Interrobang

[Duchess]

Since a car crash interrupted this last time around (ended up with a nicer replacement, but I'm also paying for it), I'll use this opportunity to finish this build finally. This is how it stands now. I'm going to change the rear fairing because I think it's too clunky with the fake exhaust slung underneath. I'm thinking of mounting them so that they edge the platform instead. The platform will be inset to the tube, so the width won't increase much. They'll be hinged along the top so that I can move them out of the way to fit the laptop or sketch pad inside. They'll stick out rearward about the same distance they do now. Not sure if I'll do the front rack as part of this or save it for later. Won't take much to do, but it may take away from the final result visually.

I reinforced the seat tube today because the small diameter and height I'll need to extend it to in order to ride it made me nervous. I jammed an aluminum rod in there. I know, electrolytic corrosion, but I greased it up really well to get it in, the bike won't be outside, it would take years to be a problem, and is a cheap fix. The markings on it are from me grinding three spiral channels in it with the idea that it would compress a little to fit in easier. Don't know if it helped, but I was able to get it in with a hammer without any swearing.

 

[LukeTheJoker]

Good to see this one back, and great to see a @The Renaissance Man tank in the mix!

 

[Funkme]

Another liner and rm tank... Now I really have to get one of these frames.

 

[The Renaissance Man]

Glad to see you back in the game!
What's going on with the nose of the tank? Hard to tell in the picture.

 

[Duchess]

Adding the cone-shaped reflectors. I needed to build the area up a little to blend it properly and I have to sand that back.

 

[Duchess]

Working on redoing the rear design because it was way too bulky. I like this a lot better and it will mean less fiberglass work, too. This is just some of the bulk hacked off. I'm also sewing the leather over the cushion for the back rest by hand and the last time I sewed something I think was in 8th grade for class (it was a polkadot apple pillow, exactly the kind of project an 8th grade boy can really get excited about). It's slow going.

 

[LukeTheJoker]

the last time I sewed something I think was in 8th grade for class (it was a polkadot apple pillow, exactly the kind of project an 8th grade boy can really get excited about).

We were able to choose our project, I made a denim triangle bike frame tool bag...
It wasn't a success...

 

[Duchess]

Got the cushion done, just need to paint the leather to match the saddle.

 

[Duchess]

Adding the tube for the shifter housing.

 

[The Renaissance Man]

That looks cool! Are you planning to weld the stand-offs or keep the tie wires?

 

[Duchess]

I'm epoxying over it.

 

[Duchess]

So the weight of the tail rack is a bit much to hold its place, especially with the small diameter seat post it's trying to clamp to, so to keep the tail as the tail (and reduce some of the load on the seat post clamp), I'm making a bracket that bolts in near the "brake" bridge. These are adjustable arms to a TV wall mount and some basic hardware and brackets.

I hate bare threaded rod, so I covered the length of rod that passes between the brackets with a piece of leftover aluminum tubing that I used for the shift levers.

 

[Fv2]

Had to look again, I thought you were using a banana seat.

 

[Duchess]

No, it's a modified Brooks B67 Aged and a custom back rest.

 

[Duchess]

Got the rear supports in and this will not be going anywhere I don't want it to go.

 

[Duchess]

I'm pretty sure I have all the electrical figured out, particularly with the tail lights also working as indicators (we'll find out!) and the parts I need on order. New England winter is really interfering with the timeline for this contest as the remaining sanding, paint, fiberglass, and acid etching requires warm weather/outdoor ventilation. However, there's some progress made that I should post.

This is going to be the main power switch. This will switch on the pack, which will run the tail lights and front lights whenever it's on. Unlike Retro Rocket, this one will be able to illuminate. The switch is mounted to this stereo dial I hacked a hole in using the panel-mount nut on the backside.

I built up the area around where the shift dial will go in so that there's not an unseemly gap around the curve of the tank. The dial is JB Welded to the grip shift here.

You can see the backrest cushion is painted here and I'm still working on getting the form right for the rest of the fairing. The top will open with the hinge towards the front and the fake exhausts are hinged along the bottom so that I can fit my laptop or sketchpad in the lower drawer.

And here are the negatives on transparency for the etchings. The sea serpent is from an engraving of a reported sea serpent sighted in Gloucester Harbor (Cape Ann) in 1817 and 1818. The serpent part of the engraving will be used for a coaster brake arm (the head will cover the chainstay strap). The other parts are for the wrap-around outer pedal cage. The "Cape Ann" is for the fronts and backs with the circle and inset interrobang on the outside covering the bearing caps.

 

[GuitarlCarl]

I'm liking the etching idea. Applying skills from other hobbies or trades is what we do to really personalize our bikes, beyond parts and paint.

Carl.

 

[Duchess]

Got my electrical parts, but unless the weather changes completely from here on in, I doubt I'll finish this for the deadline.

 

[Duchess]

Brackets for the front rack. Just need to bend down the tubes to meet the crown mounts, cut the excess off the ends, compress the ends, and drill the holes for the bolts.

 

[Captain Awesome]

That's wicked looking!