"Rusty" Bird to "Rat" Bird

[SimpleTom]

This one has been on the back burner for a long time. I finally got around to sand blasting it and decided that the frame was just to far gone to make a nice looking paint job, so I decided to go with the RAT look.

Here it is when I brought it home for $15

After some slight modifications.

How it looks right now. Not sure if I like the gray primer or if I should go with the ruddy brown primer.

 

[buckeye]

I like the look Tom.
How'd you do your white walls? Shoe polish??

 

[TomH]

jus fine, shoot some flat or satin clear and...done

 

[YOOP]

:thumbsup:

 

[Rapidrob]

Good question, how did you do the white walls,or are they real? Who has them?

 

[SimpleTom]

I like the look Tom.
How'd you do your white walls? Shoe polish??

Well, I tried various things. Always ended up yellowing.

I found this primer and it works well. No yellowing, a little thick to apply, and I don't know how long it will hold up.

But considering it's a "Rat" bike I think they look good enough.

 

[Outlaw Ace]

That's slick right there.:thumbsup:

 

[buckeye]

Thanks.:thumbsup:

 

[KustomKartKid]

That's slick right there.:thumbsup:

No..... the slick is in the back :lol:

 

[minibikin']

No..... the slick is in the back :lol:

Brump bump!

Looks great!

 

[Square_Chopper]

Looks great Tom. Gotta love a nicely done rat bike! :thumbsup:

 

[125ccCrazy]

Looking good Tom, the WWW's really stand out against the red wheels..... Have you thought about shooting a few layers of different colors on the bike and then take some sandpaper and go over the frame cutting through the layers so it looks like it's been painted several times over the years..maybe even hit some bare metal and let it rust over then shoot it with flat clear... anyway you do it the bike will look great...:thumbsup:

 

[SimpleTom]

Looking good Tom, the WWW's really stand out against the red wheels..... Have you thought about shooting a few layers of different colors on the bike and then take some sandpaper and go over the frame cutting through the layers so it looks like it's been painted several times over the rears..maybe even hit some bear metal and let it rust over then shoot it with flat clear... anyway you do it the bike will look great...:thumbsup:

Actually, yes I have thought of that. I have been looking online at Rat Rods and getting ideas for paint. I still plan on a round tank but not the one I had mocked up the first time. I think I have a big one that I can put some sort of faded lettering on it to make it look old also.

 

[SimpleTom]

Okay, I gave it a try. I added a layer of brown primer to the whole bike, then some blue to the frame, yellow and black to the forks, then I sanded it down a bit and cleared it with a matte clear coat. I think it turned out pretty cool.

I found a 4hp Briggs engine on the shelf. It runs strong but I think I want to use a Tecumseh carb with a seperate gas tank. Anyone have an adapter??

 

[125ccCrazy]

heck yeah, that looks great...I like it..... that would look really cool sitting in the back of an old rat rod truck like a 50 Chevy....

 

[TomH]

That looks like a bullet hole in the shroud.:laugh: Looks great.

 

[Square_Chopper]

:thumbsup::thumbsup: Excellent work on the paint job!

 

[Andrewp]

lookin good :thumbsup: You did really good on the paintimp:

 

[Clayon]

Looks great Tom, I dig the white walls and the red rims. :thumbsup: and ya gotta love the patina'd frame. :thumbsup:

 

[SimpleTom]

Okay, so I changed my mind on the carb. I found an old Briggs updraft carb from a 3hp and it works perfectly. I just need the throttle/grip which should be here sometime this week. I had the tank sitting in a box and since it was already patina'd up I just matte clear coated it. I've got a guard from an old snowblower that I am cutting up to fit and I'll probably add a "name" to the bike and hand paint it on the guard. Plus, I have an idea for the air cleaner but that will have to wait.