Opinions requested on a Possible Painted Stripe

[SoloRiderForever]

Okay, in about a month, MJGomer here is planning on picking up a paint gun again.  I've got two 1980's model Harley's that I'm stripping and prepping right now.  Well, MJGomer always feels that when you pick up a paint gun you should paint things.  

 

So, I'm asking for opinions on a simple stripe that I'm considering adding to the MJ.  The pic on the left is how it looks now.  In the pic on the right, I've taken a couple of pieces of cardboard and painted them black and placed them in the center of the hood to decide if I like it or not.

 

Yup, just one little stripe up the center of the hood.  Satin (flat) Black - whatd'ya think?

 

Thanks to all those with an, uhh, opinion!

[Chad R]

 The stripe don’t look to bad it breaks up the yellow. But for my two cents why not  do a vinyl sticker in case you don’t like it down the road.

[Gjeep]

They sell a couple styles and you can just use center piece of decal. 
 

https://www.mechanicsurplus.com/products/32502057?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI-J3zi7D09gIVqyCtBh0j_wxPEAQYECABEgLhK_D_BwE

 

https://www.mechanicsurplus.com/products/100313095?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI9dvJ4bD09gIVzz2tBh3jDQXLEAQYCCABEgLB7vD_BwE

[SoloRiderForever]

Because MJGomer has has a paint gun!!!

 

Seriously, I have looked at some of the decal kits and have considered going that way.  But I'm in Colorado at over 8000 feet in elevation.  While I know that decals have come a long way in longevity improvements, our sun is especially harsh here.  While sun damaged cars are everywhere, there's really a high percentage of them here.  Plus I feel that the 'texture' of the Satin/Matte finishes more aptly matches the powder-coating of the bumpers.

 

But mostly because I have a paint gun!

 

That being said, I just thought - those new ugly jeep cars that have the flat-black on the hoods, are those decals?  They're holding up well here if they are.

 

[jeff351]

You could get fancy and do the same stripe idea, but in a different color. 

[Eagle]

On 4/1/2022 at 9:21 PM, SoloRiderForever said:

 

Yup, just one little stripe up the center of the hood.  Satin (flat) Black - whatd'ya think?

 

 

Don't like it. Looks weird.

[SoloRiderForever]

On 4/1/2022 at 9:43 PM, jeff351 said:

You could get fancy and do the same stripe idea, but in a different color. 

No I couldn't!  I'm no designer or artist.  I'm too scared that if I were to try and get that fancy it would come out looking like an un-talented 3rd grader did it.

[SoloRiderForever]

On 4/3/2022 at 12:22 PM, Eagle said:

 

Don't like it. Looks weird.

I appreciate it, Eagle.  That's why I ask.  And I ask strangers at the gas station - not just in here. 

 

Basically I'm getting two responses - yours (which, in person looks like "Why don't you just throw yer truck in a bonfire!"), or I get a basic agreement that it looks good and that it needs something to break up the yellow.  The ones that like it all say 'break up the yellow' and that last part is how I feel.  

 

I've seen lots of other hoods where they paint the two large rectangular parts of the hood differently.  I think that looks kinda weird.  

 

I really do think that asking for opinions can save an entire weekend of rubbing it back out!  

 

But, Eagle, check out the next post by me in this thread!

[SoloRiderForever]

Okay, today I went out and got a couple of rubbing compounds because I feel like the least tasteful part of this build is this emblem that got put on the fenders.  The word 'Comanche' looks fine, but the word 'Classic' looks like it was done with a marker and I really hate it.

 

So, rub it out, right?  Nope.  It's a delete.  Painted black, taped over, and painted yellow all around it.  I really hate it.  The very day I bought the truck I immediately thought I'm going to have to rub that out.  I don't like it and the only way to get rid of it properly is to paint both fenders again.  Dang it!  

 

[Eagle]

2 hours ago, SoloRiderForever said:

I appreciate it, Eagle.  That's why I ask.  And I ask strangers at the gas station - not just in here. 

 

Basically I'm getting two responses - yours (which, in person looks like "Why don't you just throw yer truck in a bonfire!"),  ...

 

 

I don't know where you get that interpretation out of what I wrote. You asked about the stripe, not the truck. The truck looks great - the stripe adds nothing to it, and IMHO detracts from it. It would be more appropriate to say, "Just throw the stripe on a bonfire."

[Gjeep]

Are you saying the lettering is painted on or are decals. If paint you should really be careful removing it. You have no idea how many layers of clear coat were laid. Burn-through would be bad. 

[SoloRiderForever]

6 hours ago, Gjeep said:

Are you saying the lettering is painted on or are decals. If paint you should really be careful removing it. You have no idea how many layers of clear coat were laid. Burn-through would be bad. 

No, Gjeep, I said delete when I meant a blank.  I was forunate enough to grow up with a 'bumping & painting' expert (as they used to be called) as a next door neighbor.  I know to be careful when trying to rub off a decal, and I know the ultimate cost!

 

But the ultimate cost is already achieved as - like I said - it's a Blank!  It was painted black underneath, the letters were taped over (as a blank), then the truck was painted yellow, and the tape was pulled off before the clearcoat went on.  The only way to get that nasty word 'Classic' off of there is to repaint the entire fenders.  Dang it!

 

And, while I am nothing near rich (especially after buying this build), I might just get this paint matched and re-paint the dang things!  I really hate it that much!  That word 'Classic' looks so tacky!

[SoloRiderForever]

18 hours ago, Eagle said:

 

 

I don't know where you get that interpretation out of what I wrote. You asked about the stripe, not the truck. The truck looks great - the stripe adds nothing to it, and IMHO detracts from it. It would be more appropriate to say, "Just throw the stripe on a bonfire."

Eagle, I only get that impression from those that don't like that I've asked in person - that's the face they make as they're shaking their head "No"!  And, since you don't like it, I assume you made the same face when you looked at the pic (there I go assumin!).

 

But, look, that yellow that's all over this thing - it's too much.  I'm looking at 90's Cherokee's right now to find a daily driver that can serve as spare parts to the Manche.  Today I say one that, I like the color - but it was ALL blue!  

 

Okay, many years ago, I spent just over a couple of years putting vinyl siding on houses.  If the customer wanted everything a single color, we were happy to do it.  But I can't tell you how much those houses looked like a plain blob of color sitting on the lot.  It didn't matter what color they chose.  And it was so easy to make the house 'pop' a little bit - simply make your window trim and corner-posts another color.

 

I simply can't emphasize what a second color would do.  And it's the same with vehicles.  A neutral color 'breaks' things.  That's why car companies do it and that's why there are so many after-market decal kits.  And look at how much they do it on Harley's - and I'm a biker.

 

If you're painting things in one color and re-selling them - add a splash of color to break things up and sell it for even more.  And more quickly - I'm convinced that cars, trucks, and bikes wouldn't come with so many color options if it weren't popular.

 

The idea for my hood stripe - straight off the brand-new Jeeps!

[MiNi Beast]

Landing stip looks good. Rock it!