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just ordered paint pens

I've used paint pens for other tasks, but only off the shelf colors. I would have never guessed that anyone would have all the paint formulations available in pen form, since the pens seem to have a short shelf life.

My '73 Midget is Arctic White (very bright white). You'd think you could go anywhere and pick up a can of the brightest white Duplicolor (or similar) spray or brush-on and be set. Wrong...I've got 3 or 4 cans of the various whites...all close...biut NO cigar!

Ray
 
You can take the DITZ code to just about any auto paint store and they will mix up as much or as little as you want. Most can put the paint in spray cans if you want. I just paid ~$8 for about 4 oz. The problem is the paint code gives you a really good match of the paint as it left the factory. Unfortunatley the paint fades, so the correct color doesn't match what is showing on the car. There are scanners that do a really good job of matching the color/tint/shade on the car but you need a sample from the car that can be taken into the store. I couldn't find anything on the exterior of the Midget that was easy to remove and replace.
 
yea, I'm guessing it won't be a perfect match, but my paint is in decent shape, so hopefully it will be close enough. I only have a few scratches and chips to tend to.

I hope I can figure out how to fill the chips, and blend it in with the surrounding paint.
 
Around me, it would have been $40/pint (smallest amount) to get a "factory" mix. About the same for them to use the "eye" on the car. I had a few tiny spots. I had some touch up left over from my last car and that matched really closely. It was "Viper Red" can says "OEM" LRN Chysler MO MBC73840 C (MBC brand) which I think is pretty close to Tartan Red? Not seeing Tartan Red in person for sure, it could be my Midget isn't, and is really Viper Red....(it was Ice Blue originally I think). It's a lacquer for 2 stage but it covers the nicks at least.
Not sure I have a point anymore......
 
highhilleer said:
...I couldn't find anything on the exterior of the Midget that was easy to remove and replace....

If the exterior has not faded too badly, and the engine compartment has not been repainted with a different color, you can use an easily removed item from under the bonnet for color matching. I pulled one cotter pin and removed the bonnet latch. It will likely need repainting anyway since it and the post/spring/cup quickly become scratched.

Ray
 

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Just a status report, I received my paint pen and spray can, and the color matches PERFECT !!

almost finished touching up all the little scratches, and what a difference it makes.

I highly recommend the paint pens !!!
 
Friend of mine used them on his Alfa...was really happy with them. Good to hear another positive review.
 
At least at my paint store they said they needed a large (maybe 8" x 8" or 10" x 10") relatively flat, shiny piece of metal to get a good paint match with their computer scanner.
 
The modern paint matching machines only need a sample the size of a quarter.
 
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