Ohlins Gold Colour Question

[Plopper]

Can anybody tell me what would be the best gold to use for Ohlins components, after messing up the colour on my Ducati rear suspension I don't want to make the same mistake on the front forks!

Is it just Gold Leaf?

I have Tamiya Gold Leaf and Alclad Pale Gold, would ever of them suit?

[JonMW]

The gold color on most of Öhlins parts is yellow anodized aluminum and the color differ depending on the alloy of the parts. So getting the perfect color is not that important. I would paint the parts in an aluminium color first and then spray some clear yellow over it, maybe use a bit darker aluminium or add a drop of clear orange to the yellow if you want a slightly different shade. Out of the Alclad and Tamiya golds I would probably go with the Alclad as I think the Tamiya color has too big metal flakes and looks more like a metallic paint then a metal.

[Plopper]

Yeah I can agree with you on the Tamiya Gold Leaf, it looks very Cornflakes if you know what I mean

Using the clear was where I went wrong the last time, the Tamiya instructions called for a mix of Gold Leaf and clear Orange, but I sprayed it over black! I'll do some testing tomorrow I think, may even try mixing a couple of Alclad colours with the Pale Gold.

I'll also be sure to try your suggestion of spraying a clear over an aluminium! Good idea. Thanx for the suggestions

[Plopper]

OK I've been testing some colours out this morning.



From left to right they are;

Alclad Pale Gold and Gunmetal
Alclad Pale Gold
Alclad Polished Brass
Alclad Polished Brass and Aluminium

And the far right is Alclad Aluminium base coat with Tamiya Clear Orange.

To me there is one clear winner what do you guys think?

[JonMW]

Comparing that picture with the Öhlins forks we have here at work, the clear orange is by far the closest. But I think it could be a bit more yellow if you compare it with this



These should be pretty close to what is used on the Ducati.

[Plopper]

Thanx a million for that JonMW. I've done them now using your picture as a guide. I think the colour I got is a bit too dark. But it's as close as I could get and it's not too bad a match for the colour on the box art.

[Davethepitch]

Out of the Alclad and Tamiya golds I would probably go with the Alclad as I think the Tamiya color has too big metal flakes and looks more like a metallic paint then a metal.

I agree about the metal flakes looking to big and I have used Titanium gold on the forks in the past but then again I am not as good as you guys with detail.

[Plopper]

This is what they turned out like.



All in all happy with the colour.