Flying Merkel Board Racer

[xken]

Here is a bike builder to visit if you are not already aware of his work. Enjoy! Ken

http://www.craftsmanshipmuseum.com/Tarrago.htm

[MADD FABRICATOR]

Anybody needing plastic letters, just check out www.plastruct.com. They produce styrene letters in 4 different sizes, 5/64" ( 2mm ), 5/32" ( 4mm ), 15/64 " ( 6 mm), and 25/64 " ( 10mm ). Their part numbers are PABT-2, PABT-4, PABT-6, and PABT-10, respective of the sizes above. You might also want to order or download their catalog as they have an extensive array of products for the modeler which you will never see stocked in your local hobby shop, and you can order directly from them off of their web site.
HAPPY SHOPPING !!!!
CHEERZZZZ !!!!!!!! (M.F.)

[hot ford coupe]

Don't let Ken kid you about that bike builder. The bikes are real and the builder is actually 50 feet tall.

[ScaleMotorcars]

WOW those Slaters letters are cool. I never new about those. I'm putting my order in asap for a few sizes. Thanks!!!!

So where do I put in an order for on of those handmade Merkl's.[B] I WANT ONE!!!![/B]

Can you do a Cyclone next? '

[protarguy]

So where do I put in an order for on of those handmade Merkl's.[B] I WANT ONE!!!![/B]

Can you do a Cyclone next? '

Well, the order form is simply a blank cheque send to me....

I was really thinking about the Cyclone , too. The thing is, these bikes have simple forms
that can be easily made out of round an square plastik sheets and rods.

If found these videos about antique board racers on the net:
Don´t make it so loud!!

Dale ( I could talk about this bike all day long) Walksler
expaines the history of the bikes and lets you hear the sound, Very impressing!

ULi

[protarguy]

@ Nortley:
I bought the O-rings at a specialized firm for sealings .
The white O rings were hard and not flexible. So I could not get them over the rims .

@xken:
I will try that. I once ruined a model car body with that kind of primer . It really eats into styrene !
I was looking for a cheaper alternative for Tamiya or Revell primers...
But before I can paint it the tires need some profile. My idea is to get some very thin rubber,
cut it into stripes that go around the circumfence of the tire.
Then I will need hundreds of punched out small discs of the same material
that will be glued onto that strip.
Voila´ antique tire profile..
See here:
Merkel with white tires

I know about Jose Tarrago´s website. But that´s another league..

Blueprints for that Cyclone, anyone??

Uli

[xken]

Take the o-rings and heat them up in boiling water and one at a time with tweezers lift out of the boiling water and carefully work them onto the rims. Tempurature will expand a little and make the rubber a little more pliable.

Take care not to burn your fingers. It is worth a try. Good Luck! Ken

[Nortley]

Hi Uli, The white O ring in the BMW filter kit is soft and flexible. Unfortunately the nearest BMW shop is about 180 miles from me so I can't bend the parts man's ear about where BMW sources their parts, when I need parts myself I jangle their 800 number. If the tires you need are treadless, maybe mold one from silicone caulk?

[protarguy]

Nortley,
I ride a 1973 BMW R75/5 myself. I got an BMW Dealer in town.
I stick with the black O rings and will try the painting method xken wrote about.
Uli

[ScaleMotorcars]

Uli Thanks!!!
That link is to a the The Wheels Through Time Museum They have about 200 antique bikes on display and the best part............. Im only about 180 miles from it.

[B]ROAD TRIP!!!!![/B]

[Don Garrett]

Dan if your planning a trip to the museum in Maggie Valley, spend a few days with the family.....if you take the boys, swing through Cherokee (Reservation, casino and more attractions) and over the mountain to Tenn., if you have the nerve cruise down the Dragons Tail. Have to go to Gatlinburg (the kids will lose their minds with all the rides and attractions) short drive to Sevierville (spelling?) to visit Dolly World and Floyd Garrett's Muscle Car Museum and much more...explore the caverns and underground lakes......take lots of money!

[protarguy]

The rims are sprayed in Tamiya orange and the hubs in Testors Aluminium Metalizer



After half a day of lacing the wheels the whole thing looks like this:



The engine also got some colours:
(Just pinned together for showing)



Base colors at the engine: Revell Aluminium at the block
and a mixture of Testors Titane and aluminium at the cylinders.

Thanks for looking
Uli

[ScaleMotorcars]

WOW!!!!

Have you considered making kits of this? Its almost a shame that all this beautiful work is going into just one model.

[hot ford coupe]

Looking seriously good. Those rims came out perfect and look real.

[protarguy]

WOW!!!!

Have you considered making kits of this? Its almost a shame that all this beautiful work is going into just one model.

No, its mine, all mine!!

Seriously, I thought of that but I do not have the posibility to cast things.
And it is my first full scratch model. Some parts like the bearing for the pedals are built at best guess.
I did not have deatil pics of it. There are some photos of a Merkel
restoration at his site but it is a stock model:
1911 Merkel Restoration

The fiddly things are still to come like the pedals and chain assembly.
The best chain around is from Cosmo´s Factory
but I tried to order some month ago but got no reply.
I do not know if anybody else is selling the chain.

Uli