My Phoenix Bianchi

[HeartCoppi]

Quite a nice ring to this title

 

and very literal.

 

 

 

Other feeble attempts at a title, tried to incorporate MJ and Lauda, but a legendary brand and mythology are clearly most compatible.

 

 

 

I opted for a frame which 1000+ people walked past without looking twice. Maybe one other guy looked twice, but only to snigger at it with a mate?

 

Why? Because she had been torched. I'm guessing someone had taken to some drastic measures to get out an incredibly stuck saddle post.

 

This is not just a scratch or a chip.

 

 

 

Pity, because this is a classic piece.

 

 

 

I am determined to bring some glory upon her.

 

without any sub-contractors !!!

 

 

 

I have kicked off.

 

 

 

I had hoped that these preparatory stages would give me the time to reach a conclusion as to how she should look.

 

But I still have not crafted a resolute vision of the finished product.

 

 

 

ANY IDEAS??

 

 

 

Progress pics will follow.

 

 

 

PROPOSALS PLEASE

 

tarboy2009-09-20 12:37:06

[HeartCoppi]

Measuring up is always a good idea, in case I decide that I' going to restore her as original.

 

 

 

 

A full set of photos was created to capture the original before stripping.tarboy2009-09-20 10:25:10

[HeartCoppi]

Next: cutting off all decals with an art knife. Paint stripper btw does not take off decals.

 

 

 

Here you'll now see the "burnt area"

 

 

 

 

Thank heavens I got the beautiful headbadge off perfectly!tarboy2009-09-20 10:29:34

[HeartCoppi]

And then the paint stripper....

 

[HeartCoppi]

Next formula 40 rubbing compound by hand and a home made buffing tool strapped to a battery drill, finished with marine shine....

 

 

 

 

 

 

and of course:

 

[GTRacing]

Now that is a clean frame...

[Dibles]

Nicely done tarboy 

[HeartCoppi]

I was thinking along the lines of the classic Bianchi track design, cos I've always thought it was super nice. Or is that just wrong if its not a track bike? Or is it not necessarily a track design?

 

 

 

Or is original not negotiable.

 

 

 

The track design example like this:

 

tarboy2009-09-20 10:52:41

[gummibear]

That's a nice shiny frame.Just clear coat it.

[Overlord]

 

That's a nice shiny frame.Just clear coat it.

 

But first put the decals on.

 

[Minion]

 

Was the frame chromed under the paint or is the shine a result of elbow grease?

I quite like the naked finish.

 

Edman2009-09-20 11:55:14

[HeartCoppi]

Edman, I'm not sure. Note that everything has this chrome appearance, including the welds.

 

It sure as hell looks like chrome. and was a surprise to me.

 

If that is chromed, it is SUPER thin, because I've 'thinned' it on one spot with my homemade buffing tool strapped to a battery drill and formula40. The other reason I say its SUPER thin is because this bike is very light. I want to weigh it at work tomorrow.

 

 

 

Yup its welded, except for the seat post lug.

 

Wide oval DT into BB shapes into vertical oval into headtube. Also large oval horizontal stays, and round to oval ST and TT.

 

Extra features: * No stay brace at the bottom; * short rear dropouts; and * concealed brake and RD cablestarboy2009-09-20 12:27:12

[dollar]

Well done Tarboy! Looks like a million bucks already!

[Dragu]

Looks great, my vote would be for a naked frame as is with decals like originals

[HeartCoppi]

I'm afraid "naked" isn't going to cut it.

 

This is why:

 

1) when they braze the seat post lug during construction it is usually wire brushed afterwards to remove excess filler. These brush marks are slightly visible.

 

2) I dont have a spare full chrome Bianchi fork on hand to match.

 

3) The chrome is nice but from 10cm away its not perfectly homogenous in texture all over.

 

4) the heat affected zone is a 1000th different in shade

 

5) a small rust problem on the front TT cable guide which hasn't vanished and I still have small pits in this area, which I know are there. Difficult to see but the before pic has all the evidence.

 

 

 

[HeartCoppi]

1)Is it possible to spray only a clear coat? Duco without a primer seems like it will be a long term liability.

 

2) which vinyl should I be specifying that wont shrink under UV attack and crack the clear layer?tarboy2009-09-21 09:18:18