I just find it interesting- I guess I could spend my time on something better- like playing my guitars or keyboards- no money in that either- just don't spend as much on it either!

So anyway- tonight I sweated some solder into the seams- It worked better that I thought- but would have been better with a torch- because the solder wants to keep sticking to the iron- I thought it would melt down into the cracks easier- and probably would with a torch- and maybe some kind of brazing rods might be better.

I took some before and after pictures that didn't come out that well- maybe repost new ones tomorrow- but it's late and gotta go to bed-

Whatever doubts I had about the solder were eased when I took a file to it afterwards- MUCH HARDER than I expected- It took me maybe 10 or 15 minutes for each 2 inch split in the indentations of the chain stays- a torch would be much quicker because it wouldn't want to stick to that-

anyway, filed it pretty smooth, and put some aluminum paint on to fill slightly raised edges I couldn't easily get with the file-
another coat of that and then the final gold metal paint and then a clearcoat-

sorry about the crappy photos- can't reshoot tonight.

really came out nicer than I thought and not difficult- I doubt they'll ever be any structural issues with it-

as for the frame- no, it's no Paramount- but if you compare it with a Super Sport or even World Traveler, and for it's size, it's really pretty lightweight- not really that much "gaspipe"- and I'll eventually have some light stuff on it- including an alloy crankset and alloy wheels I guess

I recall the frames from back in the '70's- the top line Atalas weren't much different looking then- same distinctive similar decals on the two tubes.

I think it's got a lot of character