- Joined
- Oct 23, 2011
- Messages
- 669
- Reaction score
- 1,053
Always been a fan of all things military especially the WW II era, during the war the
British came up with a bike that could be parachuted in for simple transport for the
troops on the ground. So this will be my attempt at a replica of a BSA Paratrooper.
Here's a link and some pic's off the net.
http://bsamuseum.wordpress.com/1942-1945-bsa-airborne-bicycle-para-bike/
Started out with a couple of these canti frames from my stash, needed two so I could
get two sets of tubes which make up the frame.
As you can see the pedal crank hangs below the frame so cut one from the scrap pile.
Got myself a roller, one of my inspirations for this build this cool WW II light I found.
Until I welded up this frame I thought it may be a bit weak and light weight, of course if it
was going to parachute with you it would have to be light, the little tubes really add some
strength yet she is still quite light. Yeah I know my welds are average, arch welding with
2mm rolds and low amps are my only option, lots of bondo and you will never know!
The bars were a curse to get right, three sets cut up to get the right look!
BSA for front sprocket cut out of a bit of scrap steel then cleaned up with a file. I do have an
original BSA crank on an old Australian made Malvern Star but she will remain complete,
used the sprocket as a template for the letters.
Fair bit of bondo sanding and then primer, don't have a compressor for painting at present
so will get her ridable in primer then top coat some time down the track. I really should but
may not go for the folding option, as said above she's just a replica and I want to ride her
have a fear that going for a foldable version may ruin the thing!
British came up with a bike that could be parachuted in for simple transport for the
troops on the ground. So this will be my attempt at a replica of a BSA Paratrooper.
Here's a link and some pic's off the net.
http://bsamuseum.wordpress.com/1942-1945-bsa-airborne-bicycle-para-bike/
Started out with a couple of these canti frames from my stash, needed two so I could
get two sets of tubes which make up the frame.
As you can see the pedal crank hangs below the frame so cut one from the scrap pile.
Got myself a roller, one of my inspirations for this build this cool WW II light I found.
Until I welded up this frame I thought it may be a bit weak and light weight, of course if it
was going to parachute with you it would have to be light, the little tubes really add some
strength yet she is still quite light. Yeah I know my welds are average, arch welding with
2mm rolds and low amps are my only option, lots of bondo and you will never know!
The bars were a curse to get right, three sets cut up to get the right look!
BSA for front sprocket cut out of a bit of scrap steel then cleaned up with a file. I do have an
original BSA crank on an old Australian made Malvern Star but she will remain complete,
used the sprocket as a template for the letters.
Fair bit of bondo sanding and then primer, don't have a compressor for painting at present
so will get her ridable in primer then top coat some time down the track. I really should but
may not go for the folding option, as said above she's just a replica and I want to ride her
have a fear that going for a foldable version may ruin the thing!
) ... 'little soldiers' when they designed the fastener on the top tube.
