Reflections over reflectors.
Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2014 8:31 pm
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Reflections over reflectors.
When I first got Tornado, he had these lucas style military type reflectors that were screwed to the bottom of the 'Biscuit tins' with self tapping screws.
Lucas style
It looked great, but there were a couple of problems. Firstly, the screws protruded inside the boxes. Caught my hand on them, tore a canvas cover another time, and so I cut some corks up, and screwed on the ends of the screws. The other annoyance came about as the thickness of the reflectors prevented the removal of the 'Biscuit tins' from their frames. Not that I would want to remove them often, but well useful for maintenance and painting, etc.
The last straw was when a bit of cork fell off and the screw managed to puncture a bottle of transmission fluid (Clutch) which I discovered when it started leaking out of the pannier. Had to clean everything, and the paintwork. That was when the old reflectors were removed, so I could take the tin out to clean it and the frame.
Two days before, I had taken delivery of a pair of 1950's 'Fairylite' military reflectors, which are a little smaller, with a great light reflection patten. These would replace the lucas ones
"Fairylite" metal reflectors
The biggest problem was where and how to mount the new reflectors. I could not put them on the top of the tins, as the padlocks go there. Then a little idea went 'PING!'
Why not just reverse the tins back to front and have the padlocks at the front?
It worked! The Fairylite's are riveted on, and the tins are secured by cable ties through the holes in the bottom (Bike first came like this with a nearly complete set of 4 proper brackets in a plastic bag!)
Light patten with camera flash
Now I have the effect that I really wanted! I only covered the number plate as the camera could not handle the light reflection from it.
Next Sunday, I will be proud to park Tornado outside the front of the Hollyville cafe. There wil be no 'hiding round the corner' anymore.
[/center]
Reflections over reflectors.
When I first got Tornado, he had these lucas style military type reflectors that were screwed to the bottom of the 'Biscuit tins' with self tapping screws.
Lucas style
It looked great, but there were a couple of problems. Firstly, the screws protruded inside the boxes. Caught my hand on them, tore a canvas cover another time, and so I cut some corks up, and screwed on the ends of the screws. The other annoyance came about as the thickness of the reflectors prevented the removal of the 'Biscuit tins' from their frames. Not that I would want to remove them often, but well useful for maintenance and painting, etc.
The last straw was when a bit of cork fell off and the screw managed to puncture a bottle of transmission fluid (Clutch) which I discovered when it started leaking out of the pannier. Had to clean everything, and the paintwork. That was when the old reflectors were removed, so I could take the tin out to clean it and the frame.
Two days before, I had taken delivery of a pair of 1950's 'Fairylite' military reflectors, which are a little smaller, with a great light reflection patten. These would replace the lucas ones
"Fairylite" metal reflectors
The biggest problem was where and how to mount the new reflectors. I could not put them on the top of the tins, as the padlocks go there. Then a little idea went 'PING!'
Why not just reverse the tins back to front and have the padlocks at the front?
It worked! The Fairylite's are riveted on, and the tins are secured by cable ties through the holes in the bottom (Bike first came like this with a nearly complete set of 4 proper brackets in a plastic bag!)
Light patten with camera flash
Now I have the effect that I really wanted! I only covered the number plate as the camera could not handle the light reflection from it.
Next Sunday, I will be proud to park Tornado outside the front of the Hollyville cafe. There wil be no 'hiding round the corner' anymore.
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