Rockafella - 1953 Ruff Firestone Super Cruiser - Completed Ride Video +MajorAward+RollingStoneCover

Rat Rod Bikes Bicycle Forum

Help Support Rat Rod Bikes Bicycle Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.
Thanks brother! That is part of why I throw my mockups and idea tests out there for everyone to see. I'll have to stare at the scoop and crock more, but I tend to agree.

One idea that I had not thought of at all was the red/white diamond checker. That went off in my head like a fire alarm!! I am definitely gonna play around with that piece of wisdom. THANKS MAN!
Yeah, I'm steppin' in what Kota's layin' down! Reflect the pattern on your saddle....cool!
 
Got the tank halves mounted for the first time and I am pleased so far. Like I said there, there is some tweaking to do , but I am confident in this mounting method so far. Here are a few angles of it.

View attachment 55864 View attachment 55865 View attachment 55866 View attachment 55867 View attachment 55868 View attachment 55869 View attachment 55870 View attachment 55871
Great work on the tank mounts. Gonna keep that in mind for future use!

I see batt'ries in that ther tank... :nerd:
 
Great work on the tank mounts. Gonna keep that in mind for future use!

I see batt'ries in that ther tank... :nerd:

I've used variations on this mounting methodfor years now. It holds up well. The batteries are for the tank horn
 
I like the schwinn tensioners, but not for this build. There's nothing schwinn about it, and I personally think it needs to stay that way.

I agree with KOTA on the gator skin, and partially on the scoop.
I don't like the scoop, but I do like the louvers.

I imagine you've been holding onto the scoop for a reason, so if you don't want to cut it up maybe you can make louvers in the flashing.


That said, I don't suspect I'll ever own this bike. Which means you're not building it for me. But I think I know you well enough to tell you what I think, although if not... You did ask for opinion

I welcome ALL feedback. I throw all this stuff out there as a sounding board.

Ive never been one to worry at all about mixing part brands. As a matter of fact i prefer to build mutts.

Even though i called it a scoop, i was really testing it out as a trim element. We'll see where it lands.
 
Color possibilities. I still have some work on the tank build up, but I played around in paint.net today. I am thinking about painting the tank panel and age it to match the fenders. I found a Rustoleum Jade Green that is pretty darn close. I also am thinking about keying off of the secondary stripe color (gold) and may use this Rustoleum satin metallic gold (Gold Rush) on the frame. Nothing set in stone, just playing on paint.net right now.

greentank.jpg
19984154_482411355433487_1984277210623161623_o.jpg
goldframe.jpg
 
I welcome ALL feedback. I throw all this stuff out there as a sounding board.

Ive never been one to worry at all about mixing part brands. As a matter of fact i prefer to build mutts.

Even though i called it a scoop, i was really testing it out as a trim element. We'll see where it lands.
I don't mind mixing brands either, I'm just not a schwinn guy.
 
I really like the bare metal frame. It blends in very well with the patina of the vintage parts. The gold would be too much I think.
The green tank insert on the other hand seems to me the best variation so far...

Gesendet von meinem K00E mit Tapatalk
 
You know I like the bare metal too...
But the gold idea is good. Have you ever used Rub n' Buff? It's a craft paint in a tube used to highlight crevices or textures. Playing around with that stuff led me to weathering with simple craft paints. I haven't done much on bikes, OddJob seems to have carved that niche out here, but I could see using a turquoise n' copper combo rubbed into the joints to pull the colors out of the bike and blend the newer parts in. It's a classic combo used often to create a faux metal patina, and it'd be perfect palette wise on the Rockafella, bare metal or gold.

Carl.
 
Carl's got some ideas meriting a trial 'rub' on some raw steel. Maybe an old frame or fork you could test some recipes on?

The other thing I was thinking was, do your Jade, then try 'subduing the color' by using Rustoleum's Satin Strawflower (a very muted yellow shade, almost bone color) or the Fossil (really muted shade of green) which I used last year on One-Liner.

It's a very light dusting, sprayed from about 3-4' away, and not full coverage. And as always, 'stop before you think you are done'. What it does is mute the original color so it's not as deep, like it's been fading in the sun for a few decades.

If you want to add some rust-ification, the ol' Rustoleum Multi-color Texture paint, in your color scheme, probably the lighter brown, around the welds and tops of the frame tubes can add that quality. Then rub down lightly with steel wool or leave nubbly, whatever feel / look you prefer.
 
Here is one last bit of fun I had testing stuff out tonight. I saw this small light cap sitting on the bench and stuck it on the spring. Not sure how much I like the steely dan rocket ship riding on top of the fender train light. :)

View attachment 55907
A bullet springer! I might put that on a build.one day... [emoji106]

That teal strip down the center of the tank adds a little continuity with the fenders to me...
 
Made some adjustments with some spacers and determined final placement for the tank. Captured some measurements, then I rigged up a jig on the bottom of the tank to hold every thing in place while I created the center panel.

20170716_114954.jpg
20170716_115931.jpg
20170716_115950.jpg
20170716_120009.jpg
20170716_120021.jpg
20170716_120058.jpg
20170716_134837.jpg
 
Cleaned up the King crowns and painted in the missing red with sharpie, then reinstalled them on the tank

20170716_145810.jpg
20170716_150235.jpg
20170716_150459.jpg
20170716_160711.jpg
 
Made a template based on prior measurements and cut the roof flashing to fit.

20170716_151446.jpg
20170716_154703.jpg
20170716_160341.jpg
20170716_160351.jpg
20170716_160402.jpg
20170716_160444.jpg
20170716_160453.jpg
 
Punched all of the panel holes and buttoned it all up with fender rivet screws. Now I have a tank!!!!

20170716_173704.jpg
20170716_173721.jpg
20170716_173728.jpg
20170716_173755.jpg
20170716_173812.jpg
20170716_173824.jpg
20170716_173843.jpg
20170716_173850.jpg
20170716_173857.jpg
 
I dig how well the tank turned out , so I put it on a pedestal.



tankgif.gif
20170716_174927.jpg
20170716_174942.jpg
20170716_174952.jpg
20170716_175004.jpg
20170716_175015.jpg
20170716_175029.jpg
20170716_175042.jpg
20170716_175055.jpg
 
Last edited:

Latest posts

Back
Top