Landships II

Josh
If you can hang on a while W^D are bringing out a kit for the Vickers Clyno moterbike/combination. There will be the choice of the 2. I don't know too much about moterbikes but in the 1 War they all seemed similar,apart from different petrol tanks.Rob will no doubt give us the more info.

Also, just to add, i'm sure i've read somewhere that the Germans didn't use motorcycles as extensively as the British - by the end of WW1 there were 48,000 motorcycles in British use of 48 different makes (a lot, especially at the start of the war, were simply civilian motorcycles bought - fact of the day, to be a despatch rider, a very popular occupation, at the start of the war you were immediately made a Corporal as that was the lowest rank you could be to talk to an Officer to enable them to deliver their messages to Officers. However, you had to supply your own motorcycle!).

That's an awful lot of motorcycles, especially when you bear in mind that's how many they had at the end of the war, not including all the ones bought and then gone out of service from action, replacement, lost at sea in ships etc etc etc. Although there's 48 types, the main ones were Douglas (mostly their 2.75hp motorcycle, very light so easy to manouvre on bad roads, and also very fast), Triumph (again a very fast motorcycle but at 4hp), Clyno, Phelon and Moore (for the Royal Flying Corps and RAF) and BSA

This is the only attempt I've made at a WW1 motorcycle in 1/72nd scale. It's from one of the old Airfix diorama sets with new girder forks and the Triumph tank carved into a more  angular  shape. I suppose the rider should have a blue and white armband. Please excuse any irregularities in the format of the post. I'm more at home with 19thC. technology. 

Off topic momentarily, did you see your plans, Rob?
I can get them bigger if you like. The plans for that kit are rather vauge as to specific parts, so I use Ken Musgraves plans off Landships as well.

Greetings, Josh.

Hello,

Here is a WWI motorcycle in German service - Werner Voss and his Wanderer:



There is a brief discussion about this bike along with a few images of surviving Wanderers here:
http://motorbicycling.com/f38/werner-voss-wanderer-world-war-i-20809.html

There is also a good collection of historic photos of early German motorcycles on this excellent commercial site here:  http://www.motorradphoto.de/, including this one of an"Army Wanderer":

and this 1914 Wanderer sales brochure:






BTW - Not to hijack the thread but "Hoodoo", the  person who started the above thread on the motor bike forum is also a member of this forum.  He and I have been building several more-or-less full scale WWI era motorized "tribute bikes" for use in events related to the Kingsbury Aerodrome here in central Texas.

Here are a few videos of hoodoo's "Kingsbury Special" in action:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_fk-VKVUO10
http://www.youtube.com/user/hoodoo2001#p/a/u/1/qeNaBfXc6y4
http://www.youtube.com/user/hoodoo2001#p/a/u/2/CTjmWPxL894
This last one also shows a Maytag washing machine motor powered bike owned by another enthusiast.

Hoodoo is currently working on a drop loop Indian and I am finishing up a Cyclone tribute.  This is wonderful fun and for me was a natural outgrowth of my model making hobby.  When it comes to a model vintage motercycle, why build in small scale when for less than $500 I can build one at a scale on which I can ride!  If you are interested in learning how it is done, just send me (or Hoodoo) a personal message.  We are happy to help!

MarkV

How easy do you think it would be to maybe modify an existing HaT Zundapp into a Wanderer? is it feasable looking at pics of this it seems a bit like a streamlined version perhaps?

Regards, Josh

Josh,

A quick Google search for "HaT Zundapp" brings up a number of bikes that look quite heavy.  The Wanderer frame was was very light by modern standards, more like a heavy bicycle frame.


Since you expressed interest, here's a summary that lays out the basics: 
"Tribute" builders typically focus on 1900-1920 motorcycles because many bikes in this period had bicycle-like frames and pedals.  The prefered bicycle to begin with is a Worksman industrial "newsboy" (http://www.worksman.com/) which sells for about $300-400 new, depending on options.  They are extremely heavy-duty with lugged fittings on the frame connections like many motorcycles.  These bikes come with the strongest wire wheels you can get on a bicycle and drum brakes are available as an option for added safety (although many historic bikes lacked front brakes).  There are a few other manufacturers of heavy duty industrial bikes, but they generally require more modification or cost more.  The engines are usually 66cc Chinese motor-bicycle engines that come in kit form with everything needed to motorize a bicycle and cost about $150.  While the engine manufacturing quality isn't all that great, they are simple, cheap, light, and look like a miniature motorcycle engine.  They are available from numerous sources online.  They make up to about 2.75 HP which depending on the gearing and total weight of the bike and rider can propel you up to about 30 mph.  Another popular feature to have is a "springer" front fork which costs $40-$90 depending on type.  These springers are available as an option from Worksman, or aftermarket from the custom/vintage bicycle crowd.  The rest of the parts are available from a multitude of custom bicycle shops online or EBay.

Here are a few links to get you started:
http://motorbicycling.com/ - THE place to go with any how-to questions, and a great place to see what other folks are doing. 
This is the forum's sub-section that deals specifically with tribute bikes:  http://motorbicycling.com/f38/
These topics are especially good to get you up to speed on the hobby:
http://motorbicycling.com/f38/worksman-drop-loop-frame-btr-17244.html
http://motorbicycling.com/f38/worksman-boardtracker-15883.html
http://motorbicycling.com/f38/sportsman-flyer-drop-loop-boardie-kits-22814.html

You should refer to photos of your favorite historic bike when looking for currently available parts to customize yours.  For early American bikes I'd recommend the book Standard Catalog of American Motorcycles 1898-1981 by Jerry Hatfield.  If anyone can recommend a good, well-illustrated book covering early European bikes, please let me know!

If you'd like to go into more detail, I'd suggest taking this conversation to the motorbicycling forum.

I hope this helps,

MarkV

FR73 wrote:

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Hello everyone, I was wondering if there would be anyway to scratch build or modify an existing kit into WWI German Motorcycles. If anyone has suggestions or has done anything like this before, please post and tell.

Warmes regards, Josh.

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(Sorry, this self qoute is alittle delayed, most humble apologies for any confusion)

 

-- Edited by FR73 on Thursday 28th of October 2010 06:57:52 AM

-- Edited by FR73 on Thursday 28th of October 2010 06:58:53 AM

Josh,

Sorry about going off on a tangent.  I think I'll leave my last post though as the information it contains may be of interest to others.


Kieffer,

As I understand it, the Chinese motor-bicycle engines are a 1990s copy of a 1960s Russian adaptation of a 1940/50s American design.  That is the rumor, anyway.

These differ from "Mopeds" in that the pedal mechanism is not part of the engine and there is no transmission.  The Chinese engine powered bikes must be pedaled up to a minimal speed to start the engine, while Mopeds are capable of a standing start under power.  Apparantly this is a critical distinction between a Moped, which requires a liscense/registration/insurance, and a motor-assisted bicycle, which does not.

MarkV

I agree. Very much appreiative for your posts MarkV

Warmest regards, Josh

Any takers on 1/72 bicycle conversion idea?

I intend to do the same also. my plan is this: using a HaT Bicycle frame, move the seat back a bit, cut out the cargo bag inside the frame, miliput up an engine (scrap resin is also helpful) place engine in bottom of frame, and It should be set. From Bicycle to Wanderer in a few quick moves.

Good idea?

Warmest Regards, Josh

Barry, Merry Christmas! I am planning on getting hold of the HaT bikes soon, so I can begin my conversions. how bout you?

Greetings, Josh