Faded Glory....tribute build...First Ride!

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OddJob

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GREETING: ....this is how the Order to Report for Induction began when the Selective Service was in order for WWII. My father, a recent high school grad in 1942 at age 17, joined the Navy and served on an aircraft carrier in Guam until the war ended in September of 1945. He went to college on the GI bill, got his degree, and taught mathematics at the high school level for 35 yrs. He was also an artist, which he practiced by building his own first house, and painting and remodeling many more during the summers of those teaching years, and beyond. He served on our local American Legion Post color guard, and always held his military service in high regard.

I was lucky to inherit my dad's eye, intuitive and deductive reasoning, and learned skills at his side on many a project over the years. We left our mark, LS2 (small 2, LS squared; both of our initials are LS) on many a stud hidden in a new wall, on a deck, in the cement of a new driveway.

This build I dedicate to my dad, who passed away in 2012 and never got to see one of my current rat rod bike builds. He loved bikes though, and his last new bike was purchased at the ripe old age of 83, which he rode for the last 4 yrs of his life.

Not sure of the model of this bike (please let me know if you can I.D. it), but I liked the fat fenders, the long top tubes, crusty patina, and it spoke to me the first time I laid eyes on it! I've been working on it for a week now (something to bide the time chomping at the bit for RRB BO-11 to start!) and here are my progress photos so far. I welcome your comments, and if you can relate to some of what I have said, give your input as well.

I present, Faded Glory.....hints of a red and blue frame, with a single wider white striping on the fenders and a white tip and tail to the fenders, with the creme colored Fat Franks, she carries the colors we fly here in the good ol' US of A.....

What I started with about 2 weeks ago....

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On the back deck of the BACK40, tires tossed, bike apart....

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After using steel wool and white vinegar to take off the surface rust and get down to some natural patina and definition....

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Next was to spray the whole bike with my new found favorite used on Mesa Buggie in the ORBO 2016; this Duplicolor Clear Coat from the automotive store....

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Really makes the colors (whats there) pop and the rust shine! Should help keep it that way for another 75 yrs or so.....

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And then the tires showed up. My first set of Fat Franks. Sold them for a few years on Electra bikes, but never owned a pair of my own. They give it that classic vintage look I wanted....need a little dirt on 'em but that will come....

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Used Gorilla tape for my rim tape. Easy to tear into the strip width you need on the roll and covers the inside of the rim well.

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Replaced the skip tooth rear hub with a more friendly 1/8 x 1/2 " hub. Both were New Departure guts, pulled from a spare wheel I picked up at my 'dealer' and stuck in the hub of the Faded Glory wheel....slicker'n snot....

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Crankset and front double springer from my Firestone Super Deluxe Monark girls bike that I wrestled the fork from last week...and won!

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That's it for now! Stay tuned!
 
Cool story OJ.
My dad wasn't into bicycles, but he was a creative guy. I think he'd like RRB, probably even push me to build something crazy stupid.
 
Made some more progress on Faded Glory this morning. Custom headset job and the fork is in! Drive train hooked up and running! Put the wheels on and took some pics.....glorious day in the BACK40...!

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Now on to the 'One-Liner' in the RRB BO-11....later! Rat on!
 
really cool build, and the story is awesome. I have lots of family members that served in WW2, Korean War, and Vietnam, So this hits home.
 
....and the 'hay making' continues! (see my 'One-Liner' build in BO-11 for explanation) My 'Faded Glory' tribute build is a rider! Not done with all the tweaks yet, have a fat chain guard in the mail atm, may switch the rear fender to match the front one gleaned from the Firestone Monark girls bike, leather fashioned for the seat, etc....but she rides, and is it ever a smooooth one on those Fat Franks! Wow!

Here's a question: I would like to turn the bent seatpost around to accommodate my body on the bike better. When I do however, the seat is nosed up and tilted too far back. If I could change the angle, and open it up wider, I could get it to sit flat (like it does now) but with the extension pointing back to get my knees in the right position (long femur) over the pedals. Help? Hints? How hot do I have to get the post to get it to bend? Would a hand held blow torch do the trick?

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Got some more progress in last evening. Heading to work today thru Friday so thought I would post some updates while I had the chance. I pulled the rear fender and added the matching blue one from the girl's Monark donor bike. It sits lower in the back, like the look. Added some faux-tina paint to the red that was there, just to balance the blue fenders a bit more. Cut up an old foam sleeping bag pad and glued with my favorite Goop to the seat pan. Now on the hunt for an old leather jacket or large purse to use for the cover. .....lucky me, garage sale season is upon us!

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Got some time in on the bike over the past 3 days, hunt and peck, here and there. Old chainguard modified to fit (need to age the custom clamps yet) and leather saddle cover. Remember guys and gals, when picking colors, your saddle should always match your purse......and your gloves. Thinking about a wrap grip using the rest so I'm not left 'holding the bag'.....

Garage sale real leather purse $3. Amazing Goop all purpose sealant, clamp and let set, víola !

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'Picture Rock' in the BACK40....

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Nice work on this one.
Diggin "Picture Rock" too.
 
Carl, you were right. After some fudging with the seat post and changing the seat clamp angle, I was able to swing the bent post around and get my seat back about an inch and a half....which was perfect for my riding position! Took her out for a nice spin this sunny, 60 degree Mother's Day in Maplewood. 'Picture Rock' is the photo setting, right outside the back door of the the BACK40....

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