Update
All my efforts are with the frame and forks at this time. The ‘Wildthing’ paint isn’t going to be an easy thing to achieve but I think I’ve made great progress so far.
As your aware the frame and forks have been professionally powder coated in gloss white. This will be the base layer for the design, thus the powder coated needed to be flatted back to give a good key for the design to painted on.
The frame was flatted back using dry 400 grade paper.
The design needs to be hand painted and masking for each colour would be a nightmare. Thus my idea was to spray the paint into a cap and then using a small model brush apply the paint to the frame.
Sprayed into a clean cap and then transferred using a fine brush.
From looking at the pattern and indeed a pair of shoes I think the order for applying the design is as follows:-
- Fluorescent yellow
- Fluorescent pink
- Grey
- Blue
- Black
The shapes and strips are pretty random so I’m just doing as I please with regards to the shapes. So far I’ve applied the fluorescent yellow and pink. I’ve done all this work in front of my heater to ensure both the paint and the frame are warm enough for the paint to cure properly. Unfortunately my camera doesn’t pick the fluorescent yellow too well, but in the flesh it looks very bright indeed.
Frame with the fluorescent yellow applied.
Frame with both of the fluorescent colours applied.
Whilst doing the frame I decided that I’m going with the fatter cro-mega DX forks for sure. I need to extend the threaded section of these but I’m struggling to borrow a 11/4” die to cut the threads further. If anyone has one or knows of an LBS with one please get in touch. The forks look great with the frame and I’m certain I’ve made the right choice with them.
Forks are the fatter cro-mega DX ones, made from True Temper cro-mo.
Now I’m really looking forward to getting the next 3 layers of colour on, its looking great and I’m enjoying the hand painting enormously, my own ‘Jellybean’ on a budget. Once all the layers are applied i'll flatten again with a finer paper and then decal and laquer.
With regard to the decals, i've been in touch with Tim Davies and he's agreed to help me get the decals he found over to Gil for copying. I'll post up here once Gil has done his magic with them.
