tank emblem paint

[Glenn]

what is the proper paint for 1950 tank emblems. I sent them out to rechrome and now have to paint them. black is black but what color is the red on them?

thanks

[Chris Haynes]

There is no black on originals. Everything is fire engine red.
Top is original. Other two are repops.
http://i412.photobucket.com/albums/pp209/hd36knuck/IMG_1231.jpg

[bobdo]

I'm also interested in a red paint that the AMCA would approve for the '47 style Speedball emblems. Chris' description of "Fire Engine Red" is a great description, it does look like that color, but is that the actual name given to a paint suppliers color? Is there an enamel paint that is the accepted color? I'd even be willing to mix a few colors to get it right. Maybe even add a little fading to the look. Thanks, Bob

[flat-happy]

this guy can anser all your paint questions and sell you the correct product too


John Pierce Colorwrite - Paint for and how to paint antique and vintage motorcycle restorations. Original Factory colors, modern quality. DuPont single stage and base/clear paints. Every known Harley color before 1970. Questions, current pricing, Call days between 9:00 AM and 8:00 PM Eastern Standard Time.

(603)942-5610 or Fax (603)942-5675
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[Erdos]

I used testors model paint on my emblems about 8 years ago and never been questioned on the color. I have had the bike judged several times. The paint looks and holds up great. I will figure out the color I used if anyone is interested.

[Erdos]

photo of my emblems

[cdndewey]

They look great Erdos. I'm interested in the colour.

[tomclay]

"never been questioned on the color. I have had the bike judged several times"

But then again, this isn't saying much.
When you go in with 89 points, correct everything, and come out with an 83, and EVERYTHING
the second time marked wrong was 100% correct, it kind of leaves a bad taste in your mouth.

[Sargehere]

Tomclay, Follow up with the Chief Judge. There's a formal appeals process. One badly-managed judging team shouldn't sour you on the whole club judging scheme.

[Robert Luland]

Good day Glenn, Let me let you in on one of my secret methods I came up with twenty-seven years ago of getting this BS job done the right way fast. Do not use a paint brush unless you really want a crap job. Spray them. Let them dry for at least a week before ya screw with them. The paint in the indentations is going to be thick. I know what you’re thinking. Is this guy nuts? The whole emblem painted! This is good. Now take a rag and put some lacquer thinner (That means a little thinner not a soaking wet rag! You don’t want it getting into the indentations.) on it and wipe the paint off the flat. Your job will be perfect. If you try to mask those suckers, you’ll be there until Christmas and the job will look like hell. Like any other paint job. Try and give it 45 to 60 days for the paint to cure before putting any polish to it. Let it breathe. This lengthy tutorial has cut into my beer time. Best of ruck, Bob L

[exeric]

Bob, I have to thank you again for a great tip. It's funny that this topic came up because I have been trying to paint a set of those '47-'50 emblems and making a mess of the job. Your method sounds better than anything I've heard, and better than anything I've tried.

[Robert Luland]

I forgot something. Mask off about 3/16" from the indentations. The less paint ya got to clean off the faster the job. Bob

[cdndewey]

Sounds great Bob, I'm going to try that on my 47 emblems..... now any suggestions for my 62's?

[Robert Luland]

Same thing. I originally figured this method out doing 59/60. The hardest ones to paint. Now if I could just figure out how to get those metallic specals into to the 57/58, I’ll have it made. Lol. Bob L

[cdndewey]

I don't know Bob, I can identify a 59-60 emblem but I wasn't to sure of the paint scheme so I pulled out one of my books to have a look. It looks like it would be a lot easier than the 61-62 white/black. I like your method and I'll use it to do my 47, but I think I got my work cut out for me with the 61-62's.

[Robert Luland]

Here’s a pic of a 59/60 I did with the thinner method over twenty years ago still going strong. It’s hard to get a shot of this with out the glare even with the flash off. The system works well. Please forgive the sawdust in the pic. I've had the chop saw going to town in the garage lately. Bob L

[cdndewey]

It looks good Bob. Have a look at a 61-62 emblem and tell me what you think.

[Mr. Big]

Cornfused. If the lettering is supposed to red, why does the MoCo sell them with black letters?

http://i567.photobucket.com/albums/ss112/prostock101/product_143548_02_zoom.jpg

[Rub]

Because on most things vintage, no one at H-D has the faintest clue about correctness or history!:rolleyes: Those emblems are like every other incorrect reproduction out there, not very close!
Robbie

[Mr. Big]

Kind of what I thought. I realize the MoCo is pretty clueless when it comes to vintage stuff but how do you miss something like that with their resources? Amazing.

[cdndewey]

Probably because there are more repops around than originasl and someone in marketing saw the repops and commissioned them to be made like them not knowing any better.

[Rub]

Why?
Because corporate H-D isn't even aware that they have resources! All they care about is selling their "lifestyle" crap.
Robbie

[Chris Haynes]

Kind of what I thought. I realize the MoCo is pretty clueless when it comes to vintage stuff but how do you miss something like that with their resources? Amazing.

The sad thing is that the MoCo had detailed instructions on all the processes used to make a part. AMF, in all their wisdom, trashed all of this information. They kept the blueprints, but not the instructions on how to actually make the part.

[Robert Luland]

[QUOTE=Mr. Big;102179]Kind of what I thought. I realize the MoCo is pretty clueless when it comes to vintage stuff but how do you miss something like that with their resources? Amazing.[/QUOTE

They got the **** from the same supplier that provided everybodie else and added $50 clams on top of it.

[Mr. Big]

Only 50? Doesn't sound like the MoCo I know. 100 sounds more like it.......

[cdndewey]

Isn't that what HD means?...Hundred dollars

[panz4ever]

what is the proper paint for 1950 tank emblems. I sent them out to rechrome and now have to paint them. black is black but what color is the red on them?

thanks

from poking around and searching I "think" this is the correct color...called/referred to as '1-shot red"? Part #104-L Bright Red.

Couple of links...

http://www.1shot.com/home.html

http://www.eastwood.com/paints/pinstriping/1-shot-paint-bright-red-1-2-pt.html

[Robert Luland]

Sounds great Bob, I'm going to try that on my 47 emblems..... now any suggestions for my 62's?


Its funny someone brought this tread up again. When you said 61/62? I didn’t know what it looked like until I saw one on Fleese-Bay over the weekend. That’s an easy one! Shoot it white and do the thinner thing on the lettering. Then mask it off so just the star is showing and spray your black. I prefer to use an Exacto knife because it gives me more control over my booze soaked trembling hands but a one side razor blade will work find. Best of ruck, Bob L

[ManPan]

I used Bob.L's technique with Krylon Industrial "Cherry Red" spray bomb on my '47-'50 repop emblems.. Looks great.. that IS the way to do it...

[fuzzyktu]

when I was restoring a 48 for a customer he wanted it done with 2 stage paint. We did an extensive color match and came up with Ford cardinal red. You can also buy this color in spray bomb form at your local auto parts store. It is a Dupli color offering. If you want it perfect and in single stage call John Pierce. His paint is always the best!