I’m not a professional painter nor have I ever done pinstripes. So, that’s the reason I’ve done all the paint work myself so I can learn how to do it. Here are two write-ups on how I painted the pinstripes and the side covers.
I had some “adventures” along the way when I tried painting the pinstripes. I did use a pinstripe brush but opted for “training wheels” and used a pinstripe stencil tape so all I had to do was paint between the lines. I have a new found respect for the fine art of painting free hand pinstripes.
I also painted the horizontal stripes on the chrome side covers. I tried the Monza Blue paint from Glausrit but I didn’t like how that looked. So, I tried some Dupli-Color rattle can paint and they look better. I may try to paint the side covers yet again as I’m not sure to best handle the curved edges. But they look pretty nice.
Here are a couple of pictures from the write-ups.
Rear Fender Pinstripe Measurement
Cleaning Pinstripe Brush with Mineral Spirits
Triming Brush Tip with Single Edge Razor
Pinstripe Stencil Tape
Use Razor Blade to Separate Stencil from Bracking
Rear Fender with New Pinstripes
Front Fender Stripes End at Fork Tube Cutout
Stencil Tape on Front Fender
Front Fender Pinstripe 1st Time-Fail 🙁
Fine Line Tape Masking to Fix Pinstripe Smudges
Repaired Pinstripes on Nose of Front Fender
Final Pinstriped Gas Tank
First Attempt at Masking the Side Cover
First Attempt Painting Side Cover Stripes: Ragged Edges and Easy to Peel
Second Attempt with Dupli-Color Paint: Two Candidates to Choose From
Second Maskging with 1/4 Inch Pinstripe Tape Over Dividers
Final Side Cover Stripes
This is great work and I am learning a lot from your site. I could not do it myself if it were not for people like you going the edxtra mile to explain.
I lost my right battery cover (R90/6 1974 blue monza) I see that you used duplicolor to pain the cover. what specific reference worked better for you? they have several types of GM blue that seem appropriate. Having the exact reference would be helpful in case you kept the can.. Thanks!!
Hi Thierry,
Thank you for the kind works. Note that there is a link in this blog to the detailed write-up about how I did the paint work on the side covers:
51 BMW R75/5 Paint Side Cover Stripes
If you click it, you will see I included pictures of the paints I tested and the exact Duplicolor part number for their GM Quasar Blue Metallic which I selected as a good match.
I hope this helps.
Best.
Brook.
Thanks Did I understand that you did the pinstripes AFTER the clear coat? I would have intuitively done the clear coat at the end, but then again I know very little. Any logic behind this for my information?
Hi tcroullier,
If the pinstripes are under the clear coat, then I have to apply the pinstripes within a short window of time or the clear coat will not bond correctly to the color coat. And, if I make a mistake applying the pinstripe (very likely and you can see that I made several mistakes), making repairs takes time. In addition, some clear coat will affect the pin stripe as it hardens.
So for safety sake, I waited several weeks for the clear coat to harden and then applied the pinstripes.
It is very easy to touch up the pinstripes if they get worn and they have held up very well after 6 years.
I hope that helps.
Best.
Brook.