Hi Lampie just a couple of info needed on restoring a steel tank PL53 which i got from shed man. Does any member know what colour the steel tank would have been,it i beleive beeing steel was made aroud 1940-45,the colour what is left on the tank may have faded but it looks like a light blue, but on the under side the tank base it looks like a very dark blue, i would like to choose a paint that is a close colour match as i would like to restor it as authentic as possible. Another little bit of advice i am sure i have read on here about a coating/treatment to coat the bottom of the inside of the tank, that is resiliant to the fuel and will seal the tank base from rust many thanks lampies for any advice
Yes, not knowing the correct name, what I think of as 'duck-egg blue' was a Tilley colour around WWII and I've a few lanterns painted like that. I've never tried to get a paint match for it, though, so I don't know what's the best modern equivalent. If there's enough original paint left, take the tank to your local motor factor who will probably be able to match it and mix up a spray can. Usually far cheaper than Halfrauds who have a limited range of colours available anyway. If you get a decent match, let us know what it is please...
Hi David thank you very much for your response and now i know it was originaly blue i will find a suitable pale blue colour,it wont be 100% as the original,but a light blueish colour will still be in keeping with its colour,i wonder if i contact Tilley they may have a record of what colour was used.once i have finished it i will add all the pics in the fettling forum
You can try but I think you'll find they don't know their ar$e from their elbow... Anyway, I've a few things in the pale blue colour including at least one heater radiator, but this is the only one that isn't camera shy - who knows where the rest are hiding:- It's jet black gloss underneath, which is standard Tilley for the time...
Hi David thank you very much for your help.mine all so on the under side is black which i thought was very dark blue.I can see what you mean by discribing the colour as a duck egg blue it looks like a light bluey grey paint. it may easier to find the right colour by useing Airfix/Humbrol enammel paint from a model shop and apply it by air brush it would work out a lot cheaper than aerosol spray
That's just the photograph - it's definitely pale blue, not grey. I may have the lantern up to the local motor factors tomorrow, although I'm not even sure they mix aerosol paint to be honest. Currently, I'm working away from my usual place so I don't know what's what. I'll let you know...
This colour is damn near impossible to find. It is actually a sort of pale blue/grey rather than duck egg and IK have never found a good matck. I have used a pale blue on a few items from the period but they never look quite right. ::Neil::
Well it looks blue to me but maybe that's my eyes - could be blue/grey to someone else. I'll have a look at it tomorrow in good daylight - assuming we get some. I only said I think of it as duck-egg blue, which doesn't actually mean it's really that colour because I don't ever recall seeing a blue duck egg. Similarly, I call Great Lumley 'the cultural capital of north-east England' - which doesn't mean that it actually is...
Hi David and Neil to be honest i can agree with both your colour discriptions,looking at it,it is a all most impossible colour to acurately discribe,if i mix a colour my self i might buy a small humbroll light blue and a grey and add a little grey to the blue or visa versa,a light rub on the paint David with some T.cut may reveal the true colour as i dare say it has faided over the years.
Well, in bright daylight I have to concede it isn't just pale blue. Under the 'daylight' fluorescent tubes at work with no natural daylight, I have to say it looks positively grey. Whatever, I'll have it round the local motor factors in 30 minutes or so...
Well, I've just googled duck egg blue and found this. No wonder I'm confused! Mind, it is women talking...
POR-15 is an excellent product for sealing tanks. Info here. Buy only as much as you will use in a short time. It does not store well after being opened. This discussion about lamp color reminds me of an "interesting" discussion over at BBL a while back... Norwegian Blue Dan
Hi Dan thank you for the link very impresive stuff i will se how i go with the cost plus the shipping
No good - they don't mix up aerosol cans. In fact, they told me no-one does these days, which isn't true. Anyway, I got the tank back to work and while we were chatting, I asked what colour people thought it was. One woman said she thought it was "slate grey". She asked if it was a kettle of some sort so I told her it was a Tilley lamp tank. She then asked if it was an antique, so I told her it was from around WWII. Then she asked if I could still get gas canisters for it! Women, eh...
I can't be sure of this but I had always sort of assumed they were that colour because they were made for the Air Ministry and the colour was therefore perhaps a sort of Air Force Blue. Pure guesswork mind you. ::Neil::
Hi there Dave and Neil i have just been looking on ebay at Humbroll enamell paints i have seen two colours a matt finish one is clalled duck egg blue n023 and the other is aircraft blue n065 which the latter looks more like the colour on the lamp,a important point to rember the original paint on the lamp is near 70 years old plus and the colour would have changed due to fadeing etc, the ebay seller is called woodybigman it may be worth your while looking at the colour for future restorations
At times like these, I find myself looking at car colours as I drive along. Today, I spotted a modern Mini sporting a colour I swear is as near as dammit to the one we're seeking... This might be it - Ice Blue...
Hi, just to throw my pennyworth into the debate, the colour in the photo looks quite similar to RAF sky. However, i suggest you are careful if you go to your local model shop as some paint manufacturers don't quite get it right, Tamya being a prime example, where the colour is too green. Good hunting.
Hi John and dave i ordered the humrol paint from the seller on ebay,i think it will be a close match to when the lamp was new,it is very difficult getting a original match,the only real way we can get a perfect idea and colour match on a lamp that is over 70 years old would be to see one that has never been used and kept in the box where ageing has not efected the paint work. Dave that colour on the mini would work realy well that realy is a close to the colour on your lamp
