Tailgate paint scheme...

[LEB Ben]

I'm bought an OEM tailgate for Red. It needs to be stripped, primed and painted. Since Red was last painted, the tailgate was solid red with the black/aluminum tailgate panel. The paint scheme follows the racetrack scheme around the bedsides, IE the end caps of the bed around to the tail lights are solid red.

All that said, I kind of want to do red/white/red with the tailgate, still using the black/aluminum finish panel. I'm not entirely sure how that would look though. There are a couple other options as well...just go back solid red or red and paint the stamped FORD white or red/white/red and paint the stamping red.

My main concern is if I introduce white to the center panel, will it look goofy if the bed end caps are solid red and have no trim to break up the solid color.

Here you can see, once the white stops, it's all red on the $$$ end:

This will be the new tailgate:

 

[LEB Ben]

Mark I hope you don't mind...but this is what I want to do,

but without all the trim pieces, I worry it'll look unfinished, like someone just put white paint in the middle and couldn't blend the scheme:

 

[smokey]

I've seen several red white red tailgates. I think they look great as they flow with the rest of the truck paint scheme.

 

[LEB Ben]

^^^I agree...I think it looks the best, but I also know how hard it is to pull off the tu-tone racetrack scheme without the trim. I'm not really sure how to get the white on the tailgate to flow in to the solid red of the bed ends without the trim breaking it up. Along the side it's easy, just pin stripe it.

 

[BIGRED911]

Red with FORD in white....

 

[smokey]

When you tape the lines use a straight line tape to get a crisp line.
Then do a light sand to blend the paint surface to loose the top color paint ridge. Then spray the clear if using two stage paint.

 

[LEB Ben]

^^^I'm talking about the red section around the tail lights...I'd probably just pinstripe the horizontal blend on the tailgate again. I'm worried about the vertical blend around the tail lights.

 

[smokey]

the tape is flexible and is used in taping pin striping for painting.
It will look fine around the tail lights. Hardly anyone runs trim around here because the trim holds salt and rusts everything out.

 

[m78]

You could put some chrome pen stripe over the seam until you find the trim pieces.
I did this on the back of my cab instead of back belt trim.

 

[LEB Ben]

^^^I have all the trim, a few sets actually...but it's just not on the rest of the truck. But I think Randy is right, not really enough red on the tail light part of the bed to make a difference.

 

[m78]

Here's a better picture

Pen stripe at back belt.

 

[LEB Ben]

^^^I'm thinking if I lead the white right in to the tail light, I should be fine. Then pin stripe the color lines together...the bottom stripe should be easy...I think the upper blend should be in the 'crease' where the top of your black panel is at.

 

[RustyCJ]

There is no trim around the taillights right? Just red.
If thats the case then solid red with the raised letters white.

 

[RustyCJ]

And no black panel.
Very clean and a less is more type of thing.

 

[LEB Ben]

Pen stripe at back belt.

Hmmm...I guess I just always assumed there was trim there. I know it could be had, just didn't know you could get it without.

There is no trim around the taillights right? Just red.
If thats the case then solid red with the raised letters white.

And no black panel.
Very clean and a less is more type of thing.

Correct...and the black panel wouldn't go on...just the panel with Ford letters.

 

[m78]

There is supposed to be trim there, and I have it (NOS). I didn't feel like putting it on.

 

[DNFXDLI]

Choice 1. .

 

[Fellro]

The inset panel gives you some body lines to use for a defined edge, you can do an inset color. I will have to get a pic of the tailgate on the parts truck I have, I believe it is the inverse of what you are looking for, the truck is white with red . I will warn you though, the damage to the gate will make you cry when you see how stupid someone was and destroyed a perfectly good tail gate.

 

[m78]

Check out the pictures of the tailgate on this truck.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Ford...ks&hash=item4611e48379&vxp=mtr#ht_1619wt_1170

 

[LEB Ben]

I'm pretty sure that's the paint scheme I'm going to go with (plus ford aluminum panel)...but he has the trim around the tail lights to break up the transition...which is what i was worried about. but I really don't think no trim is going to matter.