Ducati Monster Forum

So..... I bought a dameged tank from Motoredsports because I wanted to swap out tank before track days. I spent about 8 hours repairing, primering and painting the tank. I just put the tank decals on tonight. I stil need to do some touch up before I clearcoat.
(http://i338.photobucket.com/albums/n417/Bbrent_photos/IMG_7563.jpg?t=1220167360)

(http://i338.photobucket.com/albums/n417/Bbrent_photos/IMG_7566.jpg?t=1220167459)

(http://i338.photobucket.com/albums/n417/Bbrent_photos/IMG_7565.jpg?t=1220167613)

Oh yeah. I plan on pinstripping around the white to clean up the edges of the white alittle. What do you guys think?

outstanding vintage look!  i dig it.

look great.  nice job.

looks hot!  [thumbsup]

Very nice!!!

That looks freakin' sweet!  Makes me want to paint my perfectly good tins.  :p

dude, crop the toes out next time  :o

I've always thought the curves and lines of the tank were pretty awkward but kudos on making it work.  I agree, a bit of pinstriping will really make it pop.  How did you mask off the areas?  Clear coat in the future, or are you just going to stop while you're ahead ;D?  I've always been a big fan of rattle canning small jobs.  If you have the right area (clean) to do it in and the right kind of know-how, you can get some pretty spectacular results with a can of Krylon. 

To mask off the tank I used 1/4" vinyl pinstipping tape. That was the only tape I could get to bend andtwist the way I needed it. So yeah. pinstripe and clearcoat today and hopefully slap it on my bike in a couple days.

I LIKE IT.  [thumbsup]

I'll even say... "I like it better than the tri-color paint job".

I know..."To each their own", but I always thought the painted lines of the tri-color do not flow well with the shape of the tank.  :-\

Well done [thumbsup]

great colours !!

 [thumbsup]

What ever you do, don't just use an off the shelf can of clearcoat. Those clears will just get eaten away when/if you spill any fuel on it.

Find a local auto body supply shop in your area and buy the clear from them. They can add a hardener to it that will make it resist the damaging effects of fuel.

[laugh] [laugh] [laugh]

Yeah, I shoulda taped and painted my ugly ass toes too.

Really cool job. Where did you get the tank decals? I'm looking for a set of tank decals as well, but 70's era style

Duracoat is principally designed for firearm finishes so it's significantly more durable than the brittle Krylon/RustOleum stuff. I've tried all three on firearms, metals and plastics and Duracoat is remarkably resilient on all three, and also quite solvent resistant. I would worry about rattle can stuff around gas, chain lube, oil, etc.

They have literally any color you can imagine. Check them out. I have one of the purples in mind for the frame after the riding season.

http://www.lauerweaponry.com/

Great going Brian!  That looks really really nice!  [thumbsup]

I recall that some guy on TOB did a tank with the durocoat stuff used on truck bed liners!  It looked really good.  No need for snakeskin grips on the sides of the tank!

ebay (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Vintage-Moto-Ducati-Wings-decal-sticker-Set_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ35616QQihZ001QQitemZ110283751092QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW) my friend, ebay.

just search for "ducati decal" and i got two or three of those ones on the first page.

I got all my decals off ebay. There are plenty to chose from. I hear you guys on the clearcoat issue. I've read alot about this from other treads on this forum and was sure to get a clearcoat that had a hardener in it. I originally wanted to do a matte finish but the auto paint shop I bought all the cans from explained that you can't get a spraycan clearcoat in matte that has a hardener in it.

that's a nice lookin' paint job  [thumbsup]
for a rattle can job that is...

Looks great!

Wondering what was wrong with the tank, and how you go about repairing a plastic one (I've got a new color sheme in mind, but would like to put my stock stuff aside)

There wasn't much wrong with the tank. It had been in a wreck and there were alot of deep digs and scrathes but with alot of sanding I got it pretty smooth. I rattle canned the clear coat tonight and it looks like crap. Tomorrow I will be sanding that too and adding another coat.

Don't bother rattle can clearing it.

Unless you are using UPOL or the stuff from RM, there is no hardener in it, and it will crack/craze and look like crap the first time a minute drop of gas gets on it.

Instead take that tank down to the local painter, and have them clear it with the next job they do.  Should be $50 or less, and it will be a 2K clear and much stronger/harder.

just my .02.

Good idea. What should I do about the coat I put on lastnight? Should I just sand the areas that look bad and have them reclear the whole thing?

(http://i338.photobucket.com/albums/n417/Bbrent_photos/Ducati001.jpg?t=1220891721)
(http://i338.photobucket.com/albums/n417/Bbrent_photos/Ducati002.jpg?t=1220891747)
(http://i338.photobucket.com/albums/n417/Bbrent_photos/Ducati003.jpg?t=1220891775)

Not sure if I'm diggin the color scheme with the gold frame.

The tank looks nice but I'd agree there's something just not quite there with regard to the frame/wheel color, the forks color and the tank.  It doesn't look bad mind you just a little off <edit +1 what he says below re the cowl. any pics with that on the bike as well?>

Nice job on the tank though!  Congrats.

The seat cowl will make a major difference in tying together the bike.

i think it works  [thumbsup]
that little bit of gold on the tank ties it too the forks, wheels and clutch bling

It looks a lot better without the toes ;D

I like it - it's very retro.  Awesome work!  [thumbsup]

Stupendous job, the colors and the lines you drew are very artistic, matching the overall aesthetics of the bike.  Congratulations on a job well done.

+1 looks make the beast with two backsing secxy as hell! I defintely agree, when it comes to a non black bike, the seat cowl really makes a huge difference.

Did you clear it yet? PM ducpainter as he knows something about satin clears.

Do you want to know what it will look like if you get just a DAB of gasoline on it?

http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=681.0

Just scroll down.....

Anyway, the spray can clear you applied is just another layer of paint. just clear. Not big deal. You can sand it smooth if you like or you can just leave it on. Wont make a difference. (both are Acrylic lacquer i assume)

One thing you can do is use Enamel clear ontop of it. Dupli color makes an engine enamel in satin, though its REALLY hard to work with. ( see my thread) regarding the seat cowl. you MUST use it when it is VERY VERY DRY outside and very very hot too. Enamel doenst have a hardener in it, but that type of paint itself resists gasoline oil and etc.

Best of luck!

He man I used a clearcoat from an automotive paint shop that has a hardener in it. Do you think the paint will hold up if I still gas on it?

Activated clear should be fine once it cures.

Nice tank!  Seriously,  whats with the toes.  We don't want to see your toes dude.   I'm sure you thought about it but just in case you haven't make sure to replace your nice looking clutch cover with the stock one for track days cuz those get damaged easily.   ;D

Is it one of those cans that you have to release the catalyst by poking a hole in the bottom? Or is it a premix can that must be used within 12 hours?

Anything that has some sort of catalyst (hardener) will hold up well against gasoline, oil, paint thinner, etc.