Rocking motor, a little fun project.

[AlexThePalex]

Friends of mine who were expecting a little baby girl, delivered this weekend, had this old rocking horse in the shape of a motor and they wanted it painted in a very light but solid pink colour.

I thought the motor looked great already, but who am I to disagree with a professional interior decorator? I simply haven't got the qualifications for that. [smile] They already had it for years and now wanted it to have a more modern look. Fine, I'll oblige.

I thought it was best to spray it, but it has been a while since I had my last sprayer and I didn't really want to break the bank for one little job, so I got me a cheap used (hardly!) Wagner W687E HVLP system for €35. It is pretty crap compared to the €500 DeVilbis sprayers I have gotten used to in the past, but I managed though the spray pattern is pretty rough and far from ideal. I am no fan of HVLP sprayers with a turbine, compressed air just rules. But such equipment is so much bigger and more expensive.  [sad]

Still a nice little project to do. Having done lots of model making as a hobby I really had to resist the constant urge to fill in details, paint the lights, fill in the license plate, and put details on the engine. But what can you do? Solid it is.  [tongue]

Not much Festools used here, just the T15 for the screws because I had to take it apart, the DX93 for a bit of light sanding and the CS70 to saw a few parts I had to replace because they were broken. Turns out the CS70 also works great as a pedestal for the bike to rest on after it's sprayed and has to dry. Btw, no CS70's were harmed in the making of this production.

Delivered it to my friends today, and I saw the new baby girl. They were very happy with the bike. I was happy to see their new daughter.

And here are of course some pictures, before and after:

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[ear3]

Agree with you on the preference for Natural Wood.  But that said, the spray job you did looks super professional, so kudos.

 

[jeh]

I much prefer the natural finish. I don't recall ever seeing an all-white motorcycle.

 

[Vondawg]

You’re kidding right?
But...as Alex stated it’s a PINK for the b@by girl

 

[Cheese]

You do lay down a nice coat of paint Alex...even with primitive tools.  [eek]

The Devilbis and Binks compressor guns have always been my favorite despite the recent adulation of the 12 stage HVLP guns. Is there another stage available?

On another note, I also enjoy the motorcycle in the natural wood finishes.

I wonder if just painting the tires, the seat and the hand grips black would lend a more natural look to the finished project.

The all pink look kind of removes the form from the object. It just smoothes together to become a pink something.

I do think the bike is pretty spiffy and I’m thinking about duplicating it for one of my nieces.

 

[AlexThePalex]

Thanks, I also think a little detail would brighten it up, but the owner doesn't want that. He's a professional interior decorator and he's pretty set when he's made his mind up. He also likes a very minimalistic style. For instance, I also painted their house, everything is white. Walls, ceilings, floors, everything. Like a laboratory. That's how he likes it.

 

[Cheese]

...I also painted their house, everything is white. Walls, ceilings, floors, everything. Like a laboratory. That's how he likes it.

Well if everything is white maybe the all pink bike is just the little splash of color he needs.  [smile]  Possibly the natural wood finishes may have been too much of a contrast.

 

[AlexThePalex]

Yes, for sure, he thought it was too old fashioned looking. I think that is a difference in taste between the USA and Northern Europe, you like wooden things and the nature look, here we prefer more the look of synthetic materials, and everything very light. 95% of what I make and paint for people has to be white.

Funny thing though, the lady has her own fitness club, and I had to completely redecorate a big room over there, and there we used 6 or 7 different colours, mostly shades of green from very light to very dark, also designed by him. This job was lot of fun, working with so many colours is a rare event for me. I'll post this project later, still need to finish some small things up.

 

[Cheese]

I can appreciate the white color scheme Alex as our house has white walls, white ceilings and light gray (architectural gray) trim. The only color splash is some black leather seating.  [eek]

The outside of the house is light gray with white trim...so I do get the white thing.  [smile]

 

[AlexThePalex]

Well, with such a big country as the USA there are many tastes of course, but what I generally see from US sources like TV and the web I see a lot more colour used than over here. Everything has to be white, it's almost maniacal.  [smile]

By the way, what's a stage 12 HVLP, is that one of those things they use to test jets in a windtunnel?

 

[Jiggy Joiner]

Nice job Alex but, you’re friends are lacking in taste. Personally I’d have left it be, and bought an alternative.

 

[AlexThePalex]

Thanks Jiggy. Lacking in taste? That's a bit harsh, isn't it? Maybe just different. Like I said, the good old plain wood look, it's just not that popular over here anymore.

 

[Jiggy Joiner]

Hi Alex, yeah I get that, and each to their own always. I just thought it looked more realistic originally but, it could well be me that’s lacking in taste?

Anyway, no offence meant, perhaps I should have chosen my words more carefully  [thumbs up]