1988 500 Winning PC-17

[spyder]

Need some help on Rick Mear's winning #5 color scheme. Bought a bottle of 2032 Yellow Pearl from well known model paint supplier.  To me it looks like a very washed out pearlescent yellow-in the bottle.  Did test strips of Tamiya:
X-8 Lemon Yellow that looks too pale.
TS-16 Yellow that looks too pale.
TS-47 Chrome Yellow that looks pretty close.
TS-34 Camel Yellow that looks to be too far on the red side.

Any thoughts and opinions on this would be greatly appreciated. spyder

[woody86]

I painted spoons using various paints and then compared them on a trip I made to see the Mears exhibit at the IMS museum in July. By far, the closest match was Tamiya TS-16 over a white primer. Yes, there is a slight pearl to the paint, but the only way I could detect it (indoors that is) was to shine the flashlight from my phone within inches of the surface of the car. For me, this was the definitive test I needed as I was one on one with the real Pennzoil cars. It was enough for me to come home and basically trash all the other paints I had been using to build my favorite Mears cars. For me, I will even be rebuilding several 1/43 cars I had already made. Just my 2 cents.

[gavkiwi]

The color that Michael from Indycals recommended and is the color I used on my 93 Pennzoil Lola build

was Tamiya TS-16

[Calvin]

We've always used Tamiya yellow for all the 80s to mid 90s Pennzoil cars. I know for a fact the chaparral 2k had a fine pearl to it, but in 1/25 scale that wouldn't even show.
But I have no idea if the pc17 had and metal/pearl to it.
At least with using Tamiya yellow, you have 98.99% chance no one will disagree with you.
The only way to know is hold a paint sample up to the museum car lol

[indycals]

TS 16 is spot on. There's nothing really pale about it. X8 is slightly deeper than TS16, but they are very close. TS47 Chrome Yellow is too far into orange.

Oct 7, 2021 19:21:03 GMT -5 Calvin said:

But I have no idea if the pc17 had and metal/pearl to it.

Even if it did, the pearl effect is so faint that it can not be replicated properly at 1/25 scale. In real life you have to be within about 3-4 feet (and in bright sun at the right angle) to even notice it. I did one Pennzoil Car with Tamiya Pearl Yellow (porsche GT1) and it looks way off (and is on the pale side compared to TS16.) I will never try to replicate the pearl effect again.

[spyder]

Gentlemen, Thank you. I knew I could count on this Forum to get the very best advise. My wheel house in the pre-wing era and so, as I step out of my comfort zone, it is good to know that assistance can be always found here. The kit is the Tameo 1/43rd. My references are the Hungness Year Book and some images of the car taken earlier this year at The Henry Ford.

I initially used small test strips. The advise to use the white spoon gave a much better visual that made me agree that Tamiya TS-16 was closest to the color images I had at my disposal. Your advise on the "scale effect" of the pearlescent hue makes complete sense. SO, TS-16 it is with no dusting of pearl yellow.

Thank you Woody, gavkiwi, Calvin, and, Michael. Keep doing good stuff, spyder