1/12 Top Fuel Motorcycle (Larry "Spiderman" McBride)

[ScrappyJ]

This project is already completed and went to Atlanta. I am posting in work in progress to show the build-up. There was a past thread on it, but likely has been archived and rather than try looking for it, I figured I would go ahead and start a new one. A good friend took some professional pictures of the completed bike in Atlanta and I am waiting to get them to post the completed project. In the meanwhile, I will treat it like an “in progress” build and post pics piece-by-piece.

I’ll start with the frame. The original jig for the frame was a piece of 2X4 wood and then I taped some graph paper on it in order to keep the lines straight. I drilled a piece of brass to act as the fixture to hold the neck of the frame for the front-end/forks and everything else was built off of that. I eventually made a jig as I am possibly going to do three to four more of the bikes for the owner of the 1:1 bike.

The frame has sinced moprhed a little, but this is what it looked like after the first go-around and for the most part, it has the same geometry, etc., just some slight updates after looking at my reference material a littlecloser.

Edited November 23, 2012 by ScrappyJ

[ScrappyJ]

Pics of the billet (aluminum and brass) jig.

[Prostreet]

Can't wait to see more of this amazing Build Dirk, Is this the bike i seen on jim( Micro nitro's Face book page)? If so it looks incredible.

[crazyjim]

Hey Dirk - I didn't know you visit this forum. I think I remember seeing that jig at the MAGS Billetproof show last year. Very cool. Missed at the very first FAST contest, but we've been invited back next year. Mark you calender for October 26, 2013 in Ocala.

[iBorg]

Count me in the interested category. Looks educational.

[mikey]

I've been following this build on your FOTKI page since the beginning and it is outstanding.I noticed that you made multiple chassis's.What your plan for those.

[W-409]

Well this is interesting! Didn't visit in your Fotki page, since I'd like to follow it in this topic. Excellent start with it, how fast these Top Fuel Bikes are in the USA?

Here in Finland, Ian King drove 6,1 ET with his TF-Bike, here's my video of it.

Peter Svensson has driven high 5's also, on 1/4 Mile in Sweden.

[stump]

Dirk, this is shaping up as an impressive build mate.

I too have held back from visiting your Fotki pages (even though I use them too) as I want to enjoy this as "it happens" so to speak.

Looking forward to your next installment mate.

[ScrappyJ]

Here are the wood bucks I carved in order to vacuum-form the body sections. The “master” of the main body section would wind up being tweaked as there was not enough rake/slope to it. I probably should have redone the buck, but instead, I adjusted the master since I knew I would end up casting the body pieces for the other bikes.

[tyrone]

INCREDIBLE .... Dirk this is an Awesome build dude....

[1320wayne]

Hey Dirk, awesome job on the bike, or should I say, work of art. It's been my pleasure to have seen this creation come to be over the past few years. I'm just sad that I didn't get to see the finished piece in person in Atlanta. Congrats. on your well deserved award. I'm sure that I will see it in person eventually somewhere in the coming months.

[John Teresi]

Dirk.........congrats on a BEAUTIFUL scratch built bike...........well deserved on your 1st win............hope you have many many more.

[vintagedragfan]

yes very impressive work Dirk!

[pharr7226]

Dirk, congratulations on your well deserved Best in Show Award. This build is truly awe inspiring. Your talent is only exceeded by your modesty. After talking to you in Atlanta and seeing the finished product, I'm anxious to see the in progress work.

[Cool Hand]

Wow ! incredible craftsmanship.

That jig alone is a serious piece of scale engineering

[ScrappyJ]

Thanks, gents!

@Rick: It was good meeting and talking with you too, Rick. Reggie and I were talking the other day and he said he was going to reach out to you.

@Wayne: Yeah...we missed you guys too!

After I built the original version on the frame and the body parts, I started on the parts for the engine. The engine block is a two-piece unit and the fins on the cylinder jug was machined using a slitting saw. The only part from a kit is the head and the valve cover, which came out of Tamiya’s Suzuki Katana kit and then modified to receive the blower plenum and the bigger exhaust pipes. The magneto, oil pump and original version of the fuel pump (ended up using a unit that Mike Lawrence CNC’d for me) were machined and then the three cogged pulleys for them were machined. All three units have been died and the engine side plate was tapped so that they screw onto the plate. Once those were done, I had to machine the stabilizer plates for the two cogs for the magneto and oil pump and then the solo bracket for the fuel pump pulley. I also machined the pulleys for the blower, the blower, blower pulley arm (don't know what it is really called) and the plenum/manifold. I don’t really have good pics of the engine and individuals of the magneto, fuel pump and oil pump, but here they are on the engine plate.

Edited November 27, 2012 by ScrappyJ

[MicroNitro]

Nice work!

[gasser59]

Oh I can tell I'm really going got like this one. Carry on.

[pharr7226]

Laptop... check

Popcorn... check

Cold beverage...check

Alright Scrappy, I'm ready for more.

[Dyno Davo]

A1 workmanship, scratch building at it's best my man.

[ScrappyJ]

Thanks for the kind words, Fellas! It is ALWAYS appreciated!

I originally didn’t do the rear part of the frame that attaches the axle to the frame correctly (originally, I had it solder to the frame and after some more research, I realized that there were two billet pieces that attached to the frame and that the axle slid through. Since the original version had this piece soldered to it, I had to find some channel stock for the piece to bolt into and then I had to machine the billet pieces. During this process, I had to try making them symmetrical so I had to use my tilting table with my vise. The funny thing with machining (and cool thing actually), is that in many cases there are two or more ways to approach things. My way is only my way and not necessarily the correct way, but I use the best way that I know.

The first version on in brass soldered to the frame:

For the billet version, I started by milling down blocks to then machine each set. Then I proceeded to machine:

The final product sans the tapped holes for the bolts:

Edited November 28, 2012 by ScrappyJ

[ScrappyJ]

Drilled, tapped and on the frame:

Edited November 28, 2012 by ScrappyJ

[vintagedragfan]

very nice Dirk! great skills

[Mister Twister]

Missed going to Atlanta Dirk but I'll be looking forward to seeing it sometime this up coming year. Good work.

Edited November 29, 2012 by Mister Twister

[Ira]

BEAUTIFUL WORK!!!