 50s style tank design
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I was inspired by the 1952 Thunderbird tank design I saw in the National Motorcycle Museum. I saw a similarity in the old Thunderbird tank and the EFI America tank and here's a modern interpretation It's temporary at the moment because it's only adhesive chrome tape. If I decide I like it enough to make permanent I will try to produce it in stainless half round strips. The inspiration - 1950s Thunderbird tank  And the temporary design.   
Cheers, Richard
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09 America, Staintune Pipes, K&N, Breathe, Hagon Nitros, AI & O2 removed, tune 20184 (modified), MTX-L a/f gauge
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Re: 50s style tank design
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Worn Saddle
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Worn Saddle
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Very Nice! I like it! 
Fidelis et Fortis
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Re: 50s style tank design
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Lovely job Richard. Now you've got me wondering if those strips were a little thinner, if they'd both capture that 50's look but also compliment the fins on your cylinder head? 
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Re: 50s style tank design
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I remember you commenting at the time, but didn't think you would adopt this theme. Looks good,  however might I suggest moving the lowest stripe and put it on top of the badge? Just thinkin it would be closer to the original, but may be too high on the new tank and be "over the hill" so to speak.
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Re: 50s style tank design
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Yes, you may have something there John. That was just some chrome trim tape I had at hand but the thinner strip - and a bit closer together would be more 50s. I will keep an eye out for some thinner tape.
Cheers, Richard
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09 America, Staintune Pipes, K&N, Breathe, Hagon Nitros, AI & O2 removed, tune 20184 (modified), MTX-L a/f gauge
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Re: 50s style tank design
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Bill, you are right that having a strip above the logo would be closer to the original but I think the whole shebang would sit a bit high on the tank - over-the-hill as you said.
Cheers, Richard
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09 America, Staintune Pipes, K&N, Breathe, Hagon Nitros, AI & O2 removed, tune 20184 (modified), MTX-L a/f gauge
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Re: 50s style tank design
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Hey Rich
Been thinking a bit more.
Are the tank badges not stuck on with double sided tape?
If so you could move the tank badge down the equivalent of one stripe!!!!!
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Re: 50s style tank design
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Looks good! Don't change a thing. That design is perfect! 
Its more fun to be ridin'! I'm still ridin
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Re: 50s style tank design
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Looks really good on the black!!!
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Re: 50s style tank design
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Joined: Feb 2007
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Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
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I always liked that old badge, same one on my 54 T110.
I learned all I need to know about life by killing smart people and eating their brains.
Eat right ,Exercise ,Stay fit, Die Anyway!
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Re: 50s style tank design
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Quote:
Hey Rich
Been thinking a bit more.
Are the tank badges not stuck on with double sided tape?
If so you could move the tank badge down the equivalent of one stripe!!!!!
I can't see either a screws or any double-sided peeking out the edge of the badge. I guess it must be double-sided. I'll have a look at the service manual exploded diagram.
But I do want to investigate John's idea of thinner strips too.
Cheers, Richard
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09 America, Staintune Pipes, K&N, Breathe, Hagon Nitros, AI & O2 removed, tune 20184 (modified), MTX-L a/f gauge
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Re: 50s style tank design
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Hey Kent and Hubert - thanks guys.
Cheers, Richard
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09 America, Staintune Pipes, K&N, Breathe, Hagon Nitros, AI & O2 removed, tune 20184 (modified), MTX-L a/f gauge
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Re: 50s style tank design
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Quote:
I always liked that old badge, same one on my 54 T110.
Yeah - just the same.
The EFI tank has a very wide beam. Sort a like a big-ass mama squeezed into a little black number. "Does my bum look big in this?"
Yeah baby!
Then I saw the 50s Thunderbird and thought, "Why not make it a feature?"
The design also creates the illusion of the peanut tank knee-pad scallop shape - which the EFI doesn't have.
Last edited by foglefar; 08/20/2011 7:01 AM.
Cheers, Richard
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09 America, Staintune Pipes, K&N, Breathe, Hagon Nitros, AI & O2 removed, tune 20184 (modified), MTX-L a/f gauge
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Re: 50s style tank design
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"Lighten up, Francis."
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"Lighten up, Francis."
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Reminds me of a Strat.  
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Re: 50s style tank design
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Loquacious
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Loquacious
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It wouldn't suit my blue and white but it's a nice touch on your black tank I a thinner strip may look a bit better but it's good as is.
Dinosaur.
"Oh Man I only ride 'em.I don't know what makes 'em work". Donald "Oddball" Sutherland
"Don't let the bastards get you down". Kris Kristofferson
"I am only paranoid because everyone is against me". Larry [Frank Burns] Linville
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Re: 50s style tank design
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Quote:
Reminds me of a Strat.
Oh. I like it a bit less now. Of course the Stratoliner design was probably inspired from the Triumph anyway. But now I will definitely be investigating thinner strips.
Cheers, Richard
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09 America, Staintune Pipes, K&N, Breathe, Hagon Nitros, AI & O2 removed, tune 20184 (modified), MTX-L a/f gauge
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Re: 50s style tank design
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I have photoshopped a couple of versions with narrow strips (6mm). I am leaning towards the 5-striper.  
Cheers, Richard
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09 America, Staintune Pipes, K&N, Breathe, Hagon Nitros, AI & O2 removed, tune 20184 (modified), MTX-L a/f gauge
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Re: 50s style tank design
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I agree with you, the 5 looks great!
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Re: 50s style tank design
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Hey Ritch,
5 x thin stripes is "da Bomb". Love your work
Buckers
Softens your hands while you do the dishes - You're soaking in it!!!!
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Re: 50s style tank design
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Thanks Terry & James. Terry - are you trying to get back on Santa's good list? Just wondering. 
Cheers, Richard
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09 America, Staintune Pipes, K&N, Breathe, Hagon Nitros, AI & O2 removed, tune 20184 (modified), MTX-L a/f gauge
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Re: 50s style tank design
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Joined: Feb 2005
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Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
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Quote:
The design also creates the illusion of the peanut tank knee-pad scallop shape - which the EFI doesn't have.
Richard, if one of your objectives is to create that illusion, then may I suggest that your two bottom strips should be progressively slightly longer, with the bottom strip back to just about the same length as your top strip, and with the middle one being the shortest and the two next to that one slightly longer.
Yep! Just like a good Single Malt Scotch, you might call me "an acquired taste" TOO.(among the many OTHER things you may care to call me, of course)
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Re: 50s style tank design
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On the thunderbird was it one piece or actually just chrome strips?
2008 Speedy, AI removed, DIY airbox destruction with K&N filters, spectres, re-jetted and "custom" rattle can paint job.
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Re: 50s style tank design
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It looked like a one-piece. I wasn't trying to copy it - just using it as inspiration.
Cheers, Richard
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09 America, Staintune Pipes, K&N, Breathe, Hagon Nitros, AI & O2 removed, tune 20184 (modified), MTX-L a/f gauge
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Re: 50s style tank design
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Quote:
Quote:
The design also creates the illusion of the peanut tank knee-pad scallop shape - which the EFI doesn't have.
Richard, if one of your objectives is to create that illusion, then may I suggest that your two bottom strips should be progressively slightly longer, with the bottom strip back to just about the same length as your top strip, and with the middle one being the shortest and the two next to that one slightly longer.
Yeah Dwight you are right about the length of the strips regarding the knee-pad shape. I probably over-sold the whole knee-pad thing. It wasn't my main objective.
Last edited by foglefar; 08/22/2011 2:49 AM.
Cheers, Richard
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09 America, Staintune Pipes, K&N, Breathe, Hagon Nitros, AI & O2 removed, tune 20184 (modified), MTX-L a/f gauge
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Re: 50s style tank design
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Joined: Feb 2005
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Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
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Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
The design also creates the illusion of the peanut tank knee-pad scallop shape - which the EFI doesn't have.
Richard, if one of your objectives is to create that illusion, then may I suggest that your two bottom strips should be progressively slightly longer, with the bottom strip back to just about the same length as your top strip, and with the middle one being the shortest and the two next to that one slightly longer.
Yeah Dwight you are right about the length of the strips regarding the knee-pad shape. I probably over-sold the whole knee-pad thing. It wasn't my main objective.
Yep, but just the same, I think you might wish to try that anyway and see if you might like the looks of that even better.
(...that is as long as you'd have enough of that tape to experiment a little more with this whole thing...I think it might look even better that way...just a suggestion here once again, mind you)
Yep! Just like a good Single Malt Scotch, you might call me "an acquired taste" TOO.(among the many OTHER things you may care to call me, of course)
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Re: 50s style tank design
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Quote:
Reminds me of a Strat.
those are damn fine looking bikes
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Re: 50s style tank design
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Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
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Ya know Bill, just like how Unclecharlie just hates it whenever he has to agree with me about somethin' around here, I have to admit I've always found those big ol' Deco-styled Yamaha...errr "Star" motorcycles kinda nice lookin' myself!  (...the only "problem" I could ever find to complain about those particular Yama...errr "STAR" motorcycles is that they appear to be tryin' just a little too hard to be a Harley-Davidsion!...RIGHT Charlie?!)
Yep! Just like a good Single Malt Scotch, you might call me "an acquired taste" TOO.(among the many OTHER things you may care to call me, of course)
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Re: 50s style tank design
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Member
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Hey Ritch, Santas list never bothered me much. I was going to suggest neon striping, but I thought I might be pushing the friendship a tad
Softens your hands while you do the dishes - You're soaking in it!!!!
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Re: 50s style tank design
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Loquacious
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Loquacious
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Right AGAIN, Dwight. 
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Re: 50s style tank design
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Quote:
Hey Ritch, Santas list never bothered me much. I was going to suggest neon striping, but I thought I might be pushing the friendship a tad
YEAH! Neon striping could tip the balance in my nomination for a float in the Sydney Mardi Gras.
Cheers, Richard
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09 America, Staintune Pipes, K&N, Breathe, Hagon Nitros, AI & O2 removed, tune 20184 (modified), MTX-L a/f gauge
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Re: 50s style tank design
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One must have the chrome edging around the mudguards in order to make the Mardi Gras parade Richard!!!!
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Re: 50s style tank design
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Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
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Quote:
Right AGAIN, Dwight.
Yep! Just like a good Single Malt Scotch, you might call me "an acquired taste" TOO.(among the many OTHER things you may care to call me, of course)
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Re: 50s style tank design
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Quote:
Yep, but just the same, I think you might wish to try that anyway and see if you might like the looks of that even better.
(...that is as long as you'd have enough of that tape to experiment a little more with this whole thing...I think it might look even better that way...just a suggestion here once again, mind you)
Plenty of virtual tape - I doing the design mods in photoshop.
Here's a version as you suggested. It is closer to the original 50s tank. But I think I prefer the version above (5-stripe wing).
Cheers, Richard
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09 America, Staintune Pipes, K&N, Breathe, Hagon Nitros, AI & O2 removed, tune 20184 (modified), MTX-L a/f gauge
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Re: 50s style tank design
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Complete Newb
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Complete Newb
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Hi Foglefar
Could I ask where you got the bungee fixing eyes/ hooks which attach to the feender chrome.
They would be perfect for me to carry a bag.
Thanks
Marty
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Re: 50s style tank design
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Hi Marty. They are M8 eye bolts in 316 stainless steel with flanges (shoulders). I got them from a marine equipment shop (chandlers). You can also get them from industrial fasteners supplies. I paid about $8 each for them (about 4 pounds). Get a long shank and cut them down to the same length as your rear guard bolts. You will need at least 34mm shanks for the longest bolts.
Cheers, Richard
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09 America, Staintune Pipes, K&N, Breathe, Hagon Nitros, AI & O2 removed, tune 20184 (modified), MTX-L a/f gauge
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Re: 50s style tank design
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Complete Newb
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Complete Newb
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Hi Foglefar
Thanks for the info, when I googled cruiser eye bolts some boatyards came up. I buy varnish from a chandlers so I can speak to them nicely when I order some more varnish for work.
Cheers Marty
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Re: 50s style tank design
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i really like that look, i see you have the rivco risers on there as well, how do you find them? did you use OEM cables etc? how did that work out?
Last edited by edmspeedmaster; 08/31/2011 8:19 PM.
2007 Speedmaster and miss it!
2013 T-Bird Storm and Luvin it!
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Re: 50s style tank design
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I have a frozen shoulder so I changed from the stock America bars to this set up. I needed narrow bars with the same pullback as the America bars. These are now Speedy bars on Rivco Risers with America cables which are slightly too long but it's not an issue. I really like the riding position and I also like the slightly turned down grips.
Cheers, Richard
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09 America, Staintune Pipes, K&N, Breathe, Hagon Nitros, AI & O2 removed, tune 20184 (modified), MTX-L a/f gauge
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Re: 50s style tank design
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My 50s style tank design is finished and implemented. I ended up using adhesive chrome tape. I like the result and if I find suitable malleable shiny metal strips (brightened aluminum?) I may use those instead to create a 3d version.    Dwight, as you can see I pursued your advice and developed the curved knee pad shape and it also resembles wings.
Last edited by foglefar; 11/05/2011 5:17 AM.
Cheers, Richard
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09 America, Staintune Pipes, K&N, Breathe, Hagon Nitros, AI & O2 removed, tune 20184 (modified), MTX-L a/f gauge
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Re: 50s style tank design
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Great job Richard. Where did you get the chrome pin-striping from? John Q
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