Classic & Vintage - Raleigh Bronze Green HALP!!!!!!!!!!

Yeah this is the thread that will probably get reproduced for all eternity. I need ideas on reproducing raleigh bronze green, and anyone who's tried can we see your results?

Here is a guy who found a pretty close match.

http://www.schwinnbikeforum.com/index.php?topic=10474.msg53102#msg53102

I think it is a blue undercoat with a yellow translucent topcoat. That makes the cool deep green, and the bright blue that shows through dings and scrapes. At least that what it looks like on my '72 Super Course.

There are four distinct variants of Bronze Green:

1. A deep, rich, semi-transparent green with a silver base, often seen on early 1970's Super Courses. Similar to Schwinn's Campus Green.
2. A more sedate version of #1, notably much more opaque, with less silver base visible - late 1960's Super Courses and some others; arguably a variation of #1
3. A semi-transparent, olive drab color; common on mid-1970s Sports
4. A completely opaque, medium green metallic (i.e., this color has actual metalflakes in the mix).

This does not include minor batch variations, or the 1977+ "Emerald Green" color. Which one are you trying to match?

-Kurt

I've been trying to match #3 actually, but I would have settled for the #4 which I actually own a sports and superbe in those colors respectively, funny you responded when you did I just walked back in from playing with paint layers... I think I've gotten close to the #3 now but! it's got too much metal flake in it... looking more similar to #1 or #2 even though my underlayer is a gold base... I ran out of green paint was only using leftovers from another project on that part... but! I think I may have an idea of which way to go shadewise.. I'll put up pics in a bit.

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x309/ascendingsmoke/Raleigh%20Green/1031111452.jpg
This is the one I'm happy with, my green shade was too light I think thus throwing it all off.. but I think I'm on to something.. and here's the funky stuff!
http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x309/ascendingsmoke/Raleigh%20Green/1031111452a.jpg
http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x309/ascendingsmoke/Raleigh%20Green/1031111452b.jpg
http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x309/ascendingsmoke/Raleigh%20Green/1031111452d.jpg

For #3 I have found some cheap fingernail polish at a dollar store somewhere that was pretty close. I don't really worry about it too much anymore. I wipe my bike down with a lightly oiled rag after every ride and that keeps things from rusting.

Aaron :)