Parts so far

The present status, the pieces gathered together. The paint on the frame and rear swingarm cautiosly sanded and polished with an abrasive paste to high gloss. Can't wait to mount the frame and suspension on the wheels again. Before that, I must buy new front fork springs plus tires and wait until I get few small parts chrome plated, e.g. front and rear axle, nuts, screws and various holders and brackets. Front fender and cover under the seat covered with primer and filler. Sanded and prepared for the final paint (possibly pearl white).

 

...and III.

I've picked "milano red" (Honda) for frame plus rear swingarm. This is the final step with the clear coat applied.

This spray enables wonderful finish - it's a clear coat plus cartridge with hardener. It has an extra gloss, it dries fast, allows good sanding and is perfectly durable (tested). The ultimate finish without using a gun.

Work in the open air II.

Sunny weather means activity, so this is a fresh take from today. A week ago, I bought this spray with hardener for brake calipers at Louis in Leipzig. Now I can say it was a bargain, even when the price wasn't low, it cost some 23 Eur. But the finish is simply great.

Work in the open air

The wonderful weather of these days reminds late summer and allows for starting working on a long awaited paintjob of the frame. So these are some pics from the last update.

free floating :)

anti- corrosion primer coat applied

  ...and then covered with a filler

                                                               
                                                           

I worked with spray cans because of the complex shape with a numerous edges, corners, holders, etc...,
which is more handy than working with a spray pistol (at least my pistol, which is swiss made, but truly antique:)) After spraying with filler, the surface must have been sanded and covered with a new layer again. The square diameter of the tubes makes it tricky not to uncover the metal surface on the edges, so the procedure must have been repeated couple of times.

New Grabrails

New grabrails are finally welded onto the frame. Compared to the genuine, these are rather solid and I won't be shy using them while manipulting the bike :)

Preparation...

...and the result

This will fit really fine

Couple of Details

Adding a few details from recent time -  one is a newly fabricated nut, holding the damper onto the rear swing arm. The replacement was needed since the previous nut has a damaged threading.

Another substantial feature are the new grab rails made from bended iron tubes. It took some brass and metallic resin, too, in order to make a smooth surface 

The grab rails were made according to the image I've found on the web. They'll be soon welded onto the frame, which is still occupying various rooms of the house. 

Another minor thing is a polished clutch cover, 

now without "YAMAHA" signing, which was scratched badly

not very happy about it, though (If someone have an original piece in a good condition for sale - without scratches - please feel free to contact me)

Meanwhile...

Sort of srx fan art. I conceived this as a colour scheme post, but it looks like something on its own.

It has started with drawing. For me, it is something natural to visualize and express this way. This could seems odd to someone, particularly in the age of photoshop and the 3d programmes. Classical drawing may seems laborious, demanding or, even worse, romantic :) but the way I see it, drawing is the best possible way to "grasp" the idea of the design before the work come into fruition.

New intended colour scheme is roughly the red frame plus rear swing arm, golden wheels and pearl white paintjob of the mudguard, tank and the cover under the seat.

Pencil and white chalk on cardboard

                                                     

   

  Pencil and markers

Pencil, watercolour

I use Lyra pencils (the best), Letraset markers, Canson and Daler - Rowney papers. The disadvantage of a classical rendition is that you practicaly can't undo any step (except of the pencil drawing) and if you work with markers, you must be really fast because of blurring.

Wheels

Polishing and painting the wheels is an individual project itself. The shape of each SRX wheel is filigree, so it was quite demanding. Moreover, the front wheel rim was a bit deformed and making it straight was needed. I decided to polish the rims plus the edges of the spokes and the wheel centre. And even the tiny lettering of the wheels parametres, too.

 The rear wheel  after polishing and prepared for the primer coat: 

A paper scotch tape for covering the polished rims: 

The same wheel with primer and filler coat applied: 

After applying each layer, the polished parts have to be cleared with a thinner, so they will be uncovered

I picked a golden paint which evokes classical era and correspond with the overall paint job combination 

Removing the scotch tape has a particularly pleasant effect worth 14 days of work on each piece

The same colour goes for the polished brake caliper holder

Polishing and painting the front wheel was even more tricky due to the complex

shape of the hub. This is a final version with a clear coat applied: