Correct paint color for American Torque Thrust spokes

[Charliem53]

I've tried several colors of gray and tried to mix a couple colors but I can't seem to get the correct color for the gray spokes. Has anyone figured this out?

Thanks,

Charlie

[Mike 1017]

I would try Magnesium paint. A lot of wheels were made of Magnesium Thats why Mag wheels got the nick name Mags

Mike

[espo]

The color of the 1:1 spokes can depend on the model or style of American 5 spoke wheel you're thinking about. The wheels with the steel outer part of the wheel that is covered by the outer half from the bolt center to the outer edge of the face was usually a flat medium gray color. There is a one-piece cast wheel that has a machined or more often a polished lip that again, usually referred to as a "coke bottle or a daisy" style, done with a sand cast type finish and left with a natural aluminum finish. Some of these wheels, and this is where the usually I mentioned can apply, can be had with a flat metallic looking darker gray painted finish. For that particular style I would suggest looking at Tamiya XF-56 Flat Metallic Gray in a brush on paint. There has been at times in the past as trends and style have changed where the centers would be painted either the body color of the vehicle or maybe a contrasting color. I'd paint them whatever color gives you the look you're after. A spoon or scrape spruce is good for checking how the color would look. 

[NOBLNG]

20 hours ago, Charliem53 said:

I've tried several colors of gray and tried to mix a couple colors but I can't seem to get the correct color for the gray spokes. Has anyone figured this out?

Thanks,

Charlie

If this is the look you’re after, I would just use grey primer.

[Bainford]

The colour seems to have changed throughout the years. The wheels from the 60s/70s appear to be a light flat grey, while the later wheels from the 80s on wards appear to be a much darker flat or satin grey. Whether there have been just these two variations, or many variations of grey over the years, I can't say. For early period builds, I go with the lighter grey. Greg's suggestion to use primer for this would work well. Additionally, they are frequently painted and could conceivably be any shade of grey, or any other colour for that matter. There may be actual specific colours for the different eras, and perhaps someone will chime with specific knowledge. A flat or semi-gloss finish seems pretty much standard across the board. 

On the two examples below, the Torino is wearing an unknown dark flat grey, and the Mustang is wearing a lighter custom mix of Tamiya Tank Grey and Flat White acrylic, approximately 70/30 mix.

 

Edited June 10, 2024 by Bainford

[Charliem53]

Thanks for the responses. The Torino has the wheel color I'm looking for. I'll try a few different primers and see what I come up with.

Charlie

[Bills72sj]

3 hours ago, Charliem53 said:

Thanks for the responses. The Torino has the wheel color I'm looking for. I'll try a few different primers and see what I come up with.

Charlie

I concur. Look for a dark grey primer. Or medium grey with a drop or so of black added.

[StevenGuthmiller]

22 hours ago, espo said:

The color of the 1:1 spokes can depend on the model or style of American 5 spoke wheel you're thinking about. The wheels with the steel outer part of the wheel that is covered by the outer half from the bolt center to the outer edge of the face was usually a flat medium gray color. There is a one-piece cast wheel that has a machined or more often a polished lip that again, usually referred to as a "coke bottle or a daisy" style, done with a sand cast type finish and left with a natural aluminum finish. Some of these wheels, and this is where the usually I mentioned can apply, can be had with a flat metallic looking darker gray painted finish. For that particular style I would suggest looking at Tamiya XF-56 Flat Metallic Gray in a brush on paint. There has been at times in the past as trends and style have changed where the centers would be painted either the body color of the vehicle or maybe a contrasting color. I'd paint them whatever color gives you the look you're after. A spoon or scrape spruce is good for checking how the color would look. 

I agree that it appears to depend on the type or model of wheel.

I opted for a dark metallic gray for the Torque Thrusts that I used on my '65 Fury.

 

Just seemed to me to add a little more character over primer gray.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Steve

[espo]

5 hours ago, StevenGuthmiller said:

I agree that it appears to depend on the type or model of wheel.

I opted for a dark metallic gray for the Torque Thrusts that I used on my '65 Fury.

 

Just seemed to me to add a little more character over primer gray.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Steve

This is sort of the look I try and get as well. The paint I usually use, Tamiya XF-56 Metallic Gray, tends to be a little flatter finished. 

[TransAmMike]

And lets not forget, the spokes are black on some.

[bill-e-boy]

And some are fully polished

And some have painted centres with polished rims

And most are painted centres with a machined finished rims which are satin ally

[slusher]

On 6/10/2024 at 12:50 PM, NOBLNG said:

If this is the look you’re after, I would just use grey primer.

Like Greg, I use primer..