Honda CB900 Cafè Racer in chili sauce

[gionc]

All began with a picture:



I was struck by it, later I discover that the real bike has a stupid plastic cover over..... that hide such wild beauty.....

BTW, when the "monkey" attack my brain ther's nothing to do.... I must do it, in a way or in another I must develop the vision in to the reality.... in scale....

Is now the time for the old school, it would be a low tech build, no PE, no 3D, no prototyping.... in fact... I start sitting at my 3D software LOL!!!! But at least I would get a printed draw

After some attempt I come to a decent 3D shape of the fuel tank, the size fit well the Honda CB900 frame, the model choosen is the Academy CB in 1/8 scale, it's huuuuuuuge!



My software was so kind that gave me in two seconds a full plain development of the shape, and so I built quickly a paperboard prototype to test geometry and size:





Was so time to define a layout working in 1/8 scale starting by the instruction's blueprint profiles:



It would be a "homemade garage" custom Cafè Racer, with some goodies!

Since the paperboard experiment went succesful, I cut it on 0.5mm plastic, was not so difficult to achieve the shape I imagined in my vision.... Inside edges was reinforced with cyano glue and microballons, and as last step I built the seams using a 0.6mm stirene rod, and simulated the TIg seams with a warm cutter





I have to see...... it's so huge.....I'm so used to the 1/12 scale (still big for our 1/24 guys....)

A kind tip: I reinforced the inner side of the fuel tank with poliuretanic resin, those you'll use with sylicon molds: I just tried the "XYZ axis rolling" technique used to cast face mask on a open face mold, just flushing the wet resin around rolling the mold until it start to dry..... very fun.... what I got was a second "silk" and now the part is quite strong. Once a time I sprinkled some microballons on the almost dry resin to improove the rigidity



We got a tail also.... looks decent to me: simple but not too squared as the tank, make a difference with some "armony".... we'll see...







Overall look for the mechs would be the "preserved but not restored" patina look, with hars signs of ab-usage.... good times for my weathering gears

[quadzero]

Oh boy, hang on to something everyone! Here we go again! I just can't wait to see where this is going.

[mike@af]

Gio! Great to see you back! This looks like a very cool build, great work on the fuel tank! I can't wait to see more!

[sjelic]

I'm with Les, I will sit next to him and hold tight

maybe connection from tank to seat/tail part...to have some kind of fluid line or you will do something with seat cover fabric.

Anyhow, I am hooked

[gionc]

Thanks guys: Sasa I think it is part of the kind design of this bike to have a broken outline between tank and seat: in full honesty if it were a real bike I would cover the sharp tank with sponge and leather in few points... at least around balls and belly

I'm not planning to put all efforts spent on the harley (I have to confess... I taken the gold medal this sunday at Brescia contest , efforts deserve sometimes ) but I'm going forward, alu rims almost ready to latching

Sasa I joint a modeling club, they usually go Mosom any year.... I guess next year is the good one to meet old friends , trip is managed and not so expencive like going alone

[sjelic]

Originally Posted by gionc

Sasa I joint a modeling club, they usually go Mosom any year.... I guess next year is the good one to meet old friends , trip is managed and not so expencive like going alone

Niiiiiceee, drinking and eating....yeeeah I look forward, I am bringing some croatian plavac and you can take some chianti...or prosecco...or...

[gionc]

Update gentlemen!

I decided to downgrade my CB900R to a drum brake system. A racing drum kit indeed! A good insiration was the Max Hazan site http://hazanmotorworks.com/

Hubs!!!



Like you see the pad surface is just simulated, I'll do just waht you see trough the air vents on side caps.



Nipples!!!! They're cutted with the file on a modified (square cap insthead hex.) pin vise



Centering tool



Next one latching wire spokes!!!! Thanks anyone!

[klutz_100]

watching for more of this!

[Mr. Jekyll]

Very interesting!!! Can't wait to see more.

[joelwideqvist]

Looking really good Gio! Rims will be great!

[willimo]

Oh boy! This is gonna be great. I LOVE that tank. There is something magical about motorcycles that can't be done in cars. I can't wait.

[MPWR]

I should stay away from your inspiration references- this is temptation that I do not need!

Looks fantastic, but i know I've said that.

Wow, that's a lot of hand work.



Can't wait to see how it looks all wired up. But I fear that maybe I shouldn't look...! Bright, shiny machined metal, woven wires-

And 1/8 is HUGE!

Say, I need some good detail pics of a Vespa, for the 1/9 Italeri kit. Does anyone have a daughter that has a Vespa?

[cinqster]

Beautiful machine work on the hub, Gman. Glad to see this project fired up again!

[DominiqueBeerts]

I must subscribe to some good work now and then. So here I go

Nice job on the tank and the wheels so far.

[gionc]

Thanks a lot guys

Yes someone here gifted a '72 vespa to his daughther that someone other from the other side of the ocean lurked in his workshop and since the daughter doesn't use it , he (me at this point to avoid any trouble LOL) have to ride it now or then , I'll ship there and you may try to come back here riding next summer, after all reference job