Mag Ray, Almost Goofed Up...

[Skipton]

Great smile says it all!

The OCC fits him perfect!

 

[MplsCoaster]

Thanks from a long time ago Skipton and Fatboy

Well a year and a half later after I gave Little Guy (LG) Mag Ray for Christmas 2011,

he finally grew into it

He's been riding it but it was bare metal (with clear coat) and got rusty sitting around.
LG isn't quite into the patina look yet. So I told him I'd paint it for him.

At first he couldn't think up a color he wanted so his m Mom said "You like blue" .
So he said blue and I asked him what color blue.
He pointed to the chrome handle bars and said, "That color".
I couldn't figure out what he meant at first
then I realized he was looking at the reflection of the blue sky in the chrome.
I love how kids think!!

Anyway, I saw him over Easter and he changed his mind to bright green.
So last week, I pulled it apart and sand blasted it.
I looked at the forecast and they said that it was going to rain Saturday night to the next Saturday April showers bring... I guess

So I tried to get as much work done before we got a week of rain.
I tried something different and primed in white Friday night (which looked kinda cool itself, Mmmmm...)

All day last Saturday I sprayed at least 5 coats of paint (trying very hard to do light coats).
As it got later I started rattle can spraying the Lime Pearl (metallic) on thicker
so I could get the clear pearl on it too.
I didn't quite make it and about 10pm a large clap of thunder started our week of rain.
I think it looks pretty good and the pearlescence seems to actually show through.

So it's going to be next Saturday before I can get the clear on but think he'll like it.
I have to admit I'm practicing for the Build off and pretty happy with the way it turned out

I'll post the complete pics when it's done but BONINE will be going on
and it may get lost in the mayhem so I'm posting this much tonight LOL

Thanks for looking
Steve

 

[LukeTheJoker]

That looks great! It will really pop with the clear on!

Luke.

 

[MplsCoaster]

Thanks Dr T, Pookie and Ren Man!
Thanks Luke! I think so too

Finally stopped raining after a week long stint,
Looking forward to getting the clear pearl on and see how that looks.
I was going to do another coat of green but I haven't screwed it up yet
so I'm going to leave well enough alone
Just waiting for the garage to warm up a bit this morning and I can start in
Forgot I've got a few more small parts to paint too .

My Wife saw Little Guy yesterday and he's chomping at the bit to get his bike back.
I guess it's all over the neighborhood that it's getting a new paint job
and the other kids are asking about it

Tomorrow is supposed to be sunny
so I can get some shots of it all put together after drying fully over night.
Then I probably deliver it on Monday. I can't wait!

Thanks for Looking
Steve

 

[LukeTheJoker]

My Wife saw Little Guy yesterday and he's chomping at the bit to get his bike back.
I guess it's all over the neighborhood that it's getting a new paint job
and the other kids are asking about it

Bikes are a huge thing to kids, well back when I was a kid they were anyway!
Glad to see there is still at least one out there that gets excited about getting out for a ride on a shiny bike!

Luke.

 

[Scribble]

sweet build man, cant believe I missed this one, I know what you mean I'm 6'2 and riding my Rays are hard

 

[MplsCoaster]

Almost goofed up!!

Luke, I think that bikes are still a big huge thing for kids.
Think custom bikes carry a little more weight,
especially when you hand them to a super good rider and hot Wheels fan

Thanks Scribble. Yeah I got a few other comments like that too.
I glad you can ride them. After I first built Mag Ray, I build a 24" for myself
http://ratrodbikes.com/forum/index.php?threads/the-eliminators-wifes-bike-revamped.51106/page-4

Okay so last weekend I already had the white primer and Lime Pearl Metallic on.
Then tried to put the Pearl Clearcoat, WHAT A MISTAKE!!
The metallic came out in glops (didn't realize it was in there) and the clear ran bad.
The metallic covered up the cool green paint.
Tried smoothing it out in about a 1.5 hours and it got worse.

Thought I had really goofed it up.
In a last ditch effort, I soaked paint thinner on to a rag and started wiping it off.
Was able to get it all off with only taking some of the green.

Then let it dry and ran across town to get more green paint.
Laid about 4 more coats and decided not to put any clear over it.
It it was going to chip, then I bought jar of touch up for him.

It got dark than it was and the green glitter grips matched better now so I used them.
Got it put together and rode it around a bit. It feels really solid.

I was able to deliver it to LG last Monday and he was excited as he could be.
He actually was pretty sick but he really wanted to try out the bike, poor guy.
His Mom said it brightened his day.

Gave him a little bag with the touch up paint and a brush,
plus some WD40 and fine steel wool and a silver permanent marker
so he can keep it looking good and he thanked me

The little kids across the street said
"Hey come over here so we can see it, Mom won't let us cross the street, come on!"

LG rolled over there as best as he could and hung over the handlebars (sick but happy)
while they threw compliments at it

He really like the green "See I told you green would be cool" he said.

I'll have to get some more shots of him riding like a maniac on it
(exactly what it was over built for) when he is feeling better.

Karma has a way with things

Thanks for looking
Steve

 

[LukeTheJoker]

Great work Steve!
Looks really great and it is obvious how much he loves it...

Luke.

 

[DeuceWheeler]

Wow, that bike turned out amazing

 

[aka_locojoe]

Looks great Steve. Love the green and silver.

 

[ODDER]

Too cool! He will remember this forever.

 

[pick]

Awesome work Steve, as usual!

 

[Skipton]

Awesome work Steve, as usual!

+1