C1 Honduras Maroon

[Joe M.]

Does anyone have the latest PPG code for a good honduras maroon match?
Searched the archives and noted that Bill C seemed to have had some experience chasing a match down. I have the color librarian #, and seen the code library for the old codes. Having spent a bundle of $$ years ago buying samples searching for an interior saddle tan match on my SWC, I would be appreciative if someone could short circuit another paint "quest"......1961 honduras maroon.
Thanks,

[William C.]

Re: C1 Honduras Maroon

Only way I have been successful is have a color chart of a part of the car that you are trying to reproduce and work with a local supplier (preferably someone with 25 or so years of experience) to custom mix a batch to your taset. using test panels to work toward the match.

[Ed Jennings]

Re: C1 Honduras Maroon

Most larger paint jobbers will have a color match "camera" or "computer". These gadgets will usually provide a "blendable match". I would not trust one for panel painting, however. That will get you close, but you will probably have to shoot some test panels and tint a bit to get it "exact". The honduras maroon is probably one of those colors that can vary a bit depending on the color of the substrata, and may tend to darken with additional coats. The lighter red metallics are very sensitive to these conditions. It may not be a big problem with the Honduras Maroon,since it is a bit darker, but be aware of the possibility.

[Michael H.]

Re: C1 Honduras Maroon

Ed is exactly right on the color of the primer, especially with metallic maroons. Several years ago, I spent a lot of time trying to duplicate Milano Maroon for 66 and found that I could almost exactly duplicate the color, as long as I was in the garage looking at the test panels. However, as soon as I went out in the sun with the panel, the color seemed to explode into bright red. One of the problems was the fact that any metallic color contains a lot of binder, or clear, which makes the metallic flakes below the surface show up. Because the coating is so transparent, the primer color was causing the color to brighten in the sun a lot more than it should have and it looked terrible. I started testing over a thin base coat of a dark grey primer instead of light grey and a lot of that problem was gone but not completely. For the next quart of test paint that I had mixed, I had the paint store reduce the amount of clear/binder in the mix to 50%. The results were quite good, although not deadly accurate. Most paint formulas seem to use the incorrect grade and amount of metallic in the mix. The next quart I had them make had only about 50% as much metallic and also a finer grade of flake. Maroons are the worst. The paint suppliers formulas are probably the farthest from correct on maroon than with any other color.

[Dennis C.]

Joe, I would only add...

...paint color, for all practical purposes, MUST be checked in day time sun light. I have painted cars that looked "pretty good OK" in the spray booth, only to make the mistake of backing them out into daylight. Whoops, try again !!! What makes it even worse, if you are shooting base/clear, I believe its impossible to determine if the base color is correct until you shoot the clear. If this is the system you are planning on using, probably says something for doing a small test panel before you shoot the car. Hell, probably should do a small test panel regardless of how you plan to shoot the car. Best wishes, DC

[Gary Bishop]

Re: C1 Honduras Maroon

Something to consider. At the "Paint Seminar" at this years National Convention in Windsor we were told that the same colour could differ by as much as 6%. Specs were + or - 3% for the suppliers. This is a point all of us should take in to account when judging Exteriors.

[Joe M.]

Re: C1 Honduras Maroon

There are so many things that impact final color and that's fine, as long as the starting point formula is consistent. That's why I was hoping there was a good PPG formula worked out for maroon.

So the best starting point would be to scan an original panel and play with tints?
The underside of the decklid and trunk are in excellent shape so that should do.

I spoke to a couple of guys I know who have been painting for decades, one did some Bloomington cars. One recomended to tint the K-36, reduced as sealer, black. He claimed maroons cover better over black than if you use a red oxide colored prime. Also the reducer used can produce noticeable differences in the same color....air pressure, gun setting, application technique, etc. all come into play.

The more painters I speak with, the more individual difference I see. One guy likes to start with dupont epoxy primer, let's it's harden, sands with 180 for a mechanical bond, and shoots PPG products to topcoat. Another guy starts with K-36 or NP270 over bare glass. The Dupont rep stated a bare vette needs to be gel-coated for success using any system. Painting definitely goes crosses the lines of science into art.
Again, sincere thanks for your input. The saga continues.