Well, as difficult & time-consuming as it's been for me, I've (once again) finalized the paint & color scheme of my FJ40 rebuild - which will be maintained as OEM as possible, but has already defaulted as being a restomod.
I've of course gone in circles (and more circles) over the paint scheme, which is never-the-less quite important to me.
Will be DuPont Imron Elite single-stage product of 34031 Army Aircraft Green (now known as Gray-Black) - a color that changes its hue from a greenish-gray to a dark grayish-green, to brownish-taupe, to that of an out-right bronze :
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And contrary to a purist desire, I envision strategic portions of the outside of the vehicle will incorporate an ultra-smooth, tinted bedliner of the exact same hue of color. I'm considering utilizing either Raptor or Monstaliner (both are basically the same, and are both UV stable polyurethane with particles of ceramic mixed-in). Rest assure, I'll be practicing on how to thin it & properly apply it, that it be relatively smooth & professionally appearing.
Conversely, both products of LizardSkin will be used on the inside & underside of the vehicle. The inside floorboard LizardSkin (extending to atop the rear wheel wells) will be top coated with a unique, simultaneous mixture of a base/clear of OEM Rustic Green, Dune Beige, and Black (as applied via two two, side-by-side, simultaneously shot paint guns - the paint mixing while traveling through the air). To balance the theme to the outside of the vehicle, aft the two front doors, on the upper portion of the tub, I'll create a 3-inch wide "pinstripe" of this same, mixed three-color combo. This will then extend to the protruding, horizontal-bar of the driver & passenger door (as a natural continuation of the line), where it will then stop - going no further to the engine apron.
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I envision such a "pinstripe" will 1) tie the outside of the vehicle to the inside of the vehicle; 2) break-up any notion that the vehicle "is a military vehicle;" and 3) will indirectly complement the Cygnus White roof cap & front bezel.
The LizardSkin on the underside tub, extending up the engine-side firewall, will be top coated with the tinted bedliner.
Within my mind, the envisioned scheme will sport a balance of pleasing form and logical function; will incorporate the OEM colors of Rustic Green, Dune Beige, and on the kick-vent (as a base for my painted winged dog logo), Sky Blue. However, for me, it'll be the artistically painted kick vents, of a winged dog that I've graphically created, that will be "the soul" & central point of the vehicle, which will be my adventure dogger-car, that I one day carry my adventurous dogs.
Along the lines of :
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The cosmetics of the resulting vehicle will be held as simple, yet overly nice; and yet, both overly durable & quite doable as an Eastern United States trail-rig. I plan to end-up venturing it out west, as well as, well up into Northwestern Canada too. As a 1979, U.S. spec FJ40 (already modified & previously painted a non-OEM metallic blue-green turquoise by the previous owner), the vehicle, to the best of my ability, will maintain a late 70's feel & sense of spirit. ... The industrial-grade, Aircraft Green paint I'm wishing to use was utilized by the American Army upon their own Cobra attack helicopters, from the mid-70's up until the mid-80's, although as a CARC coated paint.
View attachment 1566984
~Skydog.
