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MG TD TF 1500 - Paint For Top Framework.

Anyone know if the correct color paint for the top bows and framework can be purchased. I'd like to copy the color in Mathews car. Can't find the photo I have. PJ
Paul S Jennings

PJ,

The top bow was painted to match the canvas top.

Surviving cars like Matthews that still has the original paint, the original color deteriorated over time. What was a light tan color after 60 years changed to a pinkish / tan -- lack of a better color description.

Here is a thread about me on my quest to match the paint of the bow. I went to see an original TF owned by Todd Hammond. This is before I saw 9052. Seeing 9052 confirmed what was always known what was done in Abingdon years ago when the cars were made.

http://www2.mg-cars.org.uk/cgi-bin/gen5?runprog=mgbbs&access=&mode=archiveth&subject=8&subjectar=8&thread=201311031433317819


Look at TF 9052 that still has the factory top and original top bow paint color. Clearly it was a light brown.

http://www.mg-cars.org.uk/mgtf/Pictures/TF9052/Thumbnails/mgtf_tf9052.htm#

Since that is what the factory did, I would take a sample of your top and match paint accordingly.

This is what I plan on doing. Easy.

Frank

Frank Cronin

link to the pictures didn't work. Look at #297, 298, 299.
Frank Cronin

Paul,
The hood and side curtain frame colour was Dupont code YS237 which was a fawn type colour. I have tried to Google the Dupont code without any luck. If you contact a paint supplier I am sure they can look up the formulae for you.
John...Sydney
John Walton

As the factory attempted to match the colour of the top, that was good enough for me, so that's what I decided to do. I took the Moss top to Bunnings & had it colour matched in enamel & sprayed it in my "spray booth". See pic. The frame almost disappears against the fabric. Cheers
Peter TD 5801


P Hehir

Spray can from Moss fine for me.
efh Haskell

The side curtain frames were much pinker than the topping material. TF even more pink than TD.

For TF
http://www.mg-cars.org.uk/mgtf/mgtf_finishes.htm#formulas

For TD
http://www.mg-cars.org.uk/mgtd/mgtd_finishes.htm#formulas

There also was a big thread on this a few months ago.
Christopher Couper

"The side curtain frames were much pinker than the topping material. TF even more pink than TD". Taking in to account the ravages of time & acknowledging that the TD & TF frame colours did differ, it's almost impossible to be certain about the colour. Not sure when they moved on from the much criticised rag top Duck (which may have initiated the attempt to match the new material), hence the colour change. This was discussed in detail in the thread you mention Chris & there seemed little doubt that the factory tried, however unsuccessfully, to match the fabric. I'm with Frank on this one. Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

Well the best pics of unrestored TD sidecurtains came from a untouched and boxed NOS set from Rod Brayshaw but there are others of unrestored cars too that match.


Christopher Couper

Chris,

You just beat me to the Rod Brayshaw image that I was made aware of some time ago!

On many TF hood frames I have stripped out over the years, there was a hint of the 'salmon colour' being literally included in the mix of the tan look in each and everyone.

Cheers
Rob Grantham
TF3719("Aramis"),TF9177("Athos").

R GRANTHAM

I guess you can't argue with NOS! I've not seen this pic before. Is this a TD or TF set Chris? The frame colour is nothing like the fabric which, if both frames & fabric are original, suggests the factory never made any attempt to match them! Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

Suggest taking fabric sample to big box store- there are several shades of Rust Oleum and other brands of spray paints that are very close to either the fabric or the frame color in the photo above. That paint is very tough and durable, I found the Moss paint chips easily (at least paint from 2006 or so). George
George Butz

So, what you guys are saying, the frame work should be painted the color of the fabric, which makes sense. That's what I did on the 72 B which has a Black top and framework. That makes it easy as my top is going to be Black Stay-fast or Mohair, not sure yet. I know it's wrong, but so is the color of the car. Even though everything on the car will be correct, the colors won't, sorry. I'm building a driver, not a show car. Thanks a bunch for all your input. Much appreciated. PJ

The color,






Paul S Jennings

The bonnet,




Paul S Jennings

Peter,

If you look at the inside of TF9052's wet weather hood,the fabric seems to be a bit like the 'salt and pepper' look. There certainly was no real effort by the Factory to match the hood cloth colour to the frames,inside or out!

Cheers
Rob Grantham
TF3719("Aramis"),TF9177("Athos").
R GRANTHAM

Yeah Rob. That's what the pic of the NOS side curtain suggests. The matching to the fabric must be a Furphy. As I'm going with beige on ivory I think I'll stick with matching the frame to the fabric, which is what I've done. Can't see the sense in adding yet another light colour just to make a feature of the frames & bows. Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

Have taken a couple of photos of my hood bow colours on TF8958 year of manufacture Feb 1955.
1. Is the sample scrapings off the original before respray sorry about quality but on a small scrapping get the idea of my colouring.
2.Hood hinge colour
3.Paint shop colour code formula.
Cheer John



J.K. Chester-Freeman

Picture 2 Hood hinge colour


J.K. Chester-Freeman

Picture 3 Paint Shop furmula


J.K. Chester-Freeman

This thread was discussed between 08/01/2015 and 10/01/2015

MG TD TF 1500 index

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