible, so gave up before I wrecked the way in which the guards were connected to the body!!!
So, I back-tracked - I had to remove the guards from the body, so I had to remove the body from the chassis - which meant carefully un-bending the 8 tabs I mentioned in the previous photo. I used a small chisel (1mm width) and gently pried everything apart, removing the body without too much grief!!
WHOA!!!
The next step in the instructions want you to bend over the rear guards, attach the 2 leading points.............I found this to be impossible, so gave up before I wrecked the way in which the guards were connected to the body!!!
So, I back-tracked - I had to remove the guards from the body, so I had to remove the body from the chassis - which meant carefully un-bending the 8 tabs I mentioned in the previous photo. I used a small chisel (1mm width) and gently pried everything apart, removing the body without too much grief!!
![Album image #37 Album image #37](/albums/img/4/1/6/1004416-11453-84-720.jpg)
I highlighted the instructions, noting that all the curving/joining on the guards needed to be done before mounting them.....so here we go...
![Album image #38 Album image #38](/albums/img/4/1/5/1004415-11453-68-720.jpg)
This is what one guard looks like - still using the hidden tab/eye method, but I've curved the guard so that the two parts form the same arc.
![Album image #39 Album image #39](/albums/img/4/1/4/1004414-11453-48-720.jpg)
One joined, one not - the one shown here joined was the one where I tried to do so while still on the model.......recovered OK
![Album image #40 Album image #40](/albums/img/4/1/7/1004417-11453-41-720.jpg)
Both completed
![Album image #41 Album image #41](/albums/img/4/1/8/1004418-11453-64-720.jpg)
Both now attached to the body
![Album image #42 Album image #42](/albums/img/4/1/9/1004419-11453-83-720.jpg)
Just to make them solid, as all the bending & unbending had compromised them a bit - CA Superglue & fixer
![Album image #43 Album image #43](/albums/img/4/2/0/1004420-11453-84-720.jpg)
This thing is so hard to hang on to when you're trying to be firm, yet gentle.......body reconnected to chassis - looks a little bent, but I hope I can fix that...
![Album image #44 Album image #44](/albums/img/4/2/1/1004421-11453-24-720.jpg)
OK, so now back to where I was some time ago......in a galaxy far away.......but I digress!! The hardest part in the re-assembly was working from the back, and also making fine adjustments caused by the previous dis-assembly!!
![Album image #45 Album image #45](/albums/img/4/6/8/1004468-11453-50-720.jpg)
There's a part (B56) which goes on the back, that ties all the parts of the rear body together. Had I know of this, then I would have used it as a guide for bending the rear of the guards - but someone didnt read ALL the INSTRUCTIONS first, so there you have it!
I had to re-curve the bend with a dowel to get it closer to what is required..... Not perfect, but close!!
One criticism of the instructions here, is that they continue to show the model from the same perspective - and you can't see this part from this perspective - I think they should have changed the view to better show part placement......but that's just my thoughts.
I had to re-curve the bend with a dowel to get it closer to what is required..... Not perfect, but close!!
One criticism of the instructions here, is that they continue to show the model from the same perspective - and you can't see this part from this perspective - I think they should have changed the view to better show part placement......but that's just my thoughts.
![Album image #46 Album image #46](/albums/img/4/6/6/1004466-11453-20-720.jpg)
Page 8 - last page! - having learned from the last curving message, I used the same dowel (6.5mm) to bend the side of part B57
![Album image #47 Album image #47](/albums/img/4/6/7/1004467-11453-65-720.jpg)
Again, that same perspective doesn't show you the bend needed, where a simple diagram would have helped. Like showing a Wing dihedral plan.
![Album image #48 Album image #48](/albums/img/4/7/0/1004470-11453-18-720.jpg)
All bent with the edges folded in, and the "gun" mounted.
Dont try to overtighten the gun, as you'll just twist it around too much.
Dont try to overtighten the gun, as you'll just twist it around too much.
![Album image #49 Album image #49](/albums/img/4/7/1/1004471-11453-24-720.jpg)
A different perspective view to show you the completed "sump-guard" and gun mounted to the bike.
![Album image #50 Album image #50](/albums/img/4/7/2/1004472-11453-89-720.jpg)
Making the stand - 4 more hidden tab/eye joins required here.
I re-enforced top & bottom with dabs of CA Superglue to ensure they're solid., and also measure the widths of the respective areas on the bike, where the mount is supposed to connect. On the instructions photo'd here.
I re-enforced top & bottom with dabs of CA Superglue to ensure they're solid., and also measure the widths of the respective areas on the bike, where the mount is supposed to connect. On the instructions photo'd here.
![Album image #51 Album image #51](/albums/img/4/7/4/1004474-11453-84-720.jpg)
Then measured the appropriate marks on the top of the stand, and bent them using that same 6.5mm dowel - there are now bend lines on the stand by MetalEarth
![Album image #52 Album image #52](/albums/img/4/7/5/1004475-11453-95-720.jpg)
And there she sits!
![Album image #53 Album image #53](/albums/img/4/7/6/1004476-11453-40-720.jpg)
Closer shot with "boxart"
![Album image #54 Album image #54](/albums/img/4/7/8/1004478-11453-33-720.jpg)
Profile..
![Album image #55 Album image #55](/albums/img/4/7/9/1004479-11453-62-720.jpg)
With all MetalEarth kits I have printed off enlarged copies of the parts lists, and place them as my workspace background, for easy reference.
![Album image #56 Album image #56](/albums/img/4/8/0/1004480-11453-39-720.jpg)
Quarter view
![Album image #57 Album image #57](/albums/img/4/8/1/1004481-11453-21-720.jpg)
Quarter view 2
![Album image #58 Album image #58](/albums/img/4/8/3/1004483-11453-18-720.jpg)
Quarter view 3
![Album image #59 Album image #59](/albums/img/4/8/4/1004484-11453-86-720.jpg)
Quarter view 4
![Album image #60 Album image #60](/albums/img/4/8/5/1004485-11453-49-720.jpg)
Quick & lazy backdrop - DONE!
Now I'm going for a ride!!
Now I'm going for a ride!!
Kommentit
7 17 May 2021, 22:18
![](/profiles/img/11453-615-s.jpg)
A few more photos added - the end is in sight!!!
and thanks for all your comments!!
20 May 2021, 22:59
![](/profiles/img/46811-191-s.jpg)
All these different surfaces and colours make this PE only kit look so great. First metal kit that really looks interesting to me.
21 May 2021, 01:54
![](/profiles/img/61283-429-s.jpg)
Having seen you build a metal earth kit has me wondering If I would even have the patience to try one!
21 May 2021, 20:59
![](/profiles/img/11453-615-s.jpg)
Hi JD, I find them a good test of my patience & concentration - I should add that I ALWAYS use 2.5X magnifier eyewear!! I've done about a dozen of them now - I think I'm a bit hooked. Just picked up the pre-coloured Red Baron Fokker Triplane. That should be fun!!
PLUS a big thanks to everyone else for you comments & likes!!
22 May 2021, 04:24
Album info
Etched & Lacquered(glazed) PE kit from MetalEarth - Only heard about this when it arrived at "Models & Hobbies 4 U" Boronia, Vic, Aus. in May 2021. Which was too late to get it built by May the Forth....
Liked the look of it so will give it a go.
......Completed all 8 pages!!
Hope you enjoy my building tour??