History of the Fatboy
#11
12-01-2008, 01:17 AM
Tourer
Some photos for comparison, make up your own minds. I think the Fatboy does have some "military" qualities about it, but other than the Air force symbol, rear wheel, and the silver color, I don't see much to compare.
Wheels
Air force symbol
Fat Man/Little boy bombs
Original Fatboy with yellow stripes
Not sure where the 7 yellow rings came from. I have seen black and white/color photos of both bombs and cannot find any yellow rings on them. If anyone has a photo of the rings, please post it, then I'll be convinced. I think one poster hit on the idea of HD performing an "attack" on the Japanese motorcycle domination during the 70s and 80s. This being reflected in the Fatboy design style.
Wheels
Air force symbol
Fat Man/Little boy bombs
Original Fatboy with yellow stripes
Not sure where the 7 yellow rings came from. I have seen black and white/color photos of both bombs and cannot find any yellow rings on them. If anyone has a photo of the rings, please post it, then I'll be convinced. I think one poster hit on the idea of HD performing an "attack" on the Japanese motorcycle domination during the 70s and 80s. This being reflected in the Fatboy design style.
Last edited by qwispichkn; 12-01-2008 at 02:02 AM.
#12
12-01-2008, 08:58 PM
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#13
12-01-2008, 09:09 PM
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Some where in my past, I saw a show on TV about the Special Missions on the two B-29's and I "think" they said there was a new solid wheel built just for these missions on delivering the atomic bombs. I assume for the rear trunnion axil wheels, that carry all the wieght.
I'll keep looking...
A two piece cast 55" rim that was bolted together was standard on the B-29's, part # w3-101-hayes.
I'll keep looking...
A two piece cast 55" rim that was bolted together was standard on the B-29's, part # w3-101-hayes.
#14
12-01-2008, 10:14 PM
#15
02-09-2009, 07:36 AM
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The original color of the 1990 Fatboy
Hello,
I like to build the Fatboy as a model in scale 1/6 in the 1990 version. To do so, I need the original color. I asked the local Harley-Dealer, but in Germany I can´t get the color anymore. Is anyone there, who has an idea, how the color can be mixed in a local paint store?
Thanks for help !
I like to build the Fatboy as a model in scale 1/6 in the 1990 version. To do so, I need the original color. I asked the local Harley-Dealer, but in Germany I can´t get the color anymore. Is anyone there, who has an idea, how the color can be mixed in a local paint store?
Thanks for help !
#16
02-09-2009, 08:58 AM
May our Moderator Rest in Peace
To my knowledge all B-29's including "Enola Gay" and "Box Car" (the A-Bomb planes) were polished and 'painted' with a type of clearcoat preservative.
At that point in the war it was felt that there was little or no need to camouflage bombers with paint. So eliminating the painting reduced manufacturing time, production man hours, and material costs while also increasing the aircrafts weight lifting capacity.
They originally stopped painting fighters like the P-51D and P-47D for the same reasons, but found that when polished it also gave benefits in both speed and range.
#17
02-09-2009, 09:00 AM
Hello,
I like to build the Fatboy as a model in scale 1/6 in the 1990 version. To do so, I need the original color. I asked the local Harley-Dealer, but in Germany I can´t get the color anymore. Is anyone there, who has an idea, how the color can be mixed in a local paint store?
Thanks for help !
I like to build the Fatboy as a model in scale 1/6 in the 1990 version. To do so, I need the original color. I asked the local Harley-Dealer, but in Germany I can´t get the color anymore. Is anyone there, who has an idea, how the color can be mixed in a local paint store?
Thanks for help !
http://moneywellspent.com/4sale/1990...sanewhome.html
#18
02-10-2009, 02:28 AM
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Hello TK353,
thank you for the link. I saw the interesting site before and still thinking that "lexus-silver" will not be or match the original color after restauration, because on some photos the original Fatboy looks more gray than silver. Even by the bike of the web-site from the link you sent, is a different between the color of fenders, tank, fenderstruts on one side and the frame on the other. I think the frame has still the original color. But that is hard to get.
thank you for the link. I saw the interesting site before and still thinking that "lexus-silver" will not be or match the original color after restauration, because on some photos the original Fatboy looks more gray than silver. Even by the bike of the web-site from the link you sent, is a different between the color of fenders, tank, fenderstruts on one side and the frame on the other. I think the frame has still the original color. But that is hard to get.
#19
08-28-2024, 09:42 AM
4th Gear
The bomb
The History of the fat Boy, Humm...
Remember when the MOCO used to manufacture a “Heritage Softail” & a “Heritage Softail Classic”?
The Difference was that the “classic” came with saddle bags a fog light bar with the directionals underneath and a windshield and I think 1 or 2 colors
The regular Heritage was only about $600.00 less than the Classic.
Then came the marketing; they stopped the “Heritage” in 90, I think. and only offered the “Classic”
Kinda smart because every one I knew bought a Classic and striped it down to a Heritage
So after a manufacturing break they came out with the silver fat Boy with the yellow stripe in the rocker box.
And wola a Re branded Regular Heritage without the bags, windshield, and light rail for the same $$$ as a Classic and the public bought it!!!
This was HD's way to give some variety and get the same $$ for the same bike they offered years ago.
Oh yeah they changed the pipes to
As far as it named after the bomb I sure hope not. Although a very effective weapon depending in how you look at it, it would be upsetting to name anything so wonderful & enjoyable as a Harley Davidson after such a destructive apparatus
I am probably wrong about some of this and am sure I will stand corrected
Remember when the MOCO used to manufacture a “Heritage Softail” & a “Heritage Softail Classic”?
The Difference was that the “classic” came with saddle bags a fog light bar with the directionals underneath and a windshield and I think 1 or 2 colors
The regular Heritage was only about $600.00 less than the Classic.
Then came the marketing; they stopped the “Heritage” in 90, I think. and only offered the “Classic”
Kinda smart because every one I knew bought a Classic and striped it down to a Heritage
So after a manufacturing break they came out with the silver fat Boy with the yellow stripe in the rocker box.
And wola a Re branded Regular Heritage without the bags, windshield, and light rail for the same $$$ as a Classic and the public bought it!!!
This was HD's way to give some variety and get the same $$ for the same bike they offered years ago.
Oh yeah they changed the pipes to
As far as it named after the bomb I sure hope not. Although a very effective weapon depending in how you look at it, it would be upsetting to name anything so wonderful & enjoyable as a Harley Davidson after such a destructive apparatus
I am probably wrong about some of this and am sure I will stand corrected
#20
08-29-2024, 10:34 AM
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