A Conundrum

[ToBoldlyGo]

With my thoughts already turning to spring I'm thinking about a final project. And when I say final I don't mean it's the end of scooters for me. I'm just not sure I want to spend huge amounts of money on them anymore. I'm thinking of something that's solid, and using new parts where necessary, but otherwise with a bit of a rough and ready look. I have the basis for it already, I think. The frame is sound, but obviously what's left of the original paint will need preserving and a certain amount of surface rust dealing with. Cleaning it would be the first thing, then tackling the exposed areas and bits of rust. My question is, how would you go about it?

[dickie]

I slung a bitsa together based on a frame I got cheap. Pretty much your philosophy; it's quite liberating.

The frame got smeared in acf50 after I'd cleaned the thick off and rubbed down any heavy rust. The rest of the bodywork got treated to clear coat and both are holding up well after about a year.

With retrospect I'd rather have used clear coat on the whole thing and just some acf50 in vulnerable areas like the underside of the leggies, inside side panels etc.

[ToBoldlyGo]

That's the word I'm looking for Dickie, liberating.

My current thoughts are to rub down the lightly rusted areas and spray them with etch primer and then probably spray can it. I'm not particularly bothered with the matching and blending in so much, because it is what it it. Maybe use a clear coat for visible stuff like the loop. Ought to be interesting.

[ToBoldlyGo]

The plot thickens.

IMG_20191230_1445426 by Neville Watkins, on Flickr

I haven't looked at this frame for a long time. And it's probably going to need blasting in the end. It's a very early TV3 and a bit schizophrenic. What I thought was interesting is that it appears to be grey originally. It looks like it has been blown over, because I'd swear the white is factory original. So perhaps it's an original blow over.

3W by Neville Watkins, on Flickr

The panels are a curiousity too. They are a right mix. Originally yellow, I think. And they had the sound proofing on the inside. At some point they've had a going over as well, and were spayed red.

I know grey is specified for the early TV3, but the assumption seems to be that it was a secondary colour. I'm not sure it was in actual fact. And my photo seems to prove that. I think I might go with the grey actually. It saves a lot of messing about.

[vegansydney]

Nice! I've never seen a TV175 series 3 frame in 8068 'Grigio Chiaro' before. From what I understand they were only the first year of production, and not particularly common, so I'm guessing that frame is 1962.

[ToBoldlyGo]

Yes, May 62, if I remember rightly. The only other one I've been aware of was owned by Paolo Catani of Racing Lambrettas. And I only know that because he posted pictures of it. Of course there might be others out there that have long been repainted. Probably in yellow.

[Warkton Tornado No.1]

This scenario you find yourself in would cause many of us some consternation.

The frame genuinely appears to be one that was painted in a rare colour, & therefore the preserving/restoring of it must cross your mind.

If it were the only frame ever likely to be available to fulfil your mandate, then go ahead.

If, on the other hand, you were to swap/px with cash (either way) with somebody interested in maintaining the frame pedigree, that might be an option

As time elapses, we all gain differing priorities & desires. Eventually, I will face an uneasy choice of building what has long since been my heart's desire of a GP200 replicating a specific 'Tuning Emporium' of the 70's. However, the frame earmarked for it is in OEM red & could possibly be sympathetically preserved. A conundrum indeed......

[ToBoldlyGo]

Well, it's definitely food for thought. In the end I suppose it's a balance between conserving it and having the time and patience. I can't tell which way it might go at the moment. But, given that the remainder of the bodywork will have to be painted you do wonder. I think at the moment I might try cutting back the loop and tackling the surface rust underneath to see how much is actually left. I'm all in favour of taking it one step at a time.