Author Topic: Free hand painted - versus tape stripes for 3307R  (Read 3333 times)

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Offline Lou Drozdowski

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Free hand painted - versus tape stripes for 3307R
« on: Sunday,June 09, 2013, 06:14:22 PM »
The dilema : Stay original or be creative, I really could not decide which way to go. Both have merits and drawbacks, but in the end I bit the bullet and hired a 17 year pro of the steady hand process. Never having seen a Europa, my new pal Dennis made the 50 mile trip to my house. A total of 9 area applications were involved, we talked price and agreed. Then we spent the next hour scouring over photos and making exact measurements. Using a tape line only for his hand, he started dipping & brushing. I had to walk away! Not knowing what to expect, I figured to leave the artist to his work and not disturb him.. 3 hours later, he walked into the kitchen and said he was done. I was stunned by the work, flat and even, beautiful lines and spacing, color match and radius bends...Perfect ! Well worth the money ($300) including travel and I will gladly recommend him if you are planning adding a few lines to your ride. ld   
« Last Edit: Sunday,June 09, 2013, 06:26:28 PM by Lou Drozdowski »

Offline EuropaTC

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Re: Free hand painted - versus tape stripes for 3307R
« Reply #1 on: Sunday,June 09, 2013, 09:46:25 PM »
I'm surprised he finished in 3hrs, there's a lot of lines to draw on a Europa. The guy clearly has skill.

When I first bought my car the original owner had applied black pinstripes but as black tape over the yellow paintwork. It's not a TCS so I don't know if he did it or the Lotus dealer, but they didn't sit well with me and after the first respray I didn't bother to re-apply them. And there's no hope of me ever being able to paint them on, so I've kept to a plain finish.

The hand painted stripes you have there look much better, definitely the quality that such a paint finish deserves. I think you got a bargain, I bet the guy has a queue of work.

Brian

Offline TheKid#9

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Re: Free hand painted - versus tape stripes for 3307R
« Reply #2 on: Sunday,June 09, 2013, 10:32:09 PM »
Very nice work!! Wow! I'm still debating on if I should put stripes on mine... The Blue goes so well with the chrome and silver sills, I think the gold would clash it, would it not?

Offline EuropaTC

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Re: Free hand painted - versus tape stripes for 3307R
« Reply #3 on: Sunday,June 09, 2013, 11:06:53 PM »
You could try silver stripes ?  If you're not sure about it then I'd either photoshop a picture of your car or buy some stick-on vinyl pinstriping to see if you like it. 

Black and gold work really well together but the stripes have to be a contrast IMO. I remember back in the 80s a friend had a metallic brown TCS which had gold pinstripes from new, and you could only see them close up.

Brian

Offline Bainford

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Re: Free hand painted - versus tape stripes for 3307R
« Reply #4 on: Monday,June 10, 2013, 06:33:46 AM »
Lou, I am very impressed with the stripe work exhibited here. This is perhaps the nicest Europa panel striping I've seen. I really like the idea of painting versus tape. I also think the paint stands the test of time better then tape, and it's a lot easier to wax and polish the car since the tape doesn't like that treatment and as a result over time tends to dull. When the time comes to paint mine, I think I would like to go this route.
The Twin Cam plays the symphony whilst my right foot conducts the orchestra. At 3800 rpm the Mad Pipe Organ joins in.

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Offline 3929R

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Re: Free hand painted - versus tape stripes for 3307R
« Reply #5 on: Wednesday,June 12, 2013, 11:03:19 AM »
Those stripes look GREAT! 

Black and gold work really well together but the stripes have to be a contrast IMO.
I agree, which is why I'm surprised that I like my gold on yellow stripes.  Maybe I'm just use to them?
Mark
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