1900s Vintage Style Build
- Thread starter cannonball2
- Start date
WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This thing is very very nice........ I love all those little touches that youve added that really add to the look. Cant wait to see this thing together.
Thanks Gents! I have read YOUR threads with much interest. After growing up in the "Space Age" and living large with the technogly we now enbrace, I was impressed with the revertation of certain builds on the forum. MB building is a great thing. A hobby for some, trans for others, art for even others. This bike allows me to go back to the time that it all began. Its not fast/friendly, but it is surely endearing. Its what I call a fantasy bike. Who can know what it was like back then? A period piece is worth a fourtune, but a loose copy is worth more because you can ride it!
A trick I just came up with on this build for painted pinstripes. Im sure many have done it. I just cant work a stripe brush period. Constantly amazed at those that can. Any way, common paint pens from Walmart @ $2 are used. Have many colors in solids and metallics. Simply run your tape lines, then carefully drag the pen down the tape edge. Plastic tape is really a must, or you will get bleed under on the solids, the mets are not bad. What really works well is 1/8 vinyl pinstripe tape as it will make almost any bend required, and is paint tight. The thickness of the tape and the size of the pens tip determines the stripe size. I wanted stripes about 1/16 so the fine points worked out to about that. The paint is pretty durable once dry, and stands up to clear coating. A couple of light coats first to seal it down before really flowing it to it. The stripes in the pics were quickly done and arent as nice as on a painted surface, but it gets the idea across.
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Well I guess this thing is finally put to bed. Was raining today so here are some random indoor detail shots. Glad its done!
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Well, isn't that a sweetheart! And thanks for the pin striping tip. You've had a lot of fun with this, I can tell. And we've had fun watching it progress,
SB
SB
Thanks for all the positive comments guys! I have had some fun with this build. Gave me a chance to try several ideas. Waiting a few days for the paint to be fully cured, we have had cool damp weather during some of the the painting. Then its gas it up and ride!
Thanks Harry! When you are not building anything in particular you can really add the different little details and ideas. I generally add a coin or two to certain builds. This one has a 1950 $.50 piece on the front of the tank(the year I was born) and a 1939 quarter in the left bar end I have had in my drawer forever. Guess I will always have 75 cents in case of an emergency.
A couple of more(and hopefully the last) details. Drive chain clearance was an issue on this build. Had to run a BMX chain. I can assure you these are tough chains! Any way ther was some slight frame contact so I stitched a band of leather on the frame at the point of contact. Another concern was the worry if the bike was shown in a show of the fork being accidentally knocked causing the bars to whip around and hit the tank. I had them raised so the throttle lever would miss but there was still some contact near the fuel cap. So I fabbed a fork stop. Was lucky the old fork had a 1/4" tapped hole. I used stainless hinge pins, with a brass finial for the stops. Once again leather provides protection. This allowed me to drop the bars to horizontial which looks better than being above. Also the delima of a painted drop stand looking bad when up. Just added a stained piece of hard wood to the bottom. It can take the abuse and not look too bad, easily replaceable too.
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Those are awesome little details that only add prestige to your overall theme. 
Definitely easier to replace a little leather and wood, than to repaint areas. For sure.
Definitely easier to replace a little leather and wood, than to repaint areas. For sure.
Man nice thread.
Gave me a lot of ideas, however I don't have the tools to cut and move the lower half of the frame.
Looks nice though.
Gave me a lot of ideas, however I don't have the tools to cut and move the lower half of the frame.
Looks nice though.
Man i love this build. So many unique little touches that just make the bike.
Just wondering how the PVC tank is holding up?
Just wondering how the PVC tank is holding up?