If using black I would suggest using satin or matt black - gloss black is the absolute worst colour for highlighting an uneven surface - and the bodywork of a 40 year old rivetted-together bus will be the very definition of an uneven surface (that's not meant to be an insult - it's just the nature of the beast - it would have been uneven on the day it was built).Unfortunately (to my way of thinking) matt black is a very trendy finish at the moment amongst the too-much-money-not-enough-style modified car brigade. However, Mad Max's Interceptor was also matt black, and that was the coolest car in history.Jeremy
I love the bus by the way,my untrained eye has an issue with all the cool lines on the side having the "bottoms" kicked out towards the rear,while the graphic start point seems like an end; not a beginning.My eyes train to the windows,polished trim even the "slash" below as going the right way...then I see the "end" of the graphic...it just doesn't do justice to the buses built-in linesJust my .02 as a casual observer
Black, that is a lot of black, can't believe how much cooler my bus is after going blue to white. It may require more than one more A/C unit.But, it does look good.Just my nickel,Bill
Here' s my bus paint application which isn't too far removed from your idea.. I didn't paint the roof. I left it white. Vinyl will fade quickly and will only last 2 years. I used the same black and bronze color scheme. I used a charcoal stripe. I feathered a black accent at the base of the bus.I never felt the "black" difference personally-even if I go to the desert.. Hope this helps. You're going to be pleased when you're done.
Hey Mike,That does look sharp! Much better than the old paint. Maybe you could look into mini-splits to solve the cooling problem. Several on here have used them with good success.TOMPS: Phyllis liked it too.
The difference in surface temperature between white and black in the desert summer will be in the range of 30-40 degrees. The surface temp could easily be 140-150 degrees for black. I do not think that that will be an insignificant cooling load in a desert climate like ours. It really could require an added AC unit depending on how cool you like to be. This will be the case while parked or driving. Although this one factor may not be the bases of the entire decision, it is an issue. A white roof would help.