Firewing 1953 Columbia 3 Star DeLuxe (2nd) - 3/15 TRADED

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kingfish254

BUILD COOL BIKES AND HAVE FUN!!
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PARDON THIS INTERUPTION TO MY BUILD THREAD AS I INSERT A PORTION OF MY FINISHED THREAD. My build thread will continue after this brief intermission.

FINISHED THREAD: :arrow: viewtopic.php?f=78&t=75565


Firewing - 1953 Columbia Firewing Three Star DeLuxe

AUG 4 - WALK AROUND VIDEO ADDED BELOW
AUG 9 - URBAN KLUNKER ACTION VIDEO ADDED BELOW

Here is my entry to Rat Rod Bikes Build Off 8. First off, I would like to toast all of my fellow rat builders for driving me with your amazing creativity and skills!!!! This is an incredible "virtual" community of off the hook talent! CHEERS!!!!

Here is my interpretation of a custom 1953 Columbia Firewing Three Star DeLuxe
Checkmate!
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You can follow the photo packed build thread here
BUILD THREAD :arrow: viewtopic.php?f=75&t=72018&st=0&sk=t&sd=a

WALK AROUND VIDEO :arrow: http://youtu.be/GGIbJxAETtY

Here is a video of me riding Firewing through Historic Savannah.
SAVANNAH RIDE VIDEO : :arrow: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6eZZ0xlwc5I

URBAN KLUNKER ACTION VIDEO : :arrow:http://youtu.be/MBjYDwifFLI

Previous Build Off Bikes and other builds of mine can be found here
PREVIOUS BUILDS: :arrow: viewtopic.php?f=6&t=67430

Here is what I started with. Nateyboy traded me this for a Firebolt tank.
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I am very happy with this build and hope you enjoy the photos that follow. I really enjoy showing off my city (Savannah) with my bike photos, so welcome to the tour. I'll post more photos later along with a parts list (many which came from fellow RRBers).

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Voting goes better with Firewing Cola!
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Firewing - NOW PLAYING AT A BUILD OFF NEAR YOU!!!!!
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WWII Monument
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QueenFish's Magic Courtyard
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The Mansion on Forsyth
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Night Shots
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Neighbors Lane Door
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Random Lane Wall
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Old Warehouse
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Customs House
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Color matching windows
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Confederate War Memorial in Forsyth Park
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Overhead shots in my lane
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Matching Year 1953 Chevy Police Car
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Neighbors Parking Pad (Just discovered this photo spot)
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BACK TO MY REGULARLY SCHEDULED BUILD THREAD


Welcome to FireWing, one of the rarer models from Columbia :wink: Think of it as a Grape Krate, only real :p .
Everyone knows how cool the Firebolts and Fire Arrows are. Well my goal is to make this FireWing just as cool.
I am very excited about this build. My starting point is a 1953 Columbia Three Star DeLuxe. This bike has great patina that I plan to clean up just a bit. I want this bike to have the perfect combination of patina and bling. There will be flames involved, but I am hoping I can make them look like they have been there since the fifties.

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I want to que off of the natural wing flare of the tank and incorporate that into other areas of the bike. I plan to make this a flaming wing just like the original :) FireWing did.
The chainguard already repeats that flare

Here is some of the part slinging that I did while this was sitting in our spare office. We'll see what sticks

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SEAT - Not sure if I will be using the nanner or not, but it does just naturally fit there. If I do, there will be mods to make it flow better and different covering.
SKIRT GUARDS - I may do some cutting on these Electra Amsterdam guards to mimic the flare with flames.

Another cool thing about this build is that most of the parts that I have been considering have come from fellow RRBers. At some point I will make a list and what came from where.
 
Re: FireWing - 1953 Columbia 3 Star DeLuxe

Here are some of the parts that I have been thinking of for this build. We'll see what sticks.

PEDALS
Teardrops (and maybe have these wing doo dads attached
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CHAINRING
Monark chainring since it has more of a flame look.
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CRANK
Right now I am leaning towards a sweet looking crank from the 93 GT Dyno that I parted out.

WHEELS
I would love to use the Felt 24x3 wheelset and tires from my El Guapo, but they are too big to fit under the fenders (probably too wide too).
The red single speed red 24" wheelset in this photo is an option.
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but I am leaning towards the polished silver Eletra 3 speed set that I have
24Nexus.jpg


TIRES
24x3 black Hoggy Gs (seen above on the red rims)
24x3 white wall Thick Bricks (seen above on the El Guapo)
24x3 Fatti Os (seen above on the polished silver rims)
24x3 Creme Thick Bricks (below)
Right now I am leaning towards the Cream Bricks with the polished silver rims. I think they will contrast/compliment the bike patina the best.
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SHIFTER
I have a few different 3 speed shifter options, but I am leaning towards the Project 356 one mounted on the seattube with a bigger 8 ball.
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HEADLIGHT
Way too early to tell, but I have some cool ideas with different vibes to them
Flaming skull (put LEDs in the eye sockets)
skullPhoto_C8AF742D-DCA4-CAEC-1D8C-7DB765EABEBC.jpg


HANDLEBARS
I am leaning strongly on using these ramhorns upside down
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SEAT
If I don't go with the modified nanner, I may go this route
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FORKS
At this time I still think I will keep the original Columbia springer. I have a big collection of other options, but I want this to be as close to the original :eek: FireWing as I can get it.

FENDERS
This is one of my first ballooners, so I am still blown away how big and fat the fenders are. I am definitely using the fenders (front and back), but there may be some flame cutting done to them.

SKIRTGUARDS
There will definitely be skirt guards. Probably the Electra ones above, but maybe these Elgin ones
elginskirtIMG_20130401_192644_580_zpsd13efae2.jpg


RACK
On the fence with this. We will just have to see where the flow of the rear of the bike goes with the fenders, skirt guards, and seat.

SPEEDO
Probably this Cadet (and it may be incorpoarted into one of my light ideas.
ratrodsthursday003_zps7c7c9d6a.jpg
 
Re: FireWing - 1953 Columbia 3 Star DeLuxe

PARTS USED
1953 Columbia Three Star DeLuxe bicycle - from Nateyboy
1950s Columbia Tank - from Spokeshave
Banana seat - from Burrkrayecycles
Teardrop pedals - from Dbubbleguy
Project 356 shifter - from BillyZ
Wald "Billy Goat" (ramshorn) handlebars - from Lopo68
Elgin skirt guards - from CWC
Cadet Speedo - from Oz1972
 
Re: FireWing - 1953 Columbia 3 Star DeLuxe

yoothgeye said:
You should name this build, "The Bookmark."
LOL. I thought I would stay up, but it's been a long day.
Goodnight Irene.
 
Re: FireWing - 1953 Columbia 3 Star DeLuxe

Reserved for responses to comments
 
Re: FireWing - 1953 Columbia 3 Star DeLuxe

:?: :?: :?: :idea:
No matter how long you look at it,it wont build itself.... :shock:
Good luck :D
 
Re: FireWing - 1953 Columbia 3 Star DeLuxe

can't wait to see the parts pile!

Troy
 
Re: FireWing - 1953 Columbia 3 Star DeLuxe

I like the straight bar frames. should look great when you are done.
 
Re: FireWing - 1953 Columbia 3 Star DeLuxe

Are you gonna mount a couple of those old PC towers as saddle bags :)
 
Re: FireWing - 1953 Columbia 3 Star DeLuxe

Maybe I can swing by this summer an check out the progress first hand!
 

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