Hi guys & gals, I sat on my bike this afternoon getting ready to go home, I looked at my chrome grips, black clutch/Brake /mirror & switch mounts, black brake fluid tank, and silver clutch fluid tank, and chrome bars, when a thought crossed my mind...
How would they look brass colored..
I mean painting them, brass colored, maybe with copper accents.
Not Polished brass, but kinda aged brass, with a little black airbrushed around the edges to look aged. then clear coated for durability.
Anyone got any ideas?
I may shoot a photo or 2 and play with photoshop a little as a preview to see how it may look. (I am a graphic artist)
Before i paint a bike, i always scan and copy the side view of the bike from the manual, and try different paint schemes, and pin striping on there many times before i finally decide to do the bike.
Any input is welcome.
45 Bravo
::)When I read the title this morning I was some what worried you may have hurt yourself, but you bring up a good point.
Me personally I like the plain understated look on a bike or truck. Not a huge fan of chrome. I plan over the winter to take the levers off and a few other peices and have them powder coated flat black.
But I would like to see the results of your endevour, if you added some green to the black and mixed it properly it would have that look of distressed brass. Also would depend on the colour of the tank and fenders what it comes out like, but an interesting thought.....now I'll sit at my desk and ponder this for the day.
Yea, I stopped before it got too painful, and the ride home seemed to soothe the gray matter..
Something for you to ponder..
While i say brass & copper, i don't mean all of it.
While i like the black on the 99's and 2000 drifters, but I think there is too much black, and I am not a fan of chrome either, that is why i like the blasted side covers & heads.
Mine is a mixture, my levers are silver, the switch housings are black, the front brake fluid tank is black, the clutch tank is silver, the headlight & handle bars are chrome, as are the grips, (with 1 inch rubber squares on them), and the light bar is black, with chrome spot lights.
I think i would like the black bars, but not sure.
The only parts I am talking about brassing are the fluid tanks to make them uniform, and the fittings that attach to them a copper color.
Also, the grips where they are chrome, make them a brass color in between the rubber pads, and on the grip end caps, copper accents.
Just a few little colorful accents to the overall scheme.
I better stop before I hurt myself again.
45 Bravo
Going steampunk?
Oh, NO.....
Not that word...
Well, maybe just a little, I have been pondering what to do about the mismatched parts on the front end of the drifter since I got it.
While I don't like the all black, I don't want all chrome either.
I think the combination of aluminum, black, gold and chrome, MAY be appealing..
The reason for the mismatched parts?
When I got the title from the previous owner, it was clean, I sent it off to get it in my name, it came back as a "reconstructed" title.
I called the state, they say that that vin number was listed on an accident insurance payout.
Apparently the previous owner had wrecked it, and had it rebuilt, (after several calls to the shops in the surrounding area I found the shop that fixed it), it was backed into by a pick up truck while the bike was parked.
45 Bravo
I'm an old steam engineer... USN... so I sorta relate to the Steam anything deal! You got me thinking about oiled bronze... i used a bunch of that in my office/irish pub... might try that on some old parts!
I'm a big fan of the looks of brass and copper. I think I might like it. Send pictures.
When I was a kid there was a fellow down the street with a white 60's Norton that had a copper plated gas tank. I think its a stage in the chrome plating process. It was wild looking and I've never seen another like that.
Quote from: Troll on August 29, 2012, 11:05:45 AM
Going steampunk?
I think a Drifter would look great done in a steampunk theme. Someday. . . maybe someday . ..
Update, I have been trying different paints on aliminum and chrome plated plastic, I have found a good copper texture that looks good, but have not found as of yet a good looking brass .
I will post photos when I am closer.
I still think doing the grips, brake & clutch tanks and levers is a good place to start, as they are detailed, and not too large, just some accents..
45 Bravo
Ok, I promised some photos of my progress.
While I am still in search of a good brass paint, I have been playing with what I have.
The left grip rubber inserts just pop out after you remove the grip, the right grip must be masked, or completely taken apart ( I opted for the masking)
(https://www.vulcandrifterriders.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi49.tinypic.com%2F2eczx4y.jpg&hash=48a0954a893ca3719de3e0f9af85705921cce617)
(https://www.vulcandrifterriders.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi45.tinypic.com%2Fx0nvcy.jpg&hash=87087d45469d57bca34a3cc111bc4824eb4ea2ee)
The black &gold look good I think.
(https://www.vulcandrifterriders.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi45.tinypic.com%2F30kb04n.jpg&hash=fee252c55845cc45dfe515f69c818290b0b7cf32)
Here is the copper accents added, the copper screws on black would look good too.
(https://www.vulcandrifterriders.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi49.tinypic.com%2Fnp41e9.jpg&hash=1338c6b3b4767177cbe4a31ffb002c3b4797e637)
(https://www.vulcandrifterriders.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi48.tinypic.com%2Feupwyx.jpg&hash=ddc463cc9e842dbb7c6e93da12761ee2b527d4fa)
(https://www.vulcandrifterriders.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi50.tinypic.com%2Fkeclyv.jpg&hash=9412e699ccfa597a4c20a7ebd9f89eed1090fffe)
The right side has the same treatment.
I have not clear coated it yet just in case I decide I don't love it.
But at the moment, I kinda dig it..
We had a classic car show in town today, and I had to shoot some photos for the paper, (some will find their way on here later)
There were a few other motorcycles parked nearby to enjoy the show, (read that as 3 Harleys, 2 road kings, and a heritage soft tail)
I had done this before the show, and had my solo seat on so the big fenders were shining in all their glory, you can guess which bike drew the most attention..
Even though we were not part of the show..
Most of the people liked the accents.
So, what do you, the other Drifter owners think?
45 Bravo
Dude! Way to take the leap! Looks GREAT!
did not know if from the start of this I would like it......but seeing it I am kind of swayed towards it, and I like because it is not the norm. So if I strip my parts off ship them to oyu you can have them back before spring? Then I can decid over the summer if I like them and think of the free advertisment I am giving you.....
I like the look Bravo, At our local Ace Hardware they have some sprays for faux metal finishes, One in particular I've used on outdoor electrical boxes for the deck have a hammered look made by Rust-Oleum, http://www.rustoleum.com/CBGProduct.asp?pid=29 (http://www.rustoleum.com/CBGProduct.asp?pid=29) They have a color chart, Give it a look.
I considered the hammered brass and copper, I tried both on an old handgrip, and screw heads, but didn't like it as much..
I tried several different paints, before settling on these..
It has been about a month now, and the comments on the bike has been positive..
And I am still digging it..
(https://www.vulcandrifterriders.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi47.tinypic.com%2F2lkfyuq.jpg&hash=749ef30f297ac4b319757fe36a7231e3ea371dfa)
So I have started painting the non chrome screws on the forks, and other places with the copper paint..
Black with copper screws look tough..
45 Bravo
Great look! 8) Gives me ideas. I think a 99 would be ideal to go with this kind of finish.
I do drive a 99. 1500
That looks great! Good job!
Regards and such,
49Reo
Quote from: 45 Bravo on November 18, 2012, 19:28:15 PM
I do drive a 99. 1500
Well, I guess that confirms it would look good done to a 99. ;)
turned out nice. I like it.
Pretty slick!