Color Matching

[stonecold44]

Since I usually have the most color matching questions, I thought I'd throw this out to the guys that do it best.

What shade of red will best represent the Budweiser cars of 1986-1989? I see that RussD and Macsparty both did cars from those years, and the 1986 and 1987 models are on my to-do list very soon.

What shade of blue would go with the Cogan 7-11 car from 1986?
If I'm not mistaken, it's dark but not as dark as the Valvoline cars of Al Unser Jr.

Incidentally, I built the 1987 winning car of Al Unser Sr. when that kit first came out, which is a 1986 March and after watching the 1986 race, I think there is a great market for decals for those March cars. They were easy to build and modify. I'll post my wish list in the deal thread and send suggestions to Mike Portaro.

Gregg

[russd]

Gregg Wrote:
What shade of red will best represent the Budweiser cars of 1986-1989? I see that RussD and Macsparty both did cars from those years, and the 1986 and 1987 models are on my to-do list very soon.

Gregg,
I used Testors 'Italian Red' for my version of the 87 Bud car. Not sure if its an exact match, but it looks very close.

Russd

[stonecold44]

Jul 8, 2008 12:16:06 GMT -5 russd said:

Gregg Wrote:
What shade of red will best represent the Budweiser cars of 1986-1989? I see that RussD and Macsparty both did cars from those years, and the 1986 and 1987 models are on my to-do list very soon.

Gregg,
I used Testors 'Italian Red' for my version of the 87 Bud car. Not sure if its an exact match, but it looks very close.

Russd

Thanks Russ. Ironically, I asked Mike Portaro what red he would use for the 1987 Hanna Lola of Mario and he said the Tamiya Italian Red which is very different from the Testors Italian Red and wouldn't be a good match. I'll take your suggestion and run with it.

[herk56]

You can also fine-tune your colors by using different color primers. I use white primer to help brighten up colors or dark grey or black primer to deepen them. Don't forget that silver or gold under some colors can make a difference, too. I can paint four or five cars with the same can of paint and no two are alike because of the primers used. Experiment, you'll be surprised.

Brian

[2lapsdown]

I agree on the primer statement. If it makes any sense to you there are blue/reds and orange/reds. The orange/reds are brighter. Using grey primer under your red I feel would get you closer to Bud red on the 86 car. Just my 2 cents worth.

[russd]

Jul 8, 2008 17:40:35 GMT -5 2lapsdown said:

I agree on the primer statement. If it makes any sense to you there are blue/reds and orange/reds. The orange/reds are brighter. Using grey primer under your red I feel would get you closer to Bud red on the 86 car. Just my 2 cents worth.

Yes! Primer color is really important. I ruined too many cars by not using a primer or not getting an even undercoat. Especially when you are using the semi-transparent colors (like Flo-red). For the 87 Bud Lola I used a grey primer. Primer also is great for showing the divots and bulges in bodywork.

RussD

[macsparty]

I airbrushed regular ol Testors gloss red, but IIRC I dropped in a little dark red just to deepen it a bit.

[stonecold44]

Thanks guys. All of those are great suggestions. I did notice on my first try with Tamiya Italian Red that a gray primer deepened the shade quite a bit. I re-did it with white primer and the real color came out.
I'm a bit color blind (insert you favorite jokes here) but I think my eyes are good enough to tell me that any Budweiser car will look close with a pretty dark shade of red.
So on your suggestions, I'll try gray primer under Testors Italian Red. That is unless someone tells me that it would be too dark. I have a week or so before I start work on that car so fire away.

Any suggestions on the Cogan car? Or as AJ Foyt calls him, "Coogan". ;D

Gregg