Unofficial Royal Enfield Community Forum

Royal Enfield Motorcycles => Vintage Royal Enfield => Topic started by: shomettedoug on December 11, 2013, 07:33:45 pm

Title: RE Indian Trailblazer
Post by: shomettedoug on December 11, 2013, 07:33:45 pm
Hello all,
This is my 1955 Trailblazer. I am the second owner. Have had it just over a year. The bike is totally original except some paint. Has been sitting for years. I got it running with some magneto work, but it smokes badly and needs a new topend. I plan a full restoration as soon as I get to it. If anyone has a paint formula for the original in PPG or another brand let me know. I have many Brit bikes.
Title: Re: RE Indian Trailblazer
Post by: rvcycleguy on December 11, 2013, 07:50:23 pm
Welcome.  Did you plan to attach a photo? 
Title: Re: RE Indian Trailblazer
Post by: shomettedoug on December 11, 2013, 07:56:10 pm
Yes.I have a photo but haven't been able to get it to post. My fault I'm sure. I need help.
Doug
Title: Re: RE Indian Trailblazer
Post by: High On Octane on December 11, 2013, 08:20:22 pm
I mean this in the best way, but good luck finding a paint code for the vintage Indian red.  I have had no luck finding a paint code, it's one of the reasons I painted my trailblazer black metal flake.  If you do find a code by chance, if be very interested in knowing what it is.

Scottie
Title: Re: RE Indian Trailblazer
Post by: Arizoni on December 11, 2013, 10:28:15 pm
Bopping around the internet I see several comments that the original paint was probably DuPont.
Also, some people say the Coka-Cola red used on old Coke machines is almost an exact match for many old Indian motorcycles.
Title: Re: RE Indian Trailblazer
Post by: rotorwrench on December 15, 2013, 05:37:25 pm
I've purchased several pieces of NOS sheet metal over the years that were from the 1954 to 56 era and they all have the same basic color I see in your pictures. Later they painted the parts with a metalic red that was a similar shade. This color was also used on UK home models in that time frame so I know it wasn't a special color just for the Indian Sales Corp imports to the USA. It was likely some brand that was used in the UK since that's where all this stuff came from but I have no idea of the actual brand. It wouldn't help much today though since many of the paints made in that time frame are no longer available in there original chemical formulas. I would suggest speaking to local paint suppliers about a match of paint on one of the fenders you have. A solid color like that can be matched in any brand of modern paint by an experienced paint guy. The computer matching equipment helps to get very close but the human eye still does it better for a final match.
Title: Re: RE Indian Trailblazer
Post by: woodsman on December 15, 2013, 11:26:18 pm
with the new indian motorcycle company back in production i see they have the beautiful china red color. might not be the match you are looking for but it is an eye catching red that i am thinking about putting on my chief tank.