How would you paint this?

Lizer

Lizer

Mad Scientist
Tailgate for the 70 F250 I’m working on.

I’m sure Ford used some kind of a stencil and the edges of their liens aren’t perfect. I’d probably spray the entire thing red then do the white over it.

I thought about taping the edges off with 1/8” fineline tape but always find that an edge wrinkles up when having to make a sharp turn.

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I thought about painting white, putting the vinyl letters on, then doing the red. But the red tape line would be higher than the letters which would look weird.
 
Lizer said:
I thought about painting white, putting the vinyl letters on, then doing the red. But the red tape line would be higher than the letters which would look weird.
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If you clear over it after pulling the vinyl it will help a lot, if you want it perfect, clear it, sand the edges a little more
smooth then clear it again.
 
The letters are fairly flat, what about spraying red over the white and blocking the face of the letters?
 
The easiest and cleanest way to do those letters is to put vinyl paint mask letters cut exactly like the existing letters over the letter color. Then paint the background color. Base colors and clear are ideal for this. I use "Pask Mask" brand material for removeable paint masking, there are others available.
The tailgate was likely originally done with a silk screen process, white on the red. That is not practical for one tail gate. The paint mask can be done that way but is much more difficult to apply the masks. For example, red paint first, negative masks, then white on top.
I don't know if you can buy the masks from anyplace online, if so great. Otherwise, they can be digitized and cut by a competent sign shop. I can make them for you but getting the letters accurate would depend on how well you can trace the original letters on paper for a guide to reproduce.
 
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I usually paint the letter color, mask them oof and then paint the body color, unmask and clear.
 
For only four letters and for the business end of the bed--I would spray your red single stage on it all and then detail later the raised letters using use a wide flat artist brush and do your white SS over that. If the truck is actually to be used--the wear off over the years looks genuine--not contrived. My neighbor did exactly this on his 1966 F-100 in the 1980's. 20 years on it looks right with the wear-off and the mottling underneath from being outside in the weather. No heated garage for that truck. When he died in 2002--the truck looked pleasantly worn and used for the new owner. It had a nice patina as they say now. Never been a fan of too restored pickup trucks or liked driving them.
 
D.A.T. said:
For only four letters and for the business end of the bed--I would spray your red single stage on it all and then detail later the raised letters using use a wide flat artist brush and do your white SS over that. If the truck is actually to be used--the wear off over the years looks genuine--not contrived. My neighbor did exactly this on his 1966 F-100 in the 1980's. 20 years on it looks right with the wear-off and the mottling underneath from being outside in the weather. No heated garage for that truck. When he died in 2002--the truck looked pleasantly worn and used for the new owner. It had a nice patina as they say now. Never been a fan of too restored pickup trucks or liked driving them.
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I think this truck is probably going to be a little “too restored” for you it was grandpa’s farm truck, I’m doing a complete frame-off for my uncle. My uncle wanted it to look exactly like it did the day grandpa drove it off the lot so it’s a near-concours restoration as well. There are a few bolt heads on the engine that I’ve parkerized instead of painted but it will still be very original nonetheless. So the truck will be a garage queen. It’s hard farm days are behind it.
 
Lizer said:
I think this truck is probably going to be a little “too restored” for you it was grandpa’s farm truck, I’m doing a complete frame-off for my uncle. My uncle wanted it to look exactly like it did the day grandpa drove it off the lot so it’s a near-concours restoration as well. There are a few bolt heads on the engine that I’ve parkerized instead of painted but it will still be very original nonetheless. So the truck will be a garage queen. It’s hard farm days are behind it.
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According to your end goal and painting with single stage: Use a negative mask on the red single stage. Spray with a detail touch up gun using lettering enamel. Carefully remove masks while the enamel paint (white) is still wet. This will be as close as you can get to the original screen print.
Not quite as simple as it sounds but doable.
One Shot is one brand, other good ones are made by Ronan and some I can’t recall right now.
 
I'm with crash...how much would someone charge to come out and do that by hand....I'm all about diy, but something it just makes sense to farm it out
 
I know I was being a bit silly with my earlier reply, but pinstripers/sign painters are worth their weight in gold. And I think the hand painted look is nice. I think the last gate I did that way cost me $275, and to me it was worth every penny.
 
Ok, if its single stage then I would paint it red first purchase the stencils or mask it off and do the white. Reason being there will be an edge, and you don't want to edge on the inside of the letters, you want the edge to roll off of the letters if that makes any sense.
 
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