TRADITIONAL ⚡️⚡️⚡️THUNDERBOLT⚡️⚡️⚡️

[Shrunken_Head_Pedaler]

Looking forward to this!

Dang it! I meant coaster brake. lol. Now I feel like I have to come up with a foot brake.

 

[Shrunken_Head_Pedaler]

That's a lot of hive parts right there!
Cool solution for your seat post. I am guessing that should work fine.

The 5/8 post and sleeve were a close to snug fit. I slathered the JB weld on both the post and sleeve. Unless I try to do the twist while riding, I think it will hold up fine.

Looking forward to this!

Hopefully I’ll get time this weekend to tackle the tank. It will be a drawn out process though.

 

[Shrunken_Head_Pedaler]

I made a choice of tires I wanted to run. These aggressive looking Ralson nylon tires are 2.35 wide with a thick knobby. Going to need some heat from the sun to squeeze them on. Nylon is not very forgiving.

 

[Shrunken_Head_Pedaler]

Today I got the tank roughly cut out of the 2x4. I think I may have just enough sculpture block to make the tank from. I still have to trim up the buck to slide through the tank housing, then I can add the foam and start sculpting something. I am going to play with the idea of adding pipes for a fun look. I also mocked up a fender skirt set that I really like, but unsure if it will head that way. I have a duck tailed front fender, that fits nicely with the skirt on the back and accomplishes the “bobbed” fender look I want. I prefer to flip front fenders to the back for that look, which keeps me from cutting up good fenders and I can also revert back to an original configuration.

 

[Shrunken_Head_Pedaler]

The other fender skirt and chain guard loosely set it place.

 

[kingfish254]

I love skirts on a build. From experience, just make sure to keep everything loose until you are sure of the clearances needed for everything (wheels. tires, chainline, crankarms, etc). Then you can dial the full fitting all in around those restrictions. Initial view looks like it should fit well.

 

[Shrunken_Head_Pedaler]

I love skirts on a build. From experience, just make sure to keep everything loose until you are sure of the clearances needed for everything (wheels. tires, chainline, crankarms, etc). Then you can dial the full fitting all in around those restrictions. Initial view looks like it should fit well.

That’s a great tip! Thank you @kingfish254
It will take some work to get the chain guard to fit, while the skirts do fit well. I’m not quite sure if they fit my vision just yet but fun to play around with.

 

[Shrunken_Head_Pedaler]

I decided to take some of the chrome parts from my beehive part lot, and transfer them to the all black fork I am running. When I took photos of my progress, the fork got lost in the big picture and didn’t show off its style. The chrome is still crusty rusty and has an equal patina to the fork they were transferred to. I need to chase the threads a bit on the steering tube and I’m glad I bought a die a few months back. Just need that spring retainer and some shoulder bolts for the rockers and the fork will be complete. I got to see one of my favorite current bands around last night at Mission Ballroom in Denver, so I’m not getting a lot done today. Check out Idles if dare

 

[Shrunken_Head_Pedaler]

Thunderbolt is another step closer to becoming a rider. A fresh chain and front wheel are on the way. The inner tubes showed up, so I stuffed them in the rugged 26”x2,35” tires and I am happy with the results. I also set the chain guard and skirt set on and I am really liking the look. The skirt with the duck billed front fender I flipped to the rear seem to mate up well. My wife says “It looks fast!” I touched up the beehive springer fork and assembled all the pieces. I think I have the rockers correct. I dropped in the handlebar and stem set, with the twist grips and it’s starting to look like a bike! I will have to make an attachment to hold my brake caliper on the underneath side of the stay, near the bottom bracket. If that doesn’t work, I will swap my Sachs Torpedo off another bike and try to mate up the twist shift grip. They may not have the same shifting travel. Just a few issues to work out.

 

[Shrunken_Head_Pedaler]

 

[Captain Awesome]

Do you still need that spring holder tab?

 

[Shrunken_Head_Pedaler]

Do you still need that spring holder tab?

Yes I do. The missing link I think I started a conversation with you. Not sure if that is a pm

 

[SkyknightJohn]

Coming together nicely!

 

[Shrunken_Head_Pedaler]

Coming together nicely!

Thank you! Still lots of little things to work out. I’m glad it’s still May!

 

[kingfish254]

Looking super sharp!

 

[Pondo]

That fender/skirt/guard combo is looking right!

 

[Shrunken_Head_Pedaler]

Looking super sharp!

Thank you much! Good to be this far this early

That fender/skirt/guard combo is looking right!

Thank you! And I agree! The skirts and chain guard were a nice last minute find. I’ve always wanted a set and they just happen to fit well.

 

[Shrunken_Head_Pedaler]

I had just enough of my foam material to build some size to the tank, which will allow for some design work. The open cell foam binds well with spray glue and the body filler I use. Just carve away what I don’t want. I may leave a pocket for a thunderbolt design. I have no plan when I make a tank. I just allow for the framework that the tank lies in, to dictate further design. I have just a bit of material left to fix and mistakes or creat some other design details.

 

[Shrunken_Head_Pedaler]

Time to sculpt the tank a bit. I think I will keep is simple by knocking down some edges and giving it a taper to the back.

 

[kingfish254]

Time to work your magic now.