P-51 Old Crow Harley Davidson Tribute

[Firebird]

A little OT, but I thought some of you would appreciate this custom Harley D that I saw at the NEC Motorcycle Show here in the UK last weekend. Was commissioned by an avid WW2 aircraft fan according to the display card

[Warbird Kid]

Reverse head light... awesome idea. But shouldn't it be in a flat scheme instead of a glossy one?

[JimH]

Yeah, the green looks more like chromate...invasion stripes?? Really? Bahahaha. I bet the inside of the fenders are painted green too

[51fixer]

Yeah, the green looks more like chromate...invasion stripes?? Really? Bahahaha. I bet the inside of the fenders are painted green too

The edges of the invasion stripes are too clean, should've been done with a dogs tail dipped in paint and smeared on.

[Warbirdnerd]

What a rare find, I hope they don't plan to make it roadworthy, but instead it should be enshrined in the safety of a museum...

[51fixer]

What a rare find, I hope they don't plan to make it roadworthy, but instead it should be enshrined in the safety of a museum...

If the UK DMV is anything like the CAA I'm surprised it is allowed to touch pavement.

[4RG.I.'S]

That is a very well done theme blending of 2 completely different machines. Having previously worked in H-D's R&D facility, there is a lot more work there than you might think.

[Sasquatch]

Looks like a replica to me. I think they found something like 324 wrecked Harleys and jacked up a data plate and put replica templated parts made from the crashed bike's parts underneath it. And I dont' think that headlight bulb is accurate for July 12, 1943 until after 2:31 am...and it's already 2:32.

Otherwise, I think it's a thing of beauty!

--Tom

[Lynn Allen]

Maybe Vlado will chime on on the correct color of the gear doors...

[JimH]

in my world it would have white wall tires, a seat back that looks like armor plate, US Army Air Corp cushion, flat dark OD paint or bare brushed aluminum (D theme), more artistic checkerboard and lettering conforming to the tank, NO invasion stripes, hamilton standard shaped wheel spokes with P-51 spinner hub caps (imagine if the blade wheels were 'spinners', and the headlight...not sure about that one...something funky about it...I think I would use a P-51 wheel well landing light... one can dream right? The more I think about it the tank could be two mustang wingtips welded or molded together. I like the diamond tread idea! The saddle bags could be mini 110g drop tanks, detachable of course. A mustang shaped wind screen is probably going a bit far?? The engine bearers could be replicated just like the merlin installation...hmmm???!!! footrests N.A. rudder pedals, kickstand would be mini 51 gear leg....how about a drop tank side car!

JH
PS...OH YEAH I almost forgot...I think the entire rear fender would be a dataplate

Last edited by JimH on Thu Dec 06, 2012 12:41 am, edited 3 times in total.

[Dan Johnson II]

Figures. And you know if it wasn't "Old Crow" it would have been a Blue noser!

[JohnTerrell]

I like your ideas Jim...and I would maybe add some diamond tread tires. ; )

[18Bravo]

Nothing like a noob re-opening a thread that's over three years old... I wondered what some of you think of this:


http://www.damngeeky.com/2012/06/21/242 ... plane.html

[18Bravo]

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.

[4RG.I.'S]

Custom bikes AND P-51'S?!?!? I"M IN!!!
Interesting project would love to hear (and see photos of) more, though I don't believe this is the correct forum. As far as it never being meant to be a drive wheel, while that's true it was designed with mounting lugs inside for brakes to stop the aircraft. Torque is torque, whether it is pavement to tire to wheel to stationary object (brake disc in this case) or sprocket to wheel to tire to pavement, the force is rotational and similar.