MHF Crocker

So whats it all about then ?
Model Factory Hiro is a Japanese company that makes white metal kits, very much the same as a plastic kit but, you guessed it, in white metal.
They mostly make cars and motorcycles but i think there has been the odd Tank and ship.
https://www.modelfactoryhiro.com/SHOP/322676/list.html
I thought i would post some info as i dont think everyone has seen these kits before and they are quite expensive.
Basically it works like this, you send Mr Hiro approx £360 or $425 and he sends you a nice thank you note



And a bit of origami



Oh and he includes the kit you ordered as well.....
Parts are mostly loose in bags all are white metal with the exception of the seat cover, tires and a few other parts of wire and clear , Decals and a sheet of PE



Wheel rims and mudguards



Frame and handlebars

And assorted engine and cycleparts






Wheel spokes bottom left and Spoke nipples middle right

a few close up pics to show quality of castings, very little flash or cleaning up to do but i am not sure about surface finish at the stage re: getting a smooth paint finish



Carb body, note this is 8mm long


Crank case casting


Name plates for fuel tank




Exhaust silencer end


Ball point pen has 0.8mm ball for scale/size.

So thats it, what could be simpler ? should have it done by lunch time.

truth is i dont know where to start and i am a bit intimidated by it

A "Big Tank" model?! For just a moment, I thought you had gone off your chum.
I'm better now.

One of the problems with bikes is the small fuel tank and lack of range unless you are going along a major route with gas stations at regular intervals, hence large and small tank versions. Small tanks even today on Harleys are about 2 gal so you are not going more than 50 miles

Wow! Like Swash Designs from Japan and their 1/35th scale motorcycles available in civilian and military releases!

Vrrom baby
Looking forward to this. What is the melt point of white metal? I don't think any soldiering will be done will it?

I doubt it Bob there is some good advice on their website and i think thick CA is the route to go down.

Might I suggest a "NICE" set of escapement files. I am not talking about needle files, but watchmaker escapement files. They are crisper, thinner, finer cut and I use my set ALL THE TIME. Rarely do I ever mess with one of the "needle" files that are commonly around.
They are NOT CHEAP, but, once you have a set and use them, you will never go back.

Here is a link to Cousin's UK page of watchmaker escapement files.

Or here is a link to Otto-Frei here in the US.

What you will want is the #4 cut which is fine, but does super well on plastic and metal. They have gone up in price about $100 a set since I bought my set a number of years ago. Yeah, pricey, but my go to files all the time.