Paint and build a front racked town bike

So, I bought a frame cheap on ebay. It wasn't quite what I was hoping, but that's ok, because before it arrived I also bought my Duell Milano SL frame, and it is a dream.

So now I have a decently constructed, but not special, steel frame with nice heart cut out lugs and nothing to do with it. It's orange. According to the seller (and the colour under the dodgy looking Holdsworth vinyl lettering), it used to be read, but it's really faded.

I have my doubts about whether it really is a Holdsworth, the vinyl lettering is not convincing. I have my doubts about whether it's really 531, there are no badges,although the tubing does appear to be butted and it weighs about the right amount.

I don't feel like arguing it out with the ebay seller - I saw the photos before I bought it, my purchase was rash.

This might be the end of the story. Maybe sell it for a couple of quid if I could be bothered.

Except...

Except that I've always wanted to have a frame painted. And every time I've got hold of a "ratty" frame that was decent enough to spend on repainting, the painters have talked me out of it because the frame is too nice. (Infinite gratitude to the gang at the Hackney Peddler for refusing to powder coat my Duell. I don't know was I was thinking!)

I have it looked over by LBS, they agree that it is "well made", but otherwise totally unremarkable and unlikely to be identifiable. I finally have my paint project frame!

Now, powder coating was a stupid idea. I should paint this thing myself, that's where the satisfaction comes from, right?

One remaining problem. The frame was sold with a Tange fork, which is... less than underwhelming, and also from completely the wrong era (no lugged crown, recessed bolt brake when the rear is a nutted, and generally of poor quality).

So, back on the shelf while I look around for a fork. Luckily, after some scouring of various places, I was chatting to @HerrJ and he was able to provide a cheap 531 Raleigh fork with a long enough steerer (finding a 21cm steerer was a serious limit on my available options!) It was in good mechanical condition, but poor paint and no one was going to miss it.

I decide to do the fork fully, from start to finish first, as I haven't handled a spray can since I used one to prime wargaming miniatures some two decades ago... I want a good finish, and I imagine I have a lot to learn and will likely mess it up totally at least once, I don't want to invest too much in each attempt til I know what works!

I learn a few things about the mechanical removal of paint. It's harder work than I anticipated. A dremel type tool with a flexy extension and some fine sandpaper rollers get the job done in the end. I know using a machine is a bit of a risk, but this fork is solid and I have a steady hand. It would have taken some effort to remove enough metal to weaken the bugger significantly. It appears I neglected to take a picture at this stage, so I've attached one of the second time I've taken it back to the bare metal (spoiler alert: not everything went well the first time!

I also do a lot of research on the internets and decide to try the spray.bike stuff. It talks a good talk. Let's see if it can walk one too.

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