Ideas Needed - Custom Electron Blue Paint
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 1,718
Likes: 13
From: Katy TX
St. Jude Donor '12
Ideas Needed - Custom Electron Blue Paint
My car is going into the body shop on Wednesday for a full repaint.
It's 8 years old now with over 100k miles as a daily driver. This summer it got retired from daily driver status and now it's time to freshen it up a bit.
It's going to the best Vette painter around - a place that has done a number of custom jobs that are amazing.
I love my electron blue, and want to keep that as the base color - but want to do something to set it off a little. In essense, since it's a full repaint, this is my chance to make it look a little more unique.
I'm looking to see if you guys have some ideas to help me out. They are going to spray some test panels for me to look at, but I'm having a hard time coming up with that perfect idea.
I'm thinking of perhaps a little extra metallic in the paint, or perhaps a pearl type finish on top of the EB. Nothing too outrageous on either one.
What do you guys think? Any amazing stock colors out there on other cars that are really similar to EB, but still unique?
chris
It's 8 years old now with over 100k miles as a daily driver. This summer it got retired from daily driver status and now it's time to freshen it up a bit.
It's going to the best Vette painter around - a place that has done a number of custom jobs that are amazing.
I love my electron blue, and want to keep that as the base color - but want to do something to set it off a little. In essense, since it's a full repaint, this is my chance to make it look a little more unique.
I'm looking to see if you guys have some ideas to help me out. They are going to spray some test panels for me to look at, but I'm having a hard time coming up with that perfect idea.
I'm thinking of perhaps a little extra metallic in the paint, or perhaps a pearl type finish on top of the EB. Nothing too outrageous on either one.
What do you guys think? Any amazing stock colors out there on other cars that are really similar to EB, but still unique?
chris
Intermediate
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
From: Washington
EB is a beautiful color. But, being a PPG certified painter and an airbrush artist I would say have your paint shop try several ideas on spray out panels (I see that they are willing to do so), this is the best way to gauge different ideas before appling them to your Vette. It all comes down to what YOU like!! Be sure to take the spray out panels outside in the sunlight to see the full effect (the flop).
I believe EB is a tri-coat (Candy) paint job. Have your paint shop check the formula. Some of the subtle custom effects that can be done are to add a different pearl to the formula then what is called for, or add it in addition to the formula. I would recommend PPG's PRLX pearls, as they do not mute or muddy the paint color like standard mica pearls do. It would not suprise me if the OEM formula already uses the PRLX pearl. We own an 03 AE and the OEM formual calls for PRLX 4 (?) Gold.
Another idea would be to two tone it by having your paint shop mix the standard EB and then a little darker shade of EB. You could shot the top in the darker shade and the sides in the standard EB(or reverse it). This could be done as a fade or with a speration color (graphic or pinstrip). Let us know what you decide to do, maybe some pictures of the finished product.
I believe EB is a tri-coat (Candy) paint job. Have your paint shop check the formula. Some of the subtle custom effects that can be done are to add a different pearl to the formula then what is called for, or add it in addition to the formula. I would recommend PPG's PRLX pearls, as they do not mute or muddy the paint color like standard mica pearls do. It would not suprise me if the OEM formula already uses the PRLX pearl. We own an 03 AE and the OEM formual calls for PRLX 4 (?) Gold.
Another idea would be to two tone it by having your paint shop mix the standard EB and then a little darker shade of EB. You could shot the top in the darker shade and the sides in the standard EB(or reverse it). This could be done as a fade or with a speration color (graphic or pinstrip). Let us know what you decide to do, maybe some pictures of the finished product.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 1,718
Likes: 13
From: Katy TX
St. Jude Donor '12
Thanks for the comments guys. I had some fuel rail covers done by a motorcycle artist a couple of years ago and he added pearl over the electron blue base. Looked pretty amazing.
I think I'm going to have them do a panel with some pearl and another with some extra metal flake. Either way, I'm really looking for a deep paint job. One that looks like you could just dive right into.
Lance, there are a number of EB's running around town here. Since this is my one time for a repaint, I wanted something even more special as opposed to a straight repaint. But I'm with you. I love EB so much that's why I'm not really changing the color, just the effect associated with it!
If you guys have more ideas, please keep them coming. I've tried looking for some Lambo colors and at the Audi blues, but I don't see anything that just makes my jaw drop. I know if I were looking for a yellow or orange, Lambo has some great colors!!! But who has the coolest blue?
chris
I think I'm going to have them do a panel with some pearl and another with some extra metal flake. Either way, I'm really looking for a deep paint job. One that looks like you could just dive right into.
Lance, there are a number of EB's running around town here. Since this is my one time for a repaint, I wanted something even more special as opposed to a straight repaint. But I'm with you. I love EB so much that's why I'm not really changing the color, just the effect associated with it!
If you guys have more ideas, please keep them coming. I've tried looking for some Lambo colors and at the Audi blues, but I don't see anything that just makes my jaw drop. I know if I were looking for a yellow or orange, Lambo has some great colors!!! But who has the coolest blue?
chris
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 16,376
Likes: 404
From: Should this thoughtful, valuable contribution meet with no acknowledgement or 'thanks' this post----
You could consider Nassau Blue....not many were made...and you could play with the pearl on that too for uniqueness.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 1,718
Likes: 13
From: Katy TX
St. Jude Donor '12
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Intermediate
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
From: Washington
If you want to play with the metallic, have the paint shop use PPG Silver Dollar as the main metallic silver in the base coat mix. It has a larger flake.
I put a custom candy Orange paint job on a one off custom chopper using Silver Dollar as the base coat. When it is in the sun it is absolutely stunning. The Silver Dollar base just pops and comes alive.
If you need the product number just let me know. I will be in the shop the next two days and can get it for for you.
I put a custom candy Orange paint job on a one off custom chopper using Silver Dollar as the base coat. When it is in the sun it is absolutely stunning. The Silver Dollar base just pops and comes alive.
If you need the product number just let me know. I will be in the shop the next two days and can get it for for you.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,876
Likes: 0
From: Edmond OK
I think the FRC bodystyle speaks on its own, no need for stripes, etc. Just figure out a subtle variation on the stock EB and it will probably be awesome. I'd be interested to see what it would look like as a pearl color instead of metallic.
Former Vendor
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 5,261
Likes: 1
From: The Presidential Suite Elite Street, MD
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10
Perhaps adding a pearl to the clear. It will not be very noticeable, more subtle if anything. A buddy of mine painted his car back to the factory red color and then mixed in a little pearl red in the clear and in certain lights, you could really see the pearl and in others it was barely noticeable. Just a thought!!!
Also if for some reason your current painter can't do it.... Just drop us a line and we'll gladly hook that bad boy up for ya!!!!!
Also if for some reason your current painter can't do it.... Just drop us a line and we'll gladly hook that bad boy up for ya!!!!!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 790
Likes: 0
From: Sebastian Sunshine
when u paint over eb its no longer eb...why not leave the best color alone? <a href="http://s696.photobucket.com/albums/vv326/stockpicker9/?action=view¤t=bluecorvette1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i696.photobucket.com/albums/vv326/stockpicker9/bluecorvette1.jpg" border="0" alt="corvette1"></a>
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 1,718
Likes: 13
From: Katy TX
St. Jude Donor '12
Thanks for the input everyone. It has actually been helpful.
R&D -- great advice. I'll talk with the shop about some of those ideas. I think I know what I want to do. Now we'll see how the test panels come out.
kerry - I agree. No stripes, two tone, etc. Just a subtle variation to make people stop and ask about the paint!
Don't worry about the shop everyone - they are top notch! Trust me.
I'll post up a new thread in about 6 weeks with the before and after. I stripped most of the basic stuff out/off the car last night. I haven't seen my engine bare in a long time. And I forgot how ugly the stock mats are!!!! Tonight, I pull the carbon wheels and put the chromies back on. Talk about a different look!
chris
R&D -- great advice. I'll talk with the shop about some of those ideas. I think I know what I want to do. Now we'll see how the test panels come out.
kerry - I agree. No stripes, two tone, etc. Just a subtle variation to make people stop and ask about the paint!
Don't worry about the shop everyone - they are top notch! Trust me.
I'll post up a new thread in about 6 weeks with the before and after. I stripped most of the basic stuff out/off the car last night. I haven't seen my engine bare in a long time. And I forgot how ugly the stock mats are!!!! Tonight, I pull the carbon wheels and put the chromies back on. Talk about a different look!
chris
