Practically Classics Forum

Hi guys,
has anybody done a 2-tone paint job before?
For most of the border between the two colours, I will be following a protruding moulding, but there are a couple of little bits where the border between colours will be on flat metal also.
How do I mask it to make for a smooth changeover between clolurs?
Also, when painting should I do the light or dark first? or the colour which is predominant on the panel first, or last?
What does one do about the bits inside the door-shuts, etc? continue the two-tone, or paint them all one colour?

The car is my 1948 Alvis.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Paul.

I have never done this, I'm working purely from what I've seen on TV and in magazines, as well as "common sense" art technique:

I think it is most logical to do the light colour first, because putting light over dark would take more coats to achieve the correct appearance than dark over light, & possibly change the final appearance of the lighter colour due to bleed-through. As for a "smooth changeover", that depends what you mean. if you mean surface-wise not having a visible ridge, this will be down to the thickness of paint you need to apply, and so goes back again to how many coats are required to achieve a good finish. If you mean you want the colours to blend, that's an entirely different kettle of fish & not something that would be expected on a paintscheme of this type.

Perhaps it might even make sense to spray everything in the light colour first, then mask off the areas to be kept before overspraying with the dark? This would solve your doorshuts issue, although perversely I think I'd prefer those to be in the darker colour if I was doing it myself.

You've managed to source a colour that approximates your desired scheme then? Well done

OneCarefulOwner wrote: I think it is most logical to do the light colour first, because putting light over dark would take more coats to achieve the correct appearance than dark over light, & possibly change the final appearance of the lighter colour due to bleed-through.

I agree, that's a good point, I hadn't thought of it like that!

OneCarefulOwner wrote: As for a "smooth changeover", that depends what you mean. if you mean surface-wise not having a visible ridge, this will be down to the thickness of paint you need to apply, and so goes back again to how many coats are required to achieve a good finish.

Yes, this is what I meant, no ridge between the colours, and, also a clean straight line transition without any paint seeping under the masking tape.

OneCarefulOwner wrote: Perhaps it might even make sense to spray everything in the light colour first, then mask off the areas to be kept before overspraying with the dark? This would solve your doorshuts issue, although perversely I think I'd prefer those to be in the darker colour if I was doing it myself.

Again, this was my thought, I'd rather have them all in the dark colour too, but have no idea if there's a conventional wisdom on this.

OneCarefulOwner wrote: You've managed to source a colour that approximates your desired scheme then? Well done

Yes! After weeks of scouring carparks and google, I ordered paint today! the creamy colour is Mercedes "Ivory". I haven't seen this "in the flesh", but the internet photos look good. The green is Mazda MX-5 Neo green. Fingers crossed they look good together!!

This is why pinstriping was invented.