Some big moves forwards on the bike for a change.
Collecting the chrome on Tuesday
The materials to make myself some side panel badges arrived, silicon mould chemicals and casting resin to make the parts. I was sceptical about this approach, be easier to buy some rattly originals in the USA, but that would be easy, and £90 each.
I have one stripped original which after cleaning I used as a piece to be moulded. Bought a kit off ebay for £23 and made a tight fitting casting box.
Mixed the silicon and gently poured it into the casting box slowly so allowing any trapped air to leak out. The badge is quite detailed, and most people do this work with a vaccume chamber which of course I don't have.
Mould cured in 24 hours and removed the original part. The detail in the mould looked very sharp from the bits I could see, so while it was super clean I mixed the cast resin and poured the first slug into the mould. The mix sure gets HOT, but after cooling and removal the part had two voids where air was trapped, but the detail on the casting was superb!
Encouraged, cast another with a slope on the flimsy mould and dribbled the resin mix in to the point the mould was flooded and waited.
It came out perfect! Really good, so cast some more to the same effect, I'm in production almost!
Made the reflector 'jewels' from trailer reflectors which will be glued onto the painted badges soon as the chrome paint arrives, Flat white and flat satin black applied with a fine sable brush will finish them off.
Result!
Cost £26 and I have spares to keep or sell.
Also cleaned and trial fitted the twin exhaust systems which fit like a glove. They came with the bike and have saved me about £450.
The chrome arriving will march to bike on hugely.
