Hi All
This is a question that regularly reappears and has been answered many times on this Forum. As a start you might like to do a search on "Paint Colours" which will identify all previous correspondence. Below, I have copied the last two entries I posted covering the research I carried out in 2013 to update the advice that we, The LDMCC ,have been giving for decades following the non availability of certain pignments and solvents. You can follow the whole story here and see that the final advice is highlighted in bold and red in the last entry.
Regards Chris.
General Discussion / Re: paint colors of tank
« Message by Chris on 22 Jan 2013 at 14:44 »
I and the LDMCC have been recommending two standard colours of blue and silver for the early Douglas machines for over 40 years and until recently both were still available to be mixed from good paint stockists although I was aware that certain types of paint material had become unpopular with those trying to protect the planet and formulations had changed. However, following Eddie's comment above I thought it was time for me to reexamine the position. I would add that I currently buy my paint from a company that I first dealt with in 1954 when as a coach works, the founder painted my first petrol tank for an Ariel 350. It gave up the coach works side of the business many years ago and became purely a specialist paint and related supplies stockist.
The situation is now much more serious than I had expected with more and more restrictions in the formulation of paint such that not only certain pigments but also other constituents are no longer available. In spite of the fact that my supplier is now associated with four separate paint system suppliers they have confirmed that they are unable to formulate the colours that we used to get namely Rootes (or Talbot) Oxford Blue and Vauxhall Sebring Silver Starmist. I was fortunate in finding a half full litre can of Oxford Blue on my garage shelf and they were able to put some of this in aerosol cans for me so personally I am now OK for the foreseeable future as far as the Blue is concerned as one can will cover several petrol tanks for the panels and lining. However, I have no silver paint remaining. The manager was made fully aware of our need to come up with colour formulations that we can recommend to our members and Douglas owners worldwide that are easily available and as near as possible to the originals. Incidentally we compared my original Rootes Oxford Blue with British standard Oxford Blue and we both agreed that there was a considerable difference with the British Standard colour being appreciably lighter than the original. I left my part used tin with him and he has used this to carry out a survey of the market to find a matching blue that can be mixed and supplied in an aerosol. He believes he has been successful in this and has supplied me with a sample which he has identified as Fiat 455/B Blue Imperial. This has a “Lechler” Ref 220B and is a gloss finish cellulose. In respect of the Vauxhall Sebring Silver Starmist, he remembered this colour as one of two Vauxhall silvers this one having a very fine metallic content the other having a courser metallic content. He had disposed of most of their original colour swatches for old English car models that are now only a memory but found the swatch for the Vauxhall silver. However, unfortunately he has been unable to match this with a cellulose gloss. The match he has identified is Mercedes 735 Astral Silver (ICI Ref 9185B) and again has supplied me with a sample. This formulation is available in aerosol form as a base coat only meaning that it dries with a matt finish and requires to be finished with 2 pack clear lacquer to provide a gloss and petrol proof finish. (Essential in any case as nearly all paints now seem to be easily washed off with petrol). I will test the samples and compare the results with my previously painted petrol tanks and keep you all posted. I will also ascertain the availability of these colours from motor accessory stores off the shelf instead of having to be specially mixed. Chris.
Note the Mercedes sample was found to be too light and another sample was tested culminating in the recommendation below.
General Discussion / Re: paint colors of tank
« Message by Chris on 27 Feb 2013 at 11:50 »
Hi All
Paint investigation completed. The latest sample of silver paint for the veteran and vintage petrol tanks has been sprayed and compared with original samples of the earlier recommended Vauxhall Sebring Silver Starmist and finished petrol tanks. I am happy that this is as good a match as we are likely to achieve with a standard current car paint colour. The final result and my ongoing recommendation for the two colours of Blue and silver are Fiat 455/B Bleu Imperial. This has a “Lechler” Ref 220B and Hyundai S7 Sleek Silver with an ICI reference of 4WJMB.[/b]The Blue is available as a gloss finish but as with most modern paints the silver is available as a base coat only. Neither of these is available from general motor accessory stores and will need to be mixed by auto paint specialists where they can be supplied as aerosol cans or in bulk for gun spraying. They may be available as small spray cans from the franchised vehicle main agents/specialists. As previously recommended the final result after applcation of transfers will only be achieved after spraying with two pack clear lacquer ensuring that the health and safety warnings of this product are observed.
Chris.
