TJ Flying Gate project

Now, i know these things are a bit marmite but ive always found them interesting and recently picked up this frame. It was a whole bike but with nothing nice or interesting on it, so i thought i would do something with it. There was one for sale on here a while back that i thought was quite pretty in a weird kind of way.
So, im going to get it repainted. The paint is quite good but not a colour i like and it has someones name painted on the top tube. Trevor Jarvis is still operating (his business partner now builds the frames) and has agreed to repaint it for me. After checking frame numbers it turns out to be the 5th frame he ever built back in 1978! Probably going to be light blue but not 100% sure.
Im guessing it was originally a tt bike as its only got 1 gear lever boss and has zeuss track dropouts so im either going to build it up like that or might build it up fixed, not sure yet. Also might not go totally period on it maybe mixing parts although i would like to take it to the eroica brittania so might be modern retro-ish ....
Lets see what happens.

Nice one! I think these are lovely meself.
May I be the first to lament the demise of the old paintjob, it looks like smashing colour and patina. But its your frame and if the original builder is overseeing it, can;t be a bad thing. Subbed.

is it going to be baby blue? i feel it would be a huge shame to re-paint this. looks super as it is. maybe build it first then see? you can always paint it at a later date. i love that it has a riders name on it. the history of the fame would be a huge selling point to me.

My sort of project! I would love one myself but with the recent advent of Eroica Britannia, the price of British frames seems to have really shot up.
Please don't paint it, it looks lovely as is.

how did it used to look built? pictures?

I have to agree that frame doesn't want to be painted, even by the original maker. Just look at it-couldn't be any better

Another one for leaving it as is I'm afraid.....my Hetchins has the original owner's name on the TT too.....it's part of it's history, I think. That paint is only original once!

I didnt take any pics of the bike built when i got it, but it wasnt great, cheap weinman brakes and unbranded tatty rims etc. It had been converted to run a double chainset with a band on front gear changer and the rather ugly (in my opinion) front mech adapter that goes on the vertical tube. i wont be putting that back on.
i know what you all mean about the paint and it is a bit more scruffy than the picture might suggest but i am going to paint it. I might have resisted if TJ wasnt going to do it. I promise to give it a decent build, hope you can forgive me :)

Found some Campag c record era levers in the bottom of the shed that id forgotton i had. Perfect for this, can route them non aero for the Eroica and then aero afterwards. Still plenty of hoods around (black i think)

Slow progress but have pretty much decided to go fixed and just got this pista chainset from wiggle for £160 in the sale which i thought was a great price.

Finally got the frame back and i love it, just what id imagined. Need to think about wheels now.

Whooohhooho! That looks lovely. Not a colour I'd usually shoot for but it works a treat.

That chainset is gonna look ugly as sin on there. Pretty much anything period would look 1000x better. Cyclotouriste or SR Royal would be the obvious choice in my mind.

Paint came out nicer than I expected, lugs look fab. If I'd had it repainted(which I wouldn't unless it actually needed it) I'd have reinstated the original name on the top tube with mine underneath, seems such a shame/disrespectful to wipe his name from the frames story.
Puppy is at least in a coma, hope your build can resuscitate it..

Why was the tubing Columbus before the repaint, and Reynolds after?

Well spotted.

Hmm, not sure. I will find out.

that is amazing :D cant wait to see how it turns out.

So, i think the 531 transfer is a mistake. Its on top of the lacquer so might come off although I'm a bit nervous of having a go at it. I have asked TJ about it but i understand while he had my frame he lost his wife and is picking himself up so I'm not going to hassle him.
Waiting for wheels but the rest coming on nicely. Ive got a black flite to go on it when I've found a post. I was wondering about handlebar tape and for a mad minute thought about orange cotton or even one of those cotton harlequin affairs but doubt i will be able to go with anything other than plain black.

wheels just delivered, tyres on after a bit of a struggle!

More or less finished. Need to get a bottle cage and the bar tape needs a bit more care but its got to come off again next week for the Eroica. This is how it will be most of the time, intended to be used for summer fixed wheel training. Just need to re route the cables non aero, put a smaller gear on and borrow some pedals with clips and straps from another bike and will be good for the Eroica.
Havent ridden it yet, will report back.

Cable outers need ferrules where they hit the top tube stops. Looks unfinished without them.
Not to shabby otherwise. I don't like the way the saddle looks on there(needs a Skully-chopped and blocked Brooks) but they are super comfy so fair nuff.

this frame hurts my brain. nice paint though

I'm really jealous, always wanted a flying gate! Looks like you've done a really good job.

White bar tape next time

Lovely. Enjoy riding it!