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I love the TT & fork paint on that Ace special, it's a great build too, excellent work.
I'm aware that the levers are not period correct but nothing on this bike really is, it has a stronglight H/S with campag lock, RH crank is Stronglight LH is campag, front brake is a GB and the rear is a Weinmann 730 so it's all a bit of a mishmash of decent quality kit from the late 40's through to the mid 70's but I quite like it like that.
Re: the honking rubbers - When these hoods finally die, I think I'll go for a set.
re: moulding, there used to be a US based guy on Classic Rendezvous who could occasionally be persuaded to run a batch of gum hoods but I think he only did Campag rather than the Universal and Weinmann units for us mortals...
Making moulds is relatively straightforward and cost effective in 3D printing world nowadays, I'm not sure where you find tough natural rubber in small batch sizes though.
Rik_Van_Looy-
Yes Robbie Fellows (on CR) did the Campagnolo hoods. I have a set of his on my Gios Torino
It seems that there are a number of Italian producers of the Campagnolo hoods that are highly regarded has taken that niche market.
David has a excellent thread on how to make urethane parts.
For the DIY, the product able to be used is limited to take into account the need for room temperature curing, acceptable shore hardness and relatively long pot life. The long pot life is to allow for the mixing and degassing and then curing under pressure, all in the quest to reduce the appearance and size of unwanted bubbles. I have the vacuum pump (for making leather saddle covers) and I have bought a pressure pot for the pressure curing.I am not sure the honking rubbers would fit the later curvaceous brake bodies. The GB Standards were more workmanlike in shape. Try that link and see if he will make a set of Weinmann hoods. He was very easy to work with.
Big_Block
1947 predates those brake levers. The hoods were yet to be thought of.
If you want replacement hoods try this vendor. He made some off white ones for my Ace Special
It is my understanding that he has the moulds, and he has gum coloured material. Worth a try.
GB Standard levers were more commonplace in the immediate post-war period. And a shipment of my Shockstop 'Honking' rubbers will soon make the trip halfway around the world.
I have the moulds half made for the Shockstop bar end plugs. I just need some time.