Bank Holiday Rattle Can

[philward]

Your welcome - plenty of soapy water (it goes against the grain to put soapy water on glue but it doesn't seem to affect it) - loads of youtube guides to look at. Good luck

[PHILIP2908]

Hello again Everybody,
The stripes are on ! It was tricky persuading a flat piece of vinyl to go around a compound curve like the one found on the front of a CB750 tank. This was very challenging for someone used to sticking transfers on an Airfix Lancaster back in the 60s but after about 15 minutes, plenty of soapy water and a hair dryer, they are on and I’m really pleased with the result.
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It reminded me of why I wanted a Candy Red CB750 so much in the first place. And the reason is when I was a schoolboy in the 5th form in 1969, I had reached 16 years old and bought a Honda C100 50cc for £25 from an older school friend. This was seen by me as a purely practical need to dispense with the pedal bike and the pain of cycling up hills to get to school - this was not an urge to go motorcycling. That is until I saw this:
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This is the one thing that switched me into a lifetime of owning motorcycles and riding them. It is the picture from the 1969 Honda brochure where there is a page for each of the range CD175, CB250 etc. with a picture and technical spec; but on the very last page was this. I thought that guy was so cool and still do: the casual clothing and shoes, bimbling along between the hedges on what is probably the simplest and most iconic tank design in a very striking colour; this really made an impression on me and spent ages staring at it. And I really wanted one and 52 years later, I have got one.
The CB750 I restored in the late 80’s (JGN 699N – showing as SORN’d somewhere, I’m so pleased it’s still around) was easy when parts were dirt cheap (nobody wanted them then) but candy paint and repro tank stripes were not easily available and if they were, not easy to find - no internet then you see. I sprayed it a Ford Cortina metallic dark blue which was close to the original planet blue (I think) and with a bit of masking created some acceptable tank stripes. But it was not candy red.
Anyway, after that holistic experience, the next step will be the 2K lacquer; again from Complete Café Racer. This £20, 400ml aerosol needs to be ‘activated’ by pulling a plunger on the base of the can and then used within 24 hours although keeping it in the fridge will extend this.
Will advise progess when hopefully I have managed to put many layers of lacquer on ready for a bit of buffing.
Talk soon. Ride safe.
Phil in Cheltenham.

[PHILIP2908]

Sorry, managed to post one image but 3 times DOH!
It should have been these:
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[Spitfire]

They look great, nice one

Cheers

Dennis

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

They look good in that red colour, almost as good as the R107 SL is it in the background!

[Johnny4428]

That is looking great, that colour will fairly pop when the lacquer is applied.

[philward]

Looking good Phil - my favorite colour for the 750 - I have a spare Candy Red paint set that i keep saying I'll put on my Planet Blue K2 (its just the colour change on the logbook I'm hesitating about)

[heli_madken]

Now that looks beautiful, cant wait to see clear applied

[PHILIP2908]

Started spraying on May 31st and still not finished after 14 weeks.
As a reminder, I decided to save a bit of money on spraying the tank and side panels myself. I ended buying about £120 worth of aerosols from Complete Cafe Racer; silver base coat, candy apple red and 2K lacquer.
The candy apple, being a translucent paint, varied in shade depending on how much was applied. Too little and it would look pink and too much it would look maroon. Added to this was the fact that sometimes the aerosol spattered leaving darker blobs – the result was: start again with the silver base coat and then re-apply the red.
And then the 2K lacquer from which I was hoping to achieve a nice shiny clear coat did just the opposite an left a frosted finish that had to be rubbed down – too much rubbing down could (and did) lead to breaking through the red to the silver base coat. Start again.
This is the ring pull on the bottom of the 2K lacquer aerosol that had to be pulled to start the internal mixing. Then it had to be used in 24 hours otherwise it went off.
Faced with yet another purchase of more 2K lacquer, I have decided to hand the tank and side panels to my local bodyshop who will cover the items in a good layer of lacquer – cost £100.
Would I do it again this way? Definitely not ! I’m up to £220 so far and would have been better off handing the items to a custom body shop and let them do it. The reason is that the aerosol spray fan width is too small whereas a proper spray gun in a boy shop has a wider angle spray which would help get a more consistent and even colour finish.
Having sprayed a few tanks in the 70s with aerosols from Halfords, you could ladle the paint and lacquer on and get a good thick shiny coat. Not so with candy paints. (Another) lesson learnt.
As mentioned in another thread, the 4 pipe set and fixings are now here and I hope to get it all together soon for my first ride out in 20 years.
Cheers my dears.

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

Very interesting and honest post about the painting process. Back in the 1970's I did a stint in a paint shop for a couple of weeks - in the days when dealers had there own bodyshops. It was when you used lead rather than compound fillers. In the last few days after seeing the painter Paul apply paint I had a go with the gun - I think his reply was - great job Ted a shame about the curtains!

[Johnny4428]

Just to add to the theme of painting, it so happened that I just finished my painting my tank and side panels for my 750k3. I did ask around locally a couple of guys to see if they were interested in painting my tank and side panels, but they were less than enthusiastic about taking it on. So I thought what could possibly go wrong if I had a go myself!!!   I had already done the preparation and had the paint delivered from RS Paints. I must admit I didn’t find any of the stages of painting challenging at all. I purchased enough paint to do the job twice over but thankfully once was enough. Attaching the decals were a little tricky but turned out OK. Finishing off with three coats of lacquer. I have to flatten down yet and buff but apart from that it’s done. Quite pleased with my £11 spray gun from Lidl.😂

[Sesman]

I’d be happy with that. Nice job.

[Nurse Julie]

That looks really good John.

[Nurse Julie]

Phil, you should receive a medal for perseverance ☺️☺️☺️

[Johnny4428]

Thanks Julie and Sesman. Yes I agree, Phil you have not had a smooth ride with your paint job! Turned out good to end up with.