Wednesday, December 30, 2009

1972 BSA Lightning

This is the 18th Year of the Chopper sculpture, it's a '72 BSA Lightning. One more day left to bid!

As a reminder, the YOTC bikes that do not sell at auction are available in the Choppers for Charity section in my online store.



1972 BSA Lightning Metal Sculpture

1972 BSA Lightning Metal Sculpture

1972 BSA Lightning Metal Sculpture

1972 BSA Lightning Metal Sculpture

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

The family Christmas gift post.

The last couple of years, rather than fight the crowds, I've made Christmas presents. This year was no exception, and after the rush of commissioned gifts this year, I set aside a couple of days last week to get my personal gifts done. Many thanks to my wife Darla for her help with ideas!

I come from a large family, so we draw names for gifts. This year I got my brother Seth's name. He's an extremely talented artist, and one of his recurring characters is a killer rabbit.

Check out this vid for an example of his work:


So I did this metal version of his rabbit. It's actually about 20" tall, and it has a hook on the back to hang on a wall.

One of Seth's immortal killer rabbits, fashioned from steel

My wife drew my younger brother Travis, so I made this Tattooed Metal old english D belt buckle for him:

Old English D tig welded belt buckle

For my mom and Darla's mom, Darla suggested some type of pendant, maybe a heart. So I came up with this simple design:

Stainless Heart pendants, made as gifts for my mom and mother-in-law

And then for my sister Amie and brother in law Kris, we came up with the idea of a "stick figure" family made from nuts and bolts...complete with Dakota the mutt!

3-D stick figure family

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Shovelhead bobber, Year of the Chopper #17

I guess it's actually week 18 of the Year of the Chopper project, but I've been behind when I actually blog about the bikes! So this is the motorcycle for week 17, and the auction ends tomorrow(Christmas Eve). I saw Phil Kilburn's Shovelhead in an old issue of Cycle Source that I had in the shop, and that was the inspiration...although I didn't put a springer on it and added the suicide shift.

Scrap metal bike #111

Scrap metal bike #111 (1)

Scrap metal bike #111 (2)

Scrap metal bike #111 (11)

Scrap metal bike #111 (8)

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

2009 Ram R/T Sculpture Progress & Finish Shots

This is my truck:

Matt's shots (No antenna) 2009 Ram R/T

2009 Dodge Ram R/T Black Wheels, Lowered, Pics by Matt T.

It's a 2009 Ram R/T, one of the few built before Chrysler's bankruptcy. It's a nice compromise between the quick car that I wanted, and the utilitarian truck that I needed. I can haul my welding bottles and steel around when called upon, and it'll run mid 13s in the 1/4 mile. It's definitely a fun driver.

So I finally decided to do a sculpture of it. I took some liberties, but I'm happy with the result.

I started with the bed. The wheel wells are plasma cut with my Hypertherm Powermax30. Using the plasma is not something I'm as proficient at as I'd like to be, any advice is welcome:)

Working on a sculpture of my truck..

I put a little "wing" in the tonneau cover

Bed is tacked together..

Tailgate tacked in...

The cab is started with the "tinted window" in place

Tinted windows...

Farther along on the cab

Cab is coming together

I think I'll pick it up from here tomorrow.

Front fenders cut

Front fenders cut

The bed and the cab are two separate pieces, I just push them together for the pics. The hood is starting to take shape

The front is going to be a PAIN

Quick mock up

Hood bulge, smoothing out the edges

The Ram grill

Hood bulge, smoothing out the edges

Grill is on...

Front bumper, headlights

Front is shaping up

Rear bumper, tailgate

Working on the back of the Ram

The exhaust

Exhaust/bumper...

The bed and the cab actually bolt together

Bolts together..

And the finished Ram R/T

(I torched the metal behind the grill for contrast)
2009 Ram R/T metal sculpture by Josh Welton

2009 Ram R/T metal sculpture by Josh Welton

2009 Ram R/T metal sculpture by Josh Welton

2009 Ram R/T metal sculpture by Josh Welton

2009 Ram R/T metal sculpture by Josh Welton

Monday, December 21, 2009

Hellcat Customs Buell Blast drag bike

This piece was commissioned as a Christmas gift, but some people are no good at keeping secrets! The gig is up, so I've been informed I can share the pics of bike #109, a sculpture of Kelly Roger's Blast.



Metal Motorcycle Sculpture Buell Blast

Metal Motorcycle Sculpture Buell Blast

Metal Motorcycle Sculpture Buell Blast

Metal Motorcycle Sculpture Buell Blast

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Motorcycle Sculpture #108, YOTC Week #16

A Harley Panhead, "McMurphy" is named after the character Jack Nicholson popularized in "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest". Cool, slightly temperamental, and crazy like a fox.

One day left to bid, win this auction and I'll get it shipped out Friday!

Metal Motorcycle sculpture number 108

Metal Motorcycle sculpture number 108

Metal Motorcycle sculpture number 108

Metal Motorcycle sculpture number 108

Monday, December 14, 2009