Chopper motorcycle build progress

Your models remind me of some that I saw when I worked for the Federal Bureau of Prisons. Some where made of nuts and pipe pieces, all metal, and others where made of whatever they could get. These were often given to their young ones at home, or bartered and used as currency. Prison life creates it's own reality. I imagine remembering rides you've had must really be a great escape.

Below are some examples I found. Some prisons allow these to be auctioned at special craft fairs, and they can fetch quite a price, after all, they are all one off models. The last one is completely made out of paper. It sold for a very high price at auction.

A lot of people don't know that except for the 3 meals a day, which may be palatable or not, everything, or anything else you want, you have to buy. Making these models allows these guys to get an extra blanket, candy bars, a very long list, etc. You do the crime, you do the crime, but this kind of craft is a positive undertaking. IMHO :) ;

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Your models remind me of some that I saw when I worked for the Federal Bureau of Prisons. Some where made of nuts and pipe pieces, all metal, and others where made of whatever they could get. These were often given to their young ones at home, or bartered and used as currency. Prison life creates it's own reality. I imagine remembering rides you've had must really be a great escape.

Below are some examples I found. Some prisons allow these to be auctioned at special craft fairs, and they can fetch quite a price, after all, they are all one off models. The last one is completely made out of paper. It sold for a very high price at auction.

A lot of people don't know that except for the 3 meals a day, which may be palatable or not, everything, or anything else you want, you have to buy. Making these models allows these guys to get an extra blanket, candy bars, a very long list, etc. You do the crime, you do the crime, but this kind of craft is a positive undertaking. IMHO :) ;

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Wow those are cool! I guess there's actually someone else in the world that likes building models from scratch. That photo reminds me of one of the many motorcycle models I've made through the years, such as the one I'm holding in my photo.
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I've done a lot of work on the wheels. You already saw how I cut out and put a rim on each front and back wheel and cut out a design for it. Next I took some padded "paper" with adhesive backing, cut it to strips a little bigger than the rims, then sanded them to shape with my dremel tool. Next I penciled in where I wanted the grooves on the tires then cut the grooves with a cutting tool for my dremel. From here, all I need to do is paint the tires flat black and use a molotow chrome pen to paint the rims to look chrome. If there's something about my technique you'd like to know just message me.
Mike L.
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O.K., now that is the very first time I've seen tires done like that. They came out great! I can't wait to see the whole wheel.

I worked for the Federal Bureau of Prisons for a couple of years. The "Jailhouse Art" produced there is amazing. Mostly what I've seen are motorcycles being made, some ships, but whatever was made had to be a certain size so as not to draw attention. This is going back 40 years ago. I've seen some that looked like they were commercially made, and they made them with materials they were supposed to have. Melted toothbrushes for frames, etc. You have a lot of time, or need to keep yourself sane, keep your hands busy. ;)
 
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Those tyres and rims are looking great and the steps to make them are not that difficult.
Thanks but actually it took a bit of experimenting to come up with this method. All you need is the right tools and of course a lot of patience!
 
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O.K., now that is the very first time I've seen tires done like that. They came out great! I can't wait to see the whole wheel.

I worked for the Federal Bureau of Prisons for a couple of years. The "Jailhouse Art" produced there is amazing. Mostly what I've seen are motorcycles being made, some ships, but whatever was made had to be a certain size so as not to draw attention. This is going back 40 years ago. I've seen some that looked like they were commercially made, and they made them with materials they were supposed to have. Melted toothbrushes for frames, etc. You have a lot of time, or need to keep yourself sane, keep your hands busy. ;)
Thanks. I had to do a lot of thinking and experimenting to come up with this method but it works. I don't suppose you have any way of getting in touch with those prisoners at the prison? I wouldn't mind talking to them about their methods on building their models. Anyway have a good one!
 
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That was a long time ago, and by Federal law they are not allowed to contact me. :)