Beauty is in the eye... Liner. ~FINISHED~

[Missing Link]

Good morning ratters! 1 day closer to the finish line and I'm sure my neighbors hate me. I got up super early today, cranked the new Tiger Army album and set to work. The fender is on, I did some finishing welds and grinding to my gear and crossed wrenches and am currently clear coating the kick stand.

I am very happy with the fit and finish on the fender, and everything else really, so far this may be one of my favorite builds that I've done.

 

[LukeTheJoker]

Loving it!

Luke.

 

[Missing Link]

MISSING LINK
In conjunction with

and

Present:
EyeLiner: almost done.

 

[kingfish254]

That's one rockin rat right there!!!

 

[Missing Link]

So, 9 days left and all I have to do is my final washing/ spider removal, and the daunting task of final photography. The last I am dreading, there is so much going on with this bike, I'm hard pressed to find an angle that showcases even half of the stuff I've done. But I guess I get one relatively inclusive view for the final voting booth, and just go to town in my finished thread. Here's some teasers, and as close to the obligatory fountain shot as I could get in the moment, sprinklers count, right?
Hope you folks enjoy.

 

[SkyknightJohn]

I love all the little details you've put into this. A real piece of art!

 

[OddJob]

Dude, you done it right. Look for an old 'service station' or grease pit somewhere, and do it early in the morning or at sunset. It will come.

 

[Missing Link]

Couldn't help but sharing this, earlier today a friend of ours messaged my wife and said her neighbor had a bike she was throwing away, did we want it? Uh yeah, so Mrs. Link went over after a 100 degree day at the park and picked up this gem.

Pretty much immaculate early 90s Murray Monterey, pristine and true Shimano wheelset, Kenda white walls, perfect chrome on the crank and chainring, lets say my sister-in-law's bike just got a drivetrain upgrade.
The woman was trashing it because the tires were flat, I aired them up and 6 hours later, same pressure, silly lady, if you don't ride a bike the tires go flat over decades. So tomorrow I'll strip it and get Lexi's bike closer to being assembled. A cool twist of fate this time.

 

[Fv2]

I suspect Lexi will enjoy her new bike. And you'll have some spare parts.

 

[Missing Link]

So I got up this morning and played around with cameras and angles and what not, then the storms moved in, my photos for the finished thread will get done this weekend, but for now here's some sneak peaks of the finished product.

I think I will likely do my final pics using a road, parking lot or some other blacktop surface as background. I like the way these pics turned out with that Texas summer thunderstorm looming greenish lighting, but the organic material gets cluttered with the patina, too much breakup. I think a plain background would better showcase the intricacies of this bike. Thoughts? I'm open to recomendations.

 

[OddJob]

Definitely blacktop. Still think an old brick wall, or painted brick wall would show off your bike well. Get some light on it....it brings the rust out!

 

[horsefarmer]

I like to find a background that does not obscure the seat, bars or other details... Usually take a lot of pics from many angles - goofy stuff like guy wires, fences and other things show up on my computer monitor I missed on the camera screen.

 

[Missing Link]

Thanks guys, I'm planning a little out and about all over Denton photo field trip for Saturday, the Mrs. should have her bike finished by then. I'll definitely try to find that cool brick wall and will take so many pictures, need that whole next day to go through them all. Thanks for the tips.

 

[Missing Link]

Well, this is it. Been out and about on the town getting the final pictures for the missus and mine's finished threads and showing a side of Denton that isn't the square or UNT. Here's some of my pics that won't make the final cut.
First stop TWU:

Then off to the side of the tracks gentrification hasn't gotten around to yet:

 

[kingfish254]

Super cool rat
Looks like it rides well too
Well done!!!!

 

[oddrodal]

Dripping with ratteness

 

[LukeTheJoker]

Great stuff! Very cool bike, love the clubman style bars on it, and that speedo on top of the tank is genius!

Luke.