[MENTION=520869]Petersrock[/MENTION] that is looking nice. Good job on the paint. The fork looks good. The original Ashtabula for is good and sturdy, but my opinion is that I like tubular forks like you have better because I believe that they ride better. That may not be true, but my biased opinion. I also like the wing nuts on the axles. It is a vintage look. It looks like you have the original Normady hub on there with the single speed freewheel. It also looks like the front wheel is the original Normady high flange hub. The rims look like medium profile aero rims.

Is that a Stronglight crank? My favorite.

So to get you your questions, I am no expert. I have not installed any reverse brake lever, but it does appear that he brake cable is intended to go through the handle bar. My personal preference would be not to drill the handle bar for the cable exit. I would go with more conventional brake levers with exposed brake cables. As for the spindle, I don't know. My thinking is that it looks good to me. The chainnline, to me is the important thing.

Keep the pictures coming. This is an interesting build. What size wheels is this. 27" or 700c?