Originally Posted by
3alarmer
.
...no, I have never seen this done successfully.
What you might try is to carefully mask off the original decals when you do the color coat, then unmask them and cover the whole thing using one of the urethane clear coat products, which go on pretty thickly, in order to flow and achieve a high gloss finish. I have pretty much gotten over the whole "decals have an uneven line from the paint" business, because most of what I repaint is done with vinyl reproductions. I always have a line, and it doesn't bother me under the clear coat urethane.
well, that just might work. the paint on the frame is in only "fair" condition. there's some surface rust, but that's concentrated mainly around the bottom bracket and a couple of lugs. otherwise, there's some pin sized pitting (a lot on the fork!!) sparsely scattered on the tubes and the paint's simply just dull from oxidizing. iow's maybe a light color passes to cover pitting and enliven the overall dullness and then concentrate heavier passes in the rustier areas. and, of course, then do as you suggest with the clear to really get the shine. sound about right?