Do you guys find it easy to select the paint for your ride? I'm always f***ing lost when it comes to that Gloss or satin? Metallic, pearl, candy, flake or just color? Light or dark? Some pattern of flames, scallops or without? Two tone maybe? The worst thing to do is head to paint supplier without a clue what one want's. All those hundreds of bjyyyyydifyl tones make my head dizzy. Henry had it easier with model-T.
I know how you feel, though I am far from paint on my project but I like to think about it anyways. So I bought Paintshop pro last weekend to play around with different colors...been fun.
I can't answer for you. What I do is start with the best color for the car that I like. To preface, I do restoration so I approach from a different angle. Start with your favorite overall colors, not just car colors (I like green). Next go to the factory OEM color chips from the supplier and work from there (in my case there's a color called Grove Green Metallic). At this point in resto it's done, but now let's hop it up some... Grove Green has what appears as gold flakes to it, very small and almost pearl but a dark green base. For a hotrod in this color I'd enhance both the pearl appearence and maybe shade the base green a bit more 'blue' and I'd be done. The other way is pony up a lil bit a dough ('bout 50USdollars) and buy the House of Kolor chip book set. Whether or not you use HOK, the range of colors in there will surely inspire something. Works for me.
i am having a hell of a time deciding what color(s) to paint my car, right now its sitting in dark grey primer with red scallops and it looks ok i just don't know what direction i want to take it yet, other than far from "rat rod"
If you listen to the car as you're bringing it back from the dead, it will tell you what color to paint it.
I used to agonize over it too, until it hit me that I ALWAYS love the gloss black cars with wide whitewalls. Guess what color my current project is going to be? And maybe the one after that, too. I can think of worse things that to paint all the cars you build the same color, especially if you're like me and it's only about one every seven years. If you find yourself lingering over cars with candy, then pick a candy color. If metalflake cars stop you in your tracks, choose a metalflake color. Same with reds, blues, greens, etc. When you see what you really like, your brain tells your body to stop what it's doing. Listen to that primitive reptilian part of your brain and you will never regret it!
And take the chip book outside. I've picked what I thought was maroon only to spray a fire engine red. Chips always seem darker than a larger area.
It makes my but hurt when I think about it....right now I'm settled on charcoal gray for the car with burnt orange trim, wheels, and engine. Something different than just black and red. HOWEVER...I've already changed my mind about a half dozen times since I got the car 3 months ago.
yup, im with ya...... that has been a discussion quite a bit here as of late in my shop.......... If all goes well ill be starting a Model A coupe build here in a few weeks, and all ive done since finding the car, is question myself and my wife as to what kolor to paint the car (thinking rootbeer brown, with creme accents) Also plan on tearing my A Sedan this winter and finishing it off in color finally..... im in a toss up there either Black and Candy Apple Red or Silver and Candy Apple Red
I have a total of 6 projects (1 for sale) and they've all been decided. The 54 truck will be Kandy Organic Green over a fine silver base and an off white ch***is. The 61 bubble will be a medium "grandma blue" metallic since it has a new blue interior already and I can't exchange it (otherwise it'd be Hugger Orange with a light grey interior). The 41 160 biz cpe will be Grove Greem metallic with a medium grey leather interior. The 47 Custom Super will be dead perfect black with an orangy shade of tan wool interior (hard to describe, if you could see it though...). The 34 will be Packard Blue with a black leather interior, neutral hogshair carpet, and a grey wool headliner, black ch***is. The 29 Custom Dietrich Roadster will be 3 shades of yellow picked from a 1929 color book, including a chrome yellow (!) ch***is and under-fender treatment. One of the 1st things I do is pick the colors and themes. Can't really proceed if you can't see the finished product, can you? Ok I'm exaggerating, but I like to see the car "in my head". It keeps me going. I wish some of you wouldn't have to grapple with such a fun thing. Most of my customers ask me what color to do their restorations. I like different than the rest or the 'status quo' while staying true to the marque. For example, if I were doing a 50s convertible for someone, unless they specifically ask for a bright red, that's the last color I'd suggest. In my mind it says "auction *****", but that's my demon not theirs. Color choice is one of the most important decisions you'll make, but it should also be the most fun. I like what Denise did with BigOlds. It's perfect and it fits the car and her, especially the interior. Unique and special and that's the way it should be. You're only bound by your imagination and don't let ANYONE tell you your color is wrong...it's YOURS. So, FinnishFireball, what color did you say ?
hmmmmm what shade of black primer....hmmmm I like solid colors for '20-30s hot rods and metallics for customs. Satins and semi-glosses are smooth and accentuate the body lines...
Hey, Two of the worst thing you can do when pickin a colour is #1 ,ask your buddy or a perfect stranger what colour should I paint MY CAR? It's abit like goin into a place that sells chow and askin someone to pick out your meal of choice! There's a pretty good chance you'll wind up with what their tastes run to. This and paintin your car to get Hi-fives from your peers is pretty sad! #2 is to select a colour choice from a paint chip! Some paint samples, featured in colour selection books, are produced from dies and inks, not actual paint samples! In this case, they can transcribe the general nature of the colour, but are often times off on what that colour selection will look like on the vehicle. Shade, tone and value all go out the window when you pick a colour from a chip book. I always suggest that the best place to pick a colour is at a car show or museum. Look at colours in natural daylight as well as shade. That really cool red outa the book could wind up lookin like cheap lipstick once sprayed on that old Merc! S****ey Devils C.C. " Angry is the new happy"
buy a couple of model car kits if available for your year buy them and paint them different colors that you are thinkin of
yup same way. Its even worse on early hot rods with frame, motor, and all suspention parts out there in the open, and when you ask for opinions every body says "ts your car do what you want"
This time I said Seafoam Green (like Hirohata merc) and literally ran into store and bough it before I regret On thursday the selected one was dandy pearl orangishreddish, but since the whole project suddenly turned into direction of me doing it in own garage I changed overnight from that red three layer overcoat to single layer acrylic enamel green. So I need to shuddup and head to garage and start sniffin that thinner, I mean covering the walls etc. and start spraying.
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