Just a touch-up or two..

[nvr2old]

I painted this S model a number of years ago for a customer in New York. He sold it recently to a gentleman in southern California, in transit, the handlebars, which were used for tie downs came loose and dropped onto the tank, chipping the top of it with the switch gear The owner took it to several shops for estimates..but nobody would even touch it. He finally got a hold of me and asked me to do the repair. He was so nice about it I couldn't say no. After I got it, I noticed a couple of other small dents and the chips around the steering head opening, so those got fixed as well. Even though he's supplied new ones, I'm hoping to save the decal on the side and just mask it off and re-spray the white on the left side, all of the blue and a bit of black pinstripe and then re-clear. Should be good as new in a few weeks.


1 by Larry Pearson, on Flickr

2 by Larry Pearson, on Flickr

9 by Larry Pearson, on Flickr

4 by Larry Pearson, on Flickr

10 by Larry Pearson, on Flickr

7 by Larry Pearson, on Flickr

11 by Larry Pearson, on Flickr

Primer is on, colors start this weekend.

 

[850 Combat]

I always love to see photos of your skillful work.

 

[steve murdoch]

Larry, we are all glad you got Flickr sorted.
Just curious, is the transit company covering any of the costs?

 

[nvr2old]

Larry, we are all glad you got Flickr sorted.
Just curious, is the transit company covering any of the costs?

They're actually footing the whole bill. They took immediate responsibility.

 

[GS1150Pilot]

What company was it? That sort of ethical quality is worth knowing.

 

[nvr2old]

I don't know, but I'll ask the new owner when we speak again. I can tell you it's probably costing more to do the repair then they got for the shipping, so that's an honorable thing to do, for sure.

 

[GS1150Pilot]

BTW, your work is amazing.

 

[nvr2old]

Thanks for the compliment GS1150pilot. Earlier in the week I sanded the primer and sprayed a few more coats to get ready to start on the colors today. Just cleaning my gun and getting ready, though, was too much for my wife, Mindy. Farm raised-tough-as-nails kinda gal that she is, she just can't take the fumes. The garage is attached to the house and too many enter. Man, I miss my shop. Oh well, off to the body shop that I've been so graciously offered the use of Saturday.


IMGP0044 by Larry Pearson, on Flickr

IMGP0049 by Larry Pearson, on Flickr

IMGP0050 by Larry Pearson, on Flickr

IMGP0051 by Larry Pearson, on Flickr

I think this is what I'm most proud of right now..my theory that a swipe of JB Weld over the paint edge will keep gas fumes from getting under it and peeling back the paint. I did this tank at least 6-7 years ago and it's holding up really well. Not even a hint of discoloration. Cool..

IMGP0047 by Larry Pearson, on Flickr

 

[Guest]

7 years of use, I'd say that's a done deal. Great idea.

 

[evh]

Excellent work!!

 

[nvr2old]

When last we left our intrepid painter he was stranded waiting for help from a friendly body shop owner (Route 66 in Sandpoint, Idaho) to use his spray booth. They were slammed last weekend, but I did get in today to touch up all 3 colors and get another 5 coats of clear on.

Masking the Suzuki graphic with Friscket paper took the hands of a surgeon..

 

[nvr2old]

14 by Larry

One of the guys who works there had his daughter with him. She was so cute.



I'll let it rest overnight, go get it tomorrow, open it up with some 600..let it breathe for a few days then cut and buff it by next weekend. Should be good as new. Thanks for looking.

 

[steve murdoch]

lol, i started from the bottom of the thread and it reads that you are going to "cut, buff and let it breathe" applies to the kid.

Hands of a surgeon? You picked the wrong career, Larry.

 

[nvr2old]

That's hilarious, Steve! She wore that box for almost half an hour.

My hands were shaking the whole time I was cutting that masking..glad it turned out as good as it did..whew.

 

[2BRacing]

Absolutely stunning work as always, Larry!

Wish you were located at the southern tip of this dark continent, I have quite a few items requiring similar expert attention!

 

[nvr2old]

Thanks for the kind words. South Africa is indeed a few miles away from Idaho..

 

[Nessism]

Stunning work as always Larry!

And thanks for the shot of the little cutie! That put a smile on my face! Kids are such a joy!

BTW, it looks like you sprayed white over the SUZUKI graphic. Did you redo the graphic or buff off the white overspray before applying clear?

 

[nvr2old]

Thanks, Ed. I should've loaded this pic. It better explains. Friscket Paper is this thin clear mask for airbrush artists. It was applied and then with an Xacto knife, carefully trim away the excess. It was time consuming and nerve-wracking. You can see a tiny bit of wobble, especially on the "I" of the graphic after it was removed..oh well..from a foot away it virtually disappears. Ironically, the "I" is where I started cutting thinking it would be the easiest letter to get a feel for it all. Even at about 5:00 on the close up of the the graphic on the "S" there is a bit of weirdness, but that turned out to be a slim piece of mask I didn't pull off but found it before the clear, so that one came out nice. That's where the "hands of a surgeon" comment came from..which I definitely don't have.

 

[posplayr]

Looks painstaking, but turned out really well.

 

[Guest]

Fantastic as always Larry! I always love seeing your work and after masking my wheels I have even more admiration for your patience and skill.

I totally understand your wife's issue with the fumes. I did the 450 in the garage (directly under the lounge room) and couldn't believe how much of the fumes ended up in the house.

My shed this time has been awesome... not sure if you saw my efforts to seal it up in my thread but it works a treat. The only fumes I could smell after primer, paint, and clear on the wheels after exiting the shed were those on the face mask, goggles, and disposable overalls. Very happy with that!