Bicycle model kits (e.g. Airfix, Revell, Tamiya, etc.)

I've done a bit of Googling and I haven't come across too many bike model construction kits like Airfix ones. We've obviously had the excellent Airfix T-shirt and I was thinking I'd quite like to do a bike model kit sometime. Searching for 'bicycle' or 'bike' on the Airfix or Revell web-sites doesn't bring up anything (except a couple of motorbike kits).

There's this from Tamiya, which is dire:

(Predictable jokes to the usual address, please.)

There's a thread on the CTC forum with a couple of links:

http://forum.ctc.org.uk/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=33879&start=0

robgul on the CTC forum[/URL]]I have the definitive answer NO.

My next door neighbour has a toy and model shop (PLUG : Much Ado About Toys in Stratford-upon-Avon) and I asked him the question about "bicycle construction kits" - there are none, he says. There are a few models with bikes ... he gave me a TdeF team car with bikes on the top.

I did find this:

http://media.photobucket.com/image/%252522trekking%20bike%252522/kaisers_phoenix/Mercedez%20Benz%20Bike/1213000690-1.jpg

And this:

I just don't want to have a kit of really ugly bikes. :)

There were some Raleigh kits around in the 80s (as mentioned on the CTC thread):

That would be the sort of bike kit I'd like to assemble, but it's obviously not being made any more, and I don't really want a collector's item off eBay.

So, it doesn't look too good. Model kits mainly seem to cater for an obsession with cars, tanks, warplanes, warships, or motorbikes. Why are pedal cycles as kits not more popular? Are they too wispy, insubstantial, not aggressive enough? Is it because they don't stand up easily? Because they're too fiddly, with lots of very small bits?

Why is there evidently so little demand? Is it excessive to suggest that if cycling was more popular, more kids would want to do model kits of bikes?

Can anyone find any more links?

And if any modelmakers find this thread when Googling, please make more bicycle models. :)

There's a Japanese model of a Brompton that folds up and everything. They look adorable!

http://www.animetsu.com/product/hobby-japan-magazine-october-2010-with-exride-brompton-book/

Ha! Brilliant. Thanks!

                ![](http://www.animetsu.com/published/publicdata/ANIMETSUDB/attachments/SC/products_pictures/271009.jpg)

I remember this in current projects...awesome.

https://www.lfgss.com/thread6261-703.html#post1661734

Great, that would be just the ticket! (Didn't see this, as I don't read the Current Projects thread.)

Expensive (and tricky to find on ebay, but I have no idea how to search that place).

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Raleigh-Team-Panasonic-Protar-Metal-model-1-9-/230561241262?pt=UK_ToysGames_ModelKits_ModelKits_JN&hash=item35ae8558ae

(Predictable jokes to the usual address, please.)

Too easy Oliver. No puns about Huns.

Tiny ones built for train kits
http://www.sbmodels.org/sbm_7mmkits.html#7

cute:

Is no one else looking?

forever alone

Kits would be awesome, guess they don't have market appeal so much as tanks and spitfires.

I wanted some (pre made) models of historic bikes to take into schools for history lessons - e.g. Boneshaker, Ordinary, Rover Safety - so dropped Roger at Cyclemagic a line. He put me onto the Del Prado series - however these are only found on ebay too, and I've not been looking regularly. Search "del prado bicycle" to see what's there.

With some art-straws, wire, and alot of patience you could make your own model bike series?

Brick Lane Bikes do those hipster fixie models, can't remember what they're called now but they have been on here before.

The Raleigh Panasonic ones look awesome.

Don't really see the point of model bikes, but the jury's out whether this is madness or genius:

http://bmxmuseum.com/forums/viewtopic.php?id=116630&p=1

velorution had/have? the Brompton model...

http://www.velorution.biz/shop/brompton-16-scale-bicycle-model/?s=test&st=shopp

Don't really see the point of model bikes, but the jury's out whether this is madness or genius:

http://bmxmuseum.com/forums/viewtopic.php?id=116630&p=1

GENIUS!
even though its obviously way beyond geeky/OCD and just the sort of thing only a (male) engineer would ever consider doing i cant stop myself admiring the effort put into it...

Thanks for looking, spybot, good finds--I wish there were more pieces around like those Raleighs, and ones currently being made.

Kits would be awesome, guess they don't have market appeal so much as tanks and spitfires.

I wanted some (pre made) models of historic bikes to take into schools for history lessons - e.g. Boneshaker, Ordinary, Rover Safety - so dropped Roger at Cyclemagic a line. He put me onto the Del Prado series - however these are only found on ebay too, and I've not been looking regularly. Search "del prado bicycle" to see what's there.

With some art-straws, wire, and alot of patience you could make your own model bike series?

                        ![](http://62.15.226.148/tc/2010/04/22/18889821.jpg)                    

These are nice, too. I'm aware of quite a few ready-made kinds. There are a few around the LCC office.

Brick Lane Bikes do those hipster fixie models, can't remember what they're called now but they have been on here before.

Yes, I dimly remember those now. They're not kits, though, are they?

Don't really see the point of model bikes, but the jury's out whether this is madness or genius:

http://bmxmuseum.com/forums/viewtopic.php?id=116630&p=1

I think it's great. It's obviously a lot of effort to make everything from scratch, but some people are just so good at this that they can/want to afford to take the effort.

Yes, I dimly remember those now. They're not kits, though, are they?

Nope, they come pre-built. You can take them apart and swap bits though.

It just came back to me - they're called pedal ID. Japanese made.

They're nice. I want to build one from a kit, though! :)

Bit hipster if you ask me =)

Back on topic, if I was going for a 1/9 scale model I'd rather have this kit:

Inside pics:

http://italiancyclingjournal.blogspot.com/2010/03/colnago-mexico-giuseppe-saronni-1982.html

Was on eBay for $499 apparently!

Oh, yes, I'd love to do one of those. The problem is I really wouldn't want to do a museum piece/collector's item.

Bit hipster if you ask me =)

Back on topic, if I was going for a 1/9 scale model I'd rather have this kit:

That's the same size as Pistanator's ride, isn't it?

Anyway, as I think I hinted above, I also consider the existence or non-existence of bike model kits to be symptomatic of cultural preferences. What is available obviously reflects what happens in the non-model sized world, but it's curious that you don't seem to get a large availability of kits of, say, Dutch bikes, i.e. kits from where cycling is popular. (And those are chunkier than slim road bikes and would make for great kits.)

I found this, don't think it's a kit either though.

#nogoodatthisthread

Anyway, as I think I hinted above, I also consider the existence or non-existence of bike model kits to be symptomatic of cultural preferences. What is available obviously reflects what happens in the non-model sized world, but it's curious that you don't seem to get a large availability of kits of, say, Dutch bikes, i.e. kits from where cycling is popular. (And those are chunkier than slim road bikes and would make for great kits.)

Cycling is doomed?