Ducati Monster Cafe Racer Part 6 - Shaping a new fuel tank mould from clay

#Ducatimonster #caferacer #ducaticaferacer
Today we're creating a new carbon fibre tank mould from clay ready as a plug. Now that we have a foam base to bulk it out it's a matter of applying and shaping the clay with heat.

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[ANDY]

Coming along nicely Ant, clever boy 👍

[robs]

Man loving this Ducati series, gives me soo much motivation to get into mine! Love how your using the clay, so simple and readily available to use, looking forward to the next episode!

[AJGarron]

Excellent work! Love how this is shaping up.

[williamsmith]

Really interesting. Enjoying this build.

[rickyschultz]

I’ll admit, I wasn’t too sure about the direction this bike was going with just the foam tank. But now after seeing actual lines in clay shows your true vision. Great work man. Really excited to see how this project progresses.

[OldschoolBikes]

Great stuff man! It’s so good to see all the experiments and diy. You’ve inspired me through your channel so I’ve started my own channel to cheer and join the great community of bike builders here on YouTube!
Keep the good job going🤟🏻

[hman]

Nicely done! Refreshing video to all the frame hoop and carby cleaning videos ive seen of late! Looking foward to the next one 👍

[jcairone]

I'm digging your videos bruvah!!! Cant stop watching! 🤙🤙🤙

[LTraje]

The clay is turning out pretty sweet and it looks like it's coming along. I kinda know what you are going through. The hours and hours sculpting but in the end it's going to be so worth it. I use to sculpt 1:5 scale clay models for car design in school and it was no easy task. Here's a few tips that I've learned from my experience with clay.


Look to get some green 3M 233 tape. You can find it in most dedicated auto body stores or online. Get the 1/8th inch version. It's like a masking tape but you can stretch it and it conforms to curves a lot better than masking tape. It sticks well to clay and you can use it to see where the tension is on your body lines are on your tank. We use to use it a lot on tape drawings. You can use it to highlight the body lines and see a bit better of where they are going on the bike. You can also get the 1/2 inch version and use that to protect some of the surfaces so when you sculpt one side of the surface of the line you won't ruin the other surface.


A surform like the ones that Stanley sells, make quick work at ruffing in a surface in clay. It's like a cheese grater but for wood. It will leave a rough surface but it makes it super easy to rough in an idea right away. I like to use the half round ones as by twisting it, you can get some really nice transitions. The flat ones will work too if you need to get rid of a bunch of high spots. To clean them, you can use a wire brush.


If you really want to get a really super smooth surface, you can use carbon fiber. A 3"x 8" inch sheet works well. I use to pick them up at McMastercarr's website. The carbon fibers acts like a little rake that shaves off really small strips of clay and is helpful in fine tuning that surface to your desired shape. Then you can clean it up with some steels.


If you are having trouble with symmetry, you can get a set of contour gauges or profile gauges. They are a series of plastic pieces that attach to a plastic spine that you can press on one side with your design and transfer it to the other side. You can buy them online but what I usually do is make one myself with wood and some metal rods.


I really like how this project is turning out. Keep putting out more videos because it is super inspiring. Keeps me motivated when I'm working on my Honda VFR750F. Seeing you work with clay, making a completely custom bike has me thinking about starting one myself soon.

[shanedoyle]

The PVA is a really good idea, didn’t think of that 🤔👍

[OldManTony]

Brilliant job Antony, there is always something new to learn on your channel. Probably why you subscriber count goes up by a few thousand every time I watch a video.

[johndias]

Great video man, I love the content. Thank you for sharing this knowledge with all of us out here in the world!

[dralirashid]

crazy crazy video, loved it so much ❤❤❤

[ronfuller]

Greetings from Florida
Coming along nicely,
Ride safe

[tonyclausen]

I'm sorry to say it seems a hard way to do it. When I did my spoiler for my car, I did everything in foam and sanded it smooth to the shape I wanted. Then I covered it all in bog and got that perfect. From there I made my mould, then made my spoiler. I don't know if clay is the easiest thing to use.

[bobdobbs]

Missed you but can see you’ve been working hard looking good like the shape of the tank .
Looks like its warming up a bit over there no cardigan on today 😁

[NonnoSpoiler]

I do not understand why you wanted to change the line of the Ducati tanks (which in my opinion is very nice) but I'm curious to see the final rusulc. I like your job.

[luddite]

Pure artistry! Despite the extra time it takes, I imagine it's much more satisfying to create a prototype the old-fashioned "hands on" way rather than going down the CAD route. A much more "organic" process I guess. Really impressive!

PS have you thought of offering your services to Aardman Animations by any chance?

[jasonkristunas]

Gelutong is a good wood for patternmaking easy to carve and takes filled and paint

[toothpik]

Looking good man!
Couldn't help but notice the Honda motor in the background. Is it a VFR 750? Is that for the FrankenBob?