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Problem is Pat I've had whatever space I've needed for my personal projects for the past 35 years or so - then in 2000 when I retired - the spare space and facilities also went !
By then I'd downsized to 4000 sq. ft. with 2,000 of open secure storage. At the peak of my business ventures I was working out of 10,000 sq. ft with a 5,000 sq. ft. secure yard.
In 2000 I condensed my personal projects and stuff I couldn't part with into 2 lock up garages - 18 ft. x 10 ft.
Then early this year my neighbour needed his garage back - so everything into ONE 18 x 10 garage, that had a very leaky roof.
I am gradually getting on top of it, and by the end of next week I'll be able to get in there to work properly, with light and power.
The important thing is that all my outsource work has been identified and I'll be attacking that list on some sort of "as needed" basis.
I know what you mean. Right now my only work space is a small shed with no heat and poor lighting. Between me and my room mates we have 5 bikes. When everyone's bike is in the shed there's barely room to walk between them, much less work on anything.
Thanx Teazer ............... I was even second guessing about the frame being Red [ original plan ]. You're right of course, just needed reinforcement from outside these 4 walls!
Now then - Fork Yokes [ triple trees ] - Polished ? Then headlamp shell / instrument pods Red ?
I'm having a bit of trouble visualising the end result [ colourways ] and I can't afford to get it wrong and have to do it all over.
I've settled on polished hubs [ they're done ! ], Gold brake plates, polished alloy rims / st. st. spokes, Red fork bottoms [ maybe polished ? ] and red m/g. All other bodywork - tank, side panels, seat, rear m/g [ if I use one ] Red with Gold Coach lining.
I would have done the legs black to match the frame and swingarm or polished because all that shiny metal says something. The headlamp could be red to match the bodywork to make a continuous top half red. Back in the day our headlamps were always chrome which would work with the flashy polished/gold wheels. Is that an option? That way the front end is all shiny metal with gold touches - very classic and period looking.
Red legs go with red frames and swingarms. For some reason, that just "feels" right. Polished legs go with any color body/chassis combo.
If you want a very traditional look, black with gold pinstripes always looks classy.
I understand the dilemma though. You envisioned it as all red - frame tins arm and legs and because the frame is minimal and ugly you want it to disappear and not stand out. In which case, black on the frame and swingarm to make them less noticeable and striking red on the tank and shiny front end to draw attention to those features and away from ugly bits.
Black frame and red swingarm looks like a replacement frame or replacement arm that doesn't quite look right IMHO.
Exactly the lines I was errring towards Teazer re: the frame / swingarm combo.
I DID buy a Chrome headlamp [ to set off Red yokes ] then the guy dropped it before it got into to my hands ! The replacement was Black painted. I don't have to tell you about the price of good chrome plating. That's my dilema - my heart is saying have it chromed, but my wallet is saying whoooaaa back.
Then if the yokes are polished - less than a quarter of the price of chroming the headlamp - together with the fork legs, then a Red h/lamp shell would look OK. Then instrument pods could be Red or polished [ the cases are alloy ].
If only I was of the electronic age I could do some clever Photoshop manipulation!
Originally I was clear on the colourways - but the more I think about it ................. the picture of my pal's Super Rocket keeps popping into my head - Red / Chrome / Polished alloy / Gold Brake plates !
Wheels currently being built - or rather in the queue - 4 -5 weeks.
Finally made a decision on some of the detail colourways - Fork yokes [ triple trees ] and fork bottoms down at the polishers along with some other small engine parts.
Frame / Swing arm will be Black. Just trying to find the "right" Gold for the brake plates and small detail items.
Amal have finalised the testing on the new UK manufactured carb body castings and have passed them as A1. Production has already restarted and instead of next July - I should have my Amal Mk2 Concentrics in Jan / Feb.
www.amalcarb.co.uk. It's part of Burlen Fuel Systems - makers of SU carbs and parts.
They hold parts for just about every carb they ever produced [ back to pre WW2 ] including olde English Monobloc and pre- Monobloc.
They also produce new carbs and bodies / floats etc. You can even buy the awesome Amal GP and TT racing carbs.
The Mk2 Concentric comes in a variety of sizes up to 40mm choke and left / right bodies + 2 stroke / 4 stroke versions.
They had to cease production for a while [ Mk 2's] as the body castings were found to be inconsistent quality [ porous ]. These were made in Italy, and it took quite a while for the whole process to be revamped. Castings now made in the UK.
I'm waiting for the 2013 prices to be announced - I'm assuming there will be a price increase for the new castings + inflation. However prices were around £114 each [ $180 ? ] at the beginning of the year.
I'm trying to arrange a trade deal with them at the moment.
Let me know if there's anything you want me to find out - I speak to the factory at least once a week.
I was thinking about doing a single carb set up on my XS chopper. one of them there pre monobloc dealies would be really nice. I wouldnt know how to go about sizing it though.
PS - the guys at Amal are going to contact me after the holidays and I hope I'll have news of my Mk2's and some info for you as well.
Rounding off my year where progress has been painfully slow, but at least progress ! The Donor bike is nearly stripped now and the frame and swing arm will be off for powder coating early in the New Year. The wheels should also be back by mid Jan, so I should be able to make a move on initial assembly by March at the latest.
PS - the Amal guys are back from the Christmas break now. I've given them your project details and they're looking into a suitable carb to recommend.
The Mk2s won't be in full production until May / June, but the 38mm's [ my size ] are on the production line now and I still hope to have them before the end of Jan.
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