Is it Royal Fireflake Blue, or Pacific Blue ?

Rohan · Jul 15, 2011

And this is what is said to be a Fireflake Blue 1969 S, that was on a website for it a while back.

http://web.archive.org/web/200902101730 ... s/RS-S.jpg

steveyacht · Jul 16, 2011

I was afraid of that...................

DogT · Jul 16, 2011

That picture is from Jim Bush's 69 'S' restoration.

"The tank colour is as per the original heavy metal flake blue, using House of Kolor flakes covered over with a quart and half of urethane clear on an original blue Fiberglas tank."

http://www.jba.bc.ca/JBCycle/NortonS.htm

Dave
69S

Rohan · Jul 16, 2011

DogT said:
That picture is from Jim Bush's 69 'S' restoration.

"The tank colour is as per the original heavy metal flake blue, using House of Kolor flakes covered over with a quart and half of urethane clear on an original blue Fiberglas tank."

http://www.jba.bc.ca/JBCycle/NortonS.htm

Dave
69S

Aha, thanks, that explains a lot.

Perhaps you should have mentioned your 69 S in Fireflake Blue ?
http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg28 ... erline.jpg

Seems like there are a few versions of Norton blue paints, and a few more interpretations of them as well. All good...

DogT · Jul 16, 2011

I would have to call my current paint 'Dupli-Color Metal Specks Blue' with clear coat over it. That's what I used after I panted the gel coat Fireflake Blue that was on it originally to black. A stupid thing I did when I was in my 20's. We all pay the price for being young.

I would love to have that original gel coat on it, but once you sand it, it's gone.

Dave
69S

Rohan · Jul 16, 2011

You'd have to wonder why there are so few original paint / fibreglass color Commandos around ?

Not being a fibreglass person, I have also wondered if it is possible to spray or otherwise restore the gelcoat back onto old fibreglass ?? Having several tatty bits of fibreglass to try this on...

I realise that originally it was first into the mould, but is it possible to redo this somehow ?

jbbudgor · Jul 17, 2011

The color/flake I used on the bike pictured was supplied to me by Don Hutchinson. As many of you know, Don is the man when it comes to recreating original formulas into modern base/clear paints.
Brent
The Vintage Vendor
www.vintage-vendor.com

Rohan · Jul 17, 2011

Did he call it Pacific Blue or Fireflake Blue ?

We stlll haven't got to the crux of just what color is Pacific Blue ?

bwolfie · Jul 17, 2011

Swoosh should take another trip ans post a picture of the Pacific ocean, that would be a true Pacific blue!

jbbudgor · Jul 18, 2011

Don Hutchinson called it Fireflake Blue. I'm not sure about Norton, but Triumph has a color called Pacific Blue. It a translucent blue topcoat, shot over a silver metallic, not a metalflake, base.
Brent
The Vintage Vendor
www.vintage-vendor.com

pete.v · Jul 18, 2011

jbbudgor said:
Don Hutchinson called it Fireflake Blue. I'm not sure about Norton, but Triumph has a color called Pacific Blue. It a translucent blue topcoat, shot over a silver metallic, not a metalflake, base.
Brent
The Vintage Vendor
http://www.vintage-vendor.com

Brent,
Was Pacific blue was on the Silver Jubilee?

jbbudgor · Jul 18, 2011

That I don't know, but Don H. would. I know I have used it on a couple different year Triumphs.

gordon russell · Jul 18, 2011

I can agree with you about "Scottie's" fireflake blue since I purchased this Commando a few years ago. The metal flake was very large ,the bike still looked great but had been ridden hard with 80k+ miles . I used this bike as a trade for a Silver Jubilee( Pacific Blue and Silver). I believe the Norton was later sold at the Mid Ohio a few years ago . gordo

Rohan · Jul 18, 2011

Its probably dangerous to assume that Nortons Pacific Blue is the same color as Triumph Pacific Blue.

Some years back, I bought, over a space of time, 3 cans of a stock premixed GM blue color. The 3rd can was quite a darker blue. When I looked into this, same name but different color codes for different years. The brochures showed the same thing - they'd reused the name but with a darker color . Never assume...

rightshiftrick · Jul 18, 2011

Interesting info, as my bike was originally Fireflake Red. Unfortunately when I bought it in 1996 the then owner had sanded the 'nasty 70's metalflake' down and painted it Krylon yellow. The tail at least is still the original silver flake.

I was under the impression that the fireflake was a silver base, large silver flakes, and a candy red coat over top. One of the Atlanta guys had a set of Original color swatches, and that looked right. FWIW, when I repainted my bike to its current color. There was still some red on there, along with flake and a white gelcoat. The flake seemed to be almost right on top of the gelcoat.

I've been threatening to have the parts redone in the original color, but am going with an Interstate steel tank, and Fireflake Red may be a bit too much for a tank that size :mrgreen:

RSR

Is it Royal Fireflake Blue, or Pacific Blue ?

Similar threads