Things that suck...

I mocked up the final design for my tank and drove over to Kurt's place and dropped it off.  Below is the mockup, though the font in the mockup isn't what Kurt is going to use--he's going to paint "Mallin" in an Indian-style font, but I don't have that on my computer.  Anyway, you get the idea...

I thought that was that and very shortly I'd be getting a call from Kurt to come get it.  Well, I got a call from Kurt all right.  He said I wasn't going to be happy.  He said he began painting the graphics on the side of my tank, but when he pulled up the outlining tape, some of the paint came up with it.  Great...just great!  I went and picked up the tank...here's the damage...

At least Kurt didn't get too far into the painting...he simply put down the first coat of gold on one side and hadn't gotten into a second coat or the details with the black outlining.  

You know, I used paint and primer from the same manufacturer--the paint and primer recommended for use with each other...and I even scuffed up the primer a bit before applying the color coat.  The only thing I can figure is that somehow some way some sort of contaminant--oil, gas, oil from my hands...something--got on the primer.  Aggravating!

So for the third time, I will sand the tank down again (at least to the primer) and repaint it.  I think I will also allow a longer drying time before I take the it back to Kurt...maybe even put the tank in the oven for a bit (after 48 hours) to ensure the paint is cured.

On the plus side, it extends this project out a little longer and stops me from buying an old motorcycle for my next project...

Anyway...that's the current status.  I'm about to head into the garage and start sanding...[in the voice of Yosemite Sam] Frickin fracken...

Stay tuned...

Almost...

Well, as I mentioned earlier...tonight was the night for the final coat of color paint on the tank. I dry sanded everything...then wet sanded everything to make it as smooth as possible.  There are a couple/three imperfections in the tank...I left them.  The reality is, I don't want it to me "flawless;" I want it to look as authentic as possible, so the imperfections add to the character.  Anyway, I think it turned out beautiful!

I'm very pleased!

So for the next 48 hours I will let the paint dry.  Friday afternoon (night) I'll go see Kurt so he can pinstripe and put the "Mallin" graphics on the sides of the tank.   Then the tank will get a coat of clear enamel...then 48 hours after that I will reassemble everything and take a few glamour shots of the bike and call it officially "Done!"

Almost there!

Preparing for the final detail...

I found someone to paint the graphic and pinstriping on the sides of my tank. The guy is a professional artist who does this sort of thing all the time...and he’s giving me a pretty sweet deal to do my tank. I'm going with what most of you suggested: old-school gold letters in an "Indian style" font with a black outline around the letters and black and gold pinstriping around the tank.

So given that his work is professional, I wanted my tank to look just as nice as his work. I’m not the greatest painter, but my frame and fender came out great. Unfortunately my tank had a few fisheyes in it, so before I drop it off with Kurt, the pinstripe guy, I decided to strip the tank down and redo it. I don’t consider myself a perfectionist, but clearly I have issues.

Here’s today’s work...

Step 1...(kinda looks like Eddie Van Halen painted it)

Step 2...

Step 3...

In 48 hours I’ll sand it down one last time and give it one final color coat before it goes to Kurt. I figure I’ll sand it and do the final color coat on Tuesday night...48 hours after that it can go to Kurt...so probably Thursday or Friday night. Then once I get the tank back I have to hit it with a coat of clear...then 48 hours after that everything will final be dry so I can put the bike back together and officially call it done!

"Mallin" ???

So one more (multi-part) question for you guys...

A. Do you like a graphic on the tank?

B. If the yes to A. above, which do you prefer from the choices below:

Choice 1 (gold):

Click to enlarge

Choice 2 (silver):

Click to enlarge

Choice 3 (silver with a black and silver pinstripe):

Click to enlarge

Choice 4 (gold with a black and gold pinstripe):

Click to enlarge

Thoughts?

Beginning to end...

Since it's a little challenging to see the progression of pictures throughout the build in this blog, I made a little slideshow...

:-)

All Done!

Well... I that's that.

 All done (sans some minor little things...but it's 99.9% done)!!!

I see red...

I didn't do a lot today on other than lay down a base coat of blood-red paint.  I got all sorts of pieces and parts hanging and drying...

That's where it stands right now.  I have to wait 48 hours to give everything a good sanding then lay down another coat of red.  I imagine I'll have to do this at least three times...then a similar process for the clear.  Then reassembly, blah blah blah...

I also need to decide on lettering.  In my original mockup, I was going to put "MALLIN" on the side of the tank...but I don't know.  Here's a look at the original mockup again...

A friend suggested "MALLINATOR"  I dunno...

And, here are two pictures...I'm looking for input on the seat-post color, the seat-post-clamp color and the conduit brackets that hold on the tank...

I'm using simple conduit straps to mount the tank (four of them).  I was thinking of leaving them bare metal, but maybe they need to be red as well?  I guess I could paint them silver?

Basically, I originally thought I would do the seat post the same color as the frame...maybe leave the clamp chrome...the seat rails and springs are black...and leave the rear bracket I fabricated black...

Like this...

But the more I look at it...well, I dunno.

Here are a couple of other choices...

I like the back bracket being the same color as the frame like this picture...

On most original bikes, you cannot see the seat post or clamp, so it's not an issue...

WAIT!!! (I just though of this)... what about leaving the seat post read and making the clamp

Yeah...I still dunno. Maybe I'm brain dead from all the paint fumes...?
I'll think about it over night and see if any of you have opinions in the morning...
Decisions decisions.  I'm sure it will come to me sooner or later...
If you have thoughts on any or all of the above, I'm listening...