Grail Restoration

[old-hermit]

I got a 60's issue Revell drag bike in a recent trade and hope to restore it.

First step was disassembly. The glue was so old it almost fell apart.

Had to use dis-solve on some of it though.

As I've found with models this old the plastic is very brittle and the frame literally came apart at the joints.

After a few touchy moments and very delicate handling I got it back togther and put a coat of primer on it.

I'm afraid the front end is toast. It's pretty badly broken up. I'll try to repair it but don't have much hope.

Got some parts in the purple pond dechroming and will see what I have left soon.

I'm missing a few small parts but should be able to dig them out of the parts box or another kit.

Well the frame broke three more times while I tried to clean it up so I quit ####### with it and primed and painted it.

Need to wait for a less muggy day to clear it.

I've been working on the engine all day and had some success. Not quite top shelf but I'm happy with it.

Stay tuned, more to come.

.

[Terror]

The motor looks great.Good job saving the frame,if you can save that,you can save the forks.I don't see the skins in any of your pics.Do you have the tank and fenders?Lets see some more.

[old-hermit]

Thanks for the compliment Terry. Yes, I have the tanks and fender.

They need some serious clean up as they were brush painted many odd years ago.

As I said the plastic is very brittle so I'm taking my time and being very gentle.

Here's a pic of how I got the bike.

[pstreet]

Looks like a great kit to spend the time rebuilding. What are your plans for this one?

[old-hermit]

What are your plans for this one?

This one will be just a clean up and rebuild but I've cast some of the one off parts and have plans for a twin Knuck TF and maybe some others.

[RatRod]

Great restoration Al!!! I love these old Revell drag bike kits, they really bring back memories. I have 'em all except the Kawasaki 500 triple. Maybe you can make new front forks out of aluminum!!!

[old-hermit]

WOW John, I thought I'd seen them all but the second Triumph drag bike is new to me.

Edited August 25, 2009 by old-hermit

[RatRod]

Yep Al, I went after every Triumph kit Revell did from 1964 on, and ended up with every one. The stretched frame Triumph drag bike is from 1972, and is probably the rarest one. Once in a great while you see one pop up, but they go high, I paid three bills for this one.....ouch!!!

[Scott Colmer]

Wow! This brings back memories. Looking good so far.

I had one of those, and I think it was the Harley since it was molded in blue. It got taken apart years ago and the parts have all left too.

I'll be wathching and thanks for posting the boxes too.

Scott

[old-hermit]

I paid three bills for this one.....ouch!!!

Ouch is right !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Don't think I'd pay that much just to look at the box, I'd have to build it.

[Tony N]

Wow

I love early Drag bikes, you have great start there. My wife's uncle, Stan Dishong won the Nationals in 63 or 64 with a Harley

he build. He use to start it with putting the rear tire on rollers power by a Indian Chief V twin. you could build something like that to hold the bike up if you wanted.

Tony N

[Smart-Resins]

Nice job so far!! jody

[old-hermit]

Got some time in the shop today and did a few little things to help her along.

It's raining and dreary so the want to just wasn't there.

Since the original was molded in blue and I had half a can of blue metallic left from a 1/25 pickup she's back in blue, only a nicer shade.

Hans, the original builder, upholstered the seat originally with brown leather and I thought it had aged nicely so I dyed it black and left it intact.

There was only one foot peg so I took some styreen rod and made new ones on my lathe.

Not quite like the qriginals but they'll do.

The brake lever was broken off and gone so I made one from a straight pin.

A little silver paint and they are serviceable. Will do some detail painting when the weather permits.

Stay tuned, more later.

.

Edited August 27, 2009 by old-hermit

[Terror]

Nice work,I'm enjoyin this.

[old-hermit]

Since some of the tiny parts are either broken or missing I've had to be creative with some kit bashing and scratch building.

Bolted on clutch arm with 00.90 bolt

Made spark plug caps with brass tubing.

Had to make a shifting linkage with .037 piano wire.

I modified a CHP shifter to fit (bottom right)

and made a brake lever out of junk box parts (top).

.

[old-hermit]

Got to the shop early this AM and finished her up.

I made oil lines from solid copper wire and 00.90 nuts.

Installed the magneto, kicker and painted the pipes flat white.

Installed fuel lines, throttle cables and front brake line..

I'm tired of all lines and cables being black so I color coded them.

Completed shifter, linkage, brake and peg.

Ta Da ...

More pics of the finished model here ...

http://public.fotki.com/old-hermits-garage...hans-drag-bike/

.

Edited August 29, 2009 by old-hermit

[RatRod]

Great save Al!!! It's always nice to see these old kits brought back to life. My Harley was started, and whatever kid did it back then used a tube of glue on the few parts that were assembled, but the kit was savable. Yes, I do plan to build the bike kits I have, and even though they are rare gems in their boxes, they just gotta be assembled!!!

[Scott Colmer]

This came out great! Great job on the restoration, Al. Thanks so much sharing the ressurection!

Scott

[pstreet]

This is a great looking build. Nice save Hermit, that blue looks fantastic in the sun. If i saw the first two pictures on an auction site id think i was looking at a real bike.