Over 300 views and still everyone is speechless. That's kind of how I felt as well...
I usually don't like to bash anyone else's work. Creativity is what makes bike building fun, but my gosh, this thing is an affront to anyone who calls himself a P-51 fan. Call it anything else - steampunk, dieselpunk, a blingy thingy, just not a P-51 chopper.
I started collecting parts for my own several years ago, and when Junior Teutel announced he was doing a P-51 bike for the build off, I was annoyed. I thought surely with his resources (he even had a real one parked in his building for inspiration) he was going to make my ideas seem lame in comparison. Well, now I'm even more annoyed that he didn't.
So, while searching for that bike to remind me of what
not to do, I stumbled across this thread and immediately signed up. I hope you guys (and gals) might have some ideas on how to help achieve some of my goals with this build.
I guess a photo would be helpful:
My first dilemma is what to do with this wheel. It appears to have been painted some time in the last century, and it doesn't look good. I want to strip it and refinish it. Most, but not all of my research seems to indicate powder coating this wheel would not be a good idea for several reasons. Painting seems a good option but apparently it needs to primed with chromate. I'm guessing the motorcycle forum discussions on magnesium wheels are not going to be my best source of info, so I ask all of you who own, fly or maintain a plane with magnesium wheels, where do you go to get them refinished?
Naturally this wheel won't have to take the trouncing of having a four ton airplane landing on it, but I would like to feel comfortable knowing if I hit a pot hole it's not going to crack on me. Plus the engine for this build is going to be pretty torquey, and since it was never meant to be a drive wheel, I'm looking for some alternative ideas on how to attach a sprocket to it.
Any help would be appreciated.
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