54 PENNAT Blue /Dash & TRUNK COLOR

[Bob W.]

Hi Guys, Having issuses on trying to get the correct color for my 54 Pennant blue for the Dash area and trunk, bottom of deck lid.Doing the car in Lacquer paint.Had some paint made up of what i thougt was the color Autum Bronze but When i did a spray out it is very dark I am comparing this to a 54 VIN3300 which is a survivor The color on that car on the dash 1954 Vin #3300 steering colum looks more of a golden bronze color.Can anyone help me resolve this problem.Thanks for any assistance.Bob Winski

[Jim L.]

Re: 54 PENNAT Blue /Dash & TRUNK COLOR

k I am comparing this to a 54 VIN3300 which is a survivor The color on that car on the dash 1954 Vin #3300 steering colum looks more of a golden bronze color.

Bob, for what it's worth, I can guarantee you are looking at original paint on #3300. Since the car has not seen a lot of sunshine in its time on earth, I'd expect the color of the dash to be pretty close to right.

Jim

[Bob W.]

Re: 54 PENNAT Blue /Dash & TRUNK COLOR

Jim thanks for the reply.Now my problem is what color is that and i would need to know the code for it in Laquer paint or something close to that.It is not Autum Bronze.Thanks Bob W

[Jim L.]

Re: 54 PENNAT Blue /Dash & TRUNK COLOR

Bob,

One thing that might help is this..... I can make a photo of the dash of #3300 and include in the photo what is known in photography circles as an "18% gray card". With both in the same image, you can color match to another 18% gray card and be sure that what you see for dash color is accurate. Let me know if you want me to do this.

Jim

[Bob W.]

Re: 54 PENNAT Blue /Dash & TRUNK COLOR

Jim,That would be great if you can do that for me.You can e mail it directly to cozypaws@aol.com .Once again this will be a big help.When the car is finished i will be having it judged.Bob Winski

[Troy P.]

Re: 54 PENNAT Blue /Dash & TRUNK COLOR

Bob, for what it's worth, I can guarantee you are looking at original paint on #3300. Since the car has not seen a lot of sunshine in its time on earth, I'd expect the color of the dash to be pretty close to right.

Jim

Jim, are you the owner of #3300? If so, you've got a really great piece of history.

[Jim L.]

Re: 54 PENNAT Blue /Dash & TRUNK COLOR

Jim, are you the owner of #3300? If so, you've got a really great piece of history.

Troy,

Thanks. Yes, #3300 is mine. It's been in our family for 40 years. My Dad bought it from the original owner and I inherited it. Although it's an unmolested car (well, except for the JC Whitney carpet, circa 1972), it isn't particularly pretty.

In 1998, with the help of some NCRS friends, my son and I drove it from Georgia to California. Ran like a top the whole way. Here it is in Wyoming at a rest area along I-80:



Jim

[Steven B.]

Re: 54 PENNAT Blue /Dash & TRUNK COLOR

Jim, beautiful '54. I replaced my original '57 carpet in '65 with JC Whitney carpet, also.

Can you explain the 18% grey card and the method you use? I haven't heard of it before and I am no photographer. I read how it measures reflection but don't understand how it matches colors.

Thanks!

Steve

[Jim L.]

Re: 54 PENNANT Blue /Dash & TRUNK COLOR

Jim, beautiful '54. I replaced my original '57 carpet in '65 with JC Whitney carpet, also.

I appreciate the flowers, but, trust me, the exterior paint on the car is awful (and that's being charitable). It was re-painted in the '60s with a cheap enamel which has faded and which is peeling off.

Can you explain the 18% grey card and the method you use? I haven't heard of it before and I am no photographer. I read how it measures reflection but don't understand how it matches colors.

18% gray card is a throwback to the days of film cameras and manual exposure adjustments. It turns out that the average landscape scene will reflect about 18% of the incident light. Can't get close enough with your exposure meter to measure the light on a scene you want to shoot? No problem. Hold up your gray card and aim your exposure meter at it instead.

So, bottom line, it's a standard for reflectivity and also, because it is a completely neutral gray, for color. Include one somewhere in a scene you want to photograph, maybe in a corner so it isn't intrusive, and any good color lab can use that to properly color balance the picture.

Clearly the gray card is an archaic device in this age of smart photo printers that can analyze an image and figure out automagically how to adjust the color balance. But years ago it was important and I've got one around here somewhere.

Jim

[Jim L.]

Re: 54 PENNAT Blue /Dash & TRUNK COLOR

Here are a couple of pictures of the original dash paint on #3300 accompanied by a Kodak gray scale chart. I had said I'd make these pictures with an 18% gray card, but, well, I can't find mine. Still, do your color balance so the gray scale is, well, gray, and you'll have an accurate representation of the dash color.





Hope this helps someone.

Jim

[Bob W.]

Re: 54 PENNAT Blue /Dash & TRUNK COLOR

Jim, Thanks for posting the pictures .I sent you a private e mail.Bob Winski

[Bob W.]

Re: 54 PENNAT Blue /Dash & TRUNK COLOR

Jim,Thanks for posting the pictures.Can anyone chime in and tell me the exact color that is for Jims car.I need to know this so i can order the paint in Laquer.I have looked at so manny chips from the the company i will be buying the paint ,but nothing seems to match. .I have the Pennat blue all set.Thanks Bob W