Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums General Tech New Tank/ Paint Matching

Well I finally broke down and bought a new tank last week. Came with front fender too. Cardinal red w/ Union Jack (Pix below, not mine just one like it.) Sorry the image is so large. Anyway I want to paint match the rear fender (currently Mulberry red), although I got the paint code for the Cardinal, I read this on another site.

" Mulberry red is Cardinal red applied over Graphite grey basecoat. Cardinal is a candy red (translucent) so not a true color on its own - Triumph actually apply it over Aluminum basecoat and then call it Cardinal. Applying it over Graphite gives the darker color Mulberry."

So with that statement I was wondering if I need to lay down an Aluminum base after I scuff the Mulberry in order to get a match?

Yes.

The candy red over a gray gives you the darker Mulberry color. That same candy red over a light silver gives you Cardinal. At least based on what you said. I checked our paint formulas for each and the candy coats are similar but not exact. The Cardinal does in fact have a silver groundcoat and the Mulberry a gray groundcoat.

Or, since the fender and tank aren't right next to each other, you can try to have the red color matched as close as possible.

I called a few paint shops looking for the Schoch 673 OME 26.
Nobody has it, come to find out it's a Swiss based company, and not available in the U.S. So I called Triumph USA who directed me to Standox, looked at their website, found the right formula, but was having a slight problem understanding it. Called them up only to find out the chemicals required for these (undercoat and base) are not available here thought them either.HOWEVER, they said that GM 379E is a direct replacement and should be a perfect match.
Then I called a local shop and gave them the new code. Just asked for a pint of each; undercoat, base and clear. $266.50!!! That seems a little steep for such a small amount of paint. I might just end up painting the dern fenders black.

HEY!!! I need some more input from y'all. Help a brother out! Thoughts? Ideas?

TOUGH ONE!

Like Ron said: "Or, since the fender and tank aren't right next to each other, you can try to have the red color matched as close as possible."

IF the following is TRUE:

"I called a few paint shops looking for the Schoch 673 OME 26.
Nobody has it, come to find out it's a Swiss based company, and not available in the U.S. So I called Triumph USA who directed me to Standox, looked at their website, found the right formula, but was having a slight problem understanding it. Called them up only to find out the chemicals required for these (undercoat and base) are not available here thought them either.HOWEVER, they said that GM 379E is a direct replacement and should be a perfect match."

I've used Dupli-Color rattle cans with good results, but you'll need about ten cans (@ about $6 each) for enough "paint" to be applied to allow for the "Color Sanding" needed to remove ALL the Orange Peel. That DOESN'T include undercoat or clearcoat. Plus, the paint WILL NOT stand up to any gas spills! So don't even FART around the bike!

I love my Gold tank. No issues.

I actually sanded right through the blue paint I now have on my bikes tank because it was too thin, had to touch it up, and I'm NOT happy with the results . It's also NOT the exact color I was looking for!

BUT I'm gonna live with it until something else F's the tank up (scratches, etc.) cause it's not that noticeable. As a matter of FACT, if anyone say's anything about it, I expose them to the ****** I see in their tanks paint job! Especially the factory paint.

So now I've discovered "Bens Paint', www.benspaintsupply.com, Where I can buy "over the counter" ANY paint color code I want, either put in rattle cans (MUCH more "product" [paint] in each can, or in glass jars with screw on tops with compressed WHATEVER to apply it. Much tougher paint, Much better selection! I believe they told me I get a full pint of "product" (paint) in each container, the equivalent of ten rattle cans! About $65. The pints of paint alone are about $50 of the cost, and about $10 for the aerosol cans, or $15 for the pressurized jars.

But if you need three containers (undercoat,color, and clearcoat), that could be the same price as your dude quoted.

Now MY way is just color. Ten cans @ $6, and about four of clear. under $100. In three years now, I haven't spilled/backsplashed/dribbled a single drop of gas!

Matt,

Where did you get the tank? I'm looking for the black with silver trim with Union Jack.

Nice looking tank. Can't help on the colour match though, the same way I can't help with the "U" in colour.

Thanks Greg, got lucky and found it on ebay. Haven't seen a black one pop up recently but here the part number for the one you want. A9708062-ZPGA