cudak888 

Frame work complete:





Fork straight:



-Kurt

MrEss

Wow, Kurt. That's looking pretty good.

It's a pity one couldn't make a self-supporting hobby out of doing just this work and flipping them once they're repainted. It's so much fun, but you just can't sell 'em for half of what a repaint costs.

cudak888 

This frame should stand as a testament to the fact that it cannot be done, for I bought it as a quick strip-and-flip. Somehow, the frame alignment slipped by me completely. I was very lucky to - just barely - make back the $150 investment on the parts, which allows me to let the frame go cheap, given that it is an (essentially imperceptible) wreck salvage.

Mind you, I'm leaving it in primer. I know I'll wind up in the red if I even consider replicating the original Competition 12 paint job.

-Kurt

Michael Angelo 

Good job, came out really nice.

Captain Blight

Kurt, have you tried a carbide tilecutting bit chucked into a Dremel? Does a fantastic job of filing in tight spots. Light pressure, medium speed, lots of patience; but no wrist ache.

I truly don't understand how Raleigh's brazing could be so consistently shoddy. How did those men meet their own eyes in the mirror when they were shaving in the morning? And it isn't just Raleigh! A friend has a Woodrup with the brake bridge a full 1/8 off axis. Seriously, you can spot the eff-up from yards away.

cudak888 

Maybe, but not this time. Too much effort - this is where I stop.

Ever seen the sequel to "Are You Being Served?" with the old farmhand? Just your average Raleigh brazer

-Kurt

non-fixie 

I don't think the dark green paint belongs on that frame either. Mine looks like this:

cudak888 

Is yours a 1984 or a 1985? It doesn't look like the catalog's Iridescent Green at all:



-Kurt

non-fixie 

Serial # is WA400652. I'd say that was '84. I must admit your thread got me puzzled. Specs are a bit off too. I'm pretty sure the bar tape is original, which means the Shimano 600 brakes would be original too, whereas the brochure says they should be Weinmann 405 ...

himespau 

That looks like it could end up as a really nice bike again. Why would they chrome the stays and then paint over them?

non-fixie 

Here's another '84 Competition:

https://hilarystone.com/images/sale%2...ition-1983.jpg

I think that the pics in the brochure don't show the colors very well. I know that the Scirocco 12 is also a much lighter red in reality than the picture suggests.

bibliobob

+1. A nice Condor is higher up the ladder, in my book. Certainly fancier, in any event. Ride quality might be a crap shoot...

cudak888 

It doesn't add up with the 1983 Competition 12 either. My bet is that it's an '85 made in '84. Would explain the Shimano too, as it would have been a good next-year upgrade for the Comp 12 in the Raleigh lineup.


The dropout biting surface was left chrome from factory. They chromed part of the stays to ensure the transition from bare steel to chrome would be gradual and hidden under the paint.

-Kurt

non-fixie 

In January?

Edit: no, the European '85 Competition is a completely different animal:
https://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=73564

cudak888 

Hmm. Give me some time to do some research and mull it over.

-Kurt

non-fixie 

How's the mullin' going? Meantime my Competition has gotten a little brother. This one's from December '83 and has the correct Weinmann 405 brakes.

23skidoo

I just wanted to update Kurt's thread as I'm the new owner. I've got a terrific powder guy who opened a shop in his garage last year after doing high-end aircraft finish work for a large executive aircraft refurb outfit here in town. Trying to match the original paint proved hopeless, so we tried to come up with something close. Here's a short video of the powder going on and a few snapshots of the finished product. Now if someone out there has an appropriate head badge, I'm searching.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUe9426w5SM

non-fixie 

Thanks for posting the sequel. I was kind of wondering what happened. Nice color too.

TimmyT 

Nice job. That frame looks great. When Kurt posted it for sale, it was a real basket case. It looks like it's going to turn out really well.

If you don't mind me asking, how much was the powder coat, and did you strip the frame further? I've got one coming up in the next month or so.

mkeller234

Wow, the finished pictures look very nice. I'm impressed.

cudak888 

I'd venture to say it's virtually identical to the original, even though it's not a translucent with a base color. As I said before, it came out stunning.

The headbadge you need is identical to any other '70s Raleigh headbadge - even a Sports will have it.

-Kurt

23skidoo

Timmy T, with media blasting, base coat and clear coat the total was $205. I could have saved some money by choosing an in-stock color from one of his regular suppliers but like the result. The powder, like paint, mirrors the surface so consistent surface prep is a key step toward an excellent finish.

TimmyT 

Excellent! Thanks. Yeah, I think you were right to stick in a little more to get the color you wanted. Looks great.

Italuminium

wut, SMALL? seems like a 62 and a 65... tall brothers, eh! let me know when you find one in 56

non-fixie 

Actually, mine are 60 and 62cms. But they were also made in 57 cm, so your bike is out there somewhere!