What is the color of the stripes on the Ford Shelby '65 427 inch Cobra?

[Bill Anderson]

Hi,

I've looked at several pics of blue Cobras and can't determine if those that have "white" stripes are truly white or silver or ???

Could anyone help me out here?

Thank you!

 

 

[Tim W. SoCal]

'65 427 Cobras were Guardsman Blue with Wimbledon White stripes.

Edited March 15 by Tim W. SoCal

[Bill Anderson]

Thank you!  I assumed they were a bright white, but the pics I've pulled up could be more silvery.  But, white it is (I like that) and that is what I will use.

Again, thank you!

 

[Can-Con]

Bill, keep on mind that Wimbledon White is not a bright white, but more of a creamy color.

I understand Tamiya "racing white" is pretty close. I have a can and it looks a bit darker to me.  If [when] I do something in Wimbledon white I plan to try mixing it 50/50 with pure white but that's just me. 

[topher5150]

This is the Tamiya racing white

 

[Bill Anderson]

Yes, and thank you!   My plan is to "mix to please" - and will experiment with a bit of yellow or maybe a super light brown.

I've been building models and scenery and structures (model railroads) since the mid '50s and never cease to be amazed at the varying shades  of color.   The palette is just endless.  

 

[Dave G.]

Wimbledon white was basically the standard white for Fords over many years. I used it for pin striping many types of cars besides Ford in 1:1. Great color. I'm just putting up the duplicolor can photo so you can have sample goal to match your Tamiya mix to..

Edited March 17 by Dave G.

[Jon Haigwood]

MCW Paints carries all the Cobra colors by name. 

[Bill Anderson]

Thank you all!

For this model, I will spray the body/hood the color of the stripes, and then tape the stripe area and spray the rest of the body the metallic blue.  I did the sequence the opposite on the '49 Ford and it turned out okay, but I think it could have been better.

 

[Exotics_Builder]

On 3/16/2025 at 1:24 PM, Can-Con said:

Bill, keep on mind that Wimbledon White is not a bright white, but more of a creamy color.

I understand Tamiya "racing white" is pretty close. I have a can and it looks a bit darker to me.  If [when] I do something in Wimbledon white I plan to try mixing it 50/50 with pure white but that's just me. 

I agree.  Tamiya Racing White is too dark/yellowy for Wimbledon White.  Either need to mix or get from someone like Scale Finishes.

 

[Bill Anderson]

I understand the color (I think).   But here is a question, after taping, would you brush or spray the stripes?

[Bainford]

On 3/30/2025 at 12:00 PM, Bill Anderson said:

I understand the color (I think).   But here is a question, after taping, would you brush or spray the stripes?

Spray!

It helps to apply the masking tape to a piece of glass, and use a straight edge and sharp blade to cut a clean edge on the tape. Apply the tape to mask the stripes, burnishing down the edges well. Spray a couple very light coats, light enough that there is no liquid paint on the surface that can flow under the tape edge. Let these very light coats set up well, then spray your beauty coat. 

This will help prevent paint seepage, though a well prepared mask shouldn't suffer that problem.

Edited March 31 by Bainford

[Bill Anderson]

Thank you for the guidance!  I'm never too old to learn something.

[gtx6970]

23 hours ago, Bainford said:

Spray!

It helps to apply the masking tape to a piece of glass, and use a straight edge and sharp blade to cut a clean edge on the tape. Apply the tape to mask the stripes, burnishing down the edges well. Spray a couple very light coats, light enough that there is no liquid paint on the surface that can flow under the tape edge. Let these very light coats set up well, then spray your beauty coat. 

This will help prevent paint seepage, though a well prepared mask shouldn't suffer that problem.

I Just did this very trick for the first time.( only not a ford )  Works very well

 

Very light coats. let each one flash over a few minutes before the next, about 3rd or 4th  pass it will have a nice clean color 

I pulled the tape off after about 10-15 minutes ( its lacquer ) 

 

This is all rattle cans btw 

Edited April 1 by gtx6970

[Bill Anderson]

For better or worse, I settled on Tamiya Pearl White for the stripes.  The pearl white should pair nicely with the metallic blue (or not).

[Bainford]

15 hours ago, Bill Anderson said:

For better or worse, I settled on Tamiya Pearl White for the stripes.  The pearl white should pair nicely with the metallic blue (or not).

Pearl white is quite thin and doesn't cover well by itself. Often you need to apply a white base coat (either paint or primer) before the pearl white.

[Bill Anderson]

I washed the body/hood and dried and sprayed with the pearl white.  Given the model is white plastic, it appears to have covered well.  Anyway, I'll wait a day or two and mask over the stripes to be and spray the blue.  

BTW, GTX6970, that is one heck of a beautiful stripe job!!!

[Chris V]

A bit of advice to supplement what the others have already said:

To prevent the paint “bleeding” under the masking tape, give the masked-off model a light mist coat of clear along the edges of the tape - just enough to seal the edges without building up a heavy layer. Follow up  with mist coats of color avoiding to apply a “wet” coat of paint.

Tamiya’s Pearl White is a very transparent top coat best applied over a solid white base coat. 

To prevent chipping along the edges, the masking tape should be removed before the paint dries and cures - even if it means you have to mask off the area again.

[Bill Anderson]

All good advice, most of which I learned the hard way years ago.

As soon as my hands are steady and my head is in the mood, I'll tape the stripe area and put on that first coat of blue.

[Bill Anderson]

Well, here are a couple pics of the "untouched up" striping results.  The paint is Testors Star Spangled Blue and Tamiya Pearl White.  Still have details to add, but I'm pretty happy with the results so far.  

[TarheelRick]

Very nice-looking striping job. I'll bet it really pops in the sunlight.