old boy - VL frame and springer

This old boy got its legs on today...

its supposed to be going up for sale - but I have good (bad) friends whispering plans into my ear....

serious offers will be considered, but its not gonna be given away..

The beauty of old parts

Its not very often that people get to admire craftsmanship these days - a throw-away society; where little thought is given to the longevity of things over and above a couple of years.

I'm lucky enough to have bought a few parts in the states, and a good mate - Jason has been the custodian of them for me until I saved up some pennies to get them shipped over. Well the parts were posted less than 24 hours ago, and they already in my possession, and they are wondrous!

A Harley Davidson frame made 80 years ago, and an Indian gearbox that is some 70 years old. they show a bit of age, but also they show how form and function can work hand in hand. the frame especially has so many nice touches!

a privilege to have them in my possession - for the time being anyways...

Progress.....

Took an extra day off after the bank holiday, so cracked on with the bike. Loads of little bits done....

Welded on a support to attach the rear torque arm to...

Attached the pipes to the sissy bar for extra support...

The side stand proved to be a bugger. A right pain to get it to fit under the pipes with the stock mounting. I'll need to get the engine out and support it all, but it just about fits...

I made sure the bike had the right amount of lean- its gotta have a good lean to it to look right!!!

Then took some shots of the bike cos it's soooo cool!!!

Pipe me

Had a decent day today, been helping Tombo with his tank, but moved the bike back down to where I can finish the welding. Got the right hand pipe sorted with a mounting bracket near the back wheel, will need to do the other side to match, but it's looking good.

Oh, and mounted the p-pad on the muddy- that's not mounted yet, need to check the rear wheel is spaced right, it doesnt seem to be central...

I'm proper made up with how the bike is looking, Newark tomorrow to get some bits, but I'm ready to crack on with it now....

FLAME-ON!

Been slowly cracking on with the tank...

First up- pin striping flames




I could see me spending hours on this, so stuck with my first attempt- shit or bust as it were....

I masked up the area around the flames



then sprayed the flames black



then peeled it all off...



the paint had moved a bit - the result of me laying loads of layers on when I was trying to get it to crack - i'll deal with that later...



next up - pinstriping.

not having a steady hand, or being very practiced in the art I cheated - basically lay the 3mm pinstripe tape where i wanted the line, then put another strip either side



then just peel back to give a line to paint inside...



look how messy I am with a striping brush!!!



but never mind - it all came good when the tape is removed!!!



here are the first lot of lines I did...



then finished it up this afternoon - I free-handed the points, which wasn't easy, and they aren't great - but I don't want perfect, I like the relative roughness of the tank!

i'm pretty happy with it - just clear coat and matting down to do on it and it'll be sorted...





time for BEER!!!!!!!!!!