Many people have the best intentions when doing this stuff, but there's a fine line between homage, replica, and knock-off.

 

Considering the 998 is 12 model years and three generations of Ducati Superbike behind the SL, I doubt there is much danger of people thinking it is a knock off or replica.

More like a 998 with a cool orange and white paint job and magnesium (painted) bits.

And based on what some owners have reported with the poor durability of the stock SL paint, a professionally done repaint of you 998 may have a better paint job than the $55k bike from 2014.

This may help.
Superleggera Paint Code - Ducati 1299 Forum

 

There are literally hundreds of different paint suppliers. It would be nice if a factory could provide a code that would translate perfectly but that's why blending is necessary on repairs even on the most common color for a particular car. It is nearly impossible to match a color and remaining examples will be aged and faded. Even if you could get the exact same paint, the color is affected by what you put under it, how many coats, are they wet or thin coats, what kind of clear, etc. etc. Kind of like getting crowns on your teeth and they don't yellow or bleach the same way as your own teeth. There are some suppliers that will provide touch up or repaint colors for Ducati's, and that may be easier than getting a paint shop to take enough interest in your project to get close if you can afford it, but then you will usually want the whole system. Most painters get good at one or two systems If you are making a clone, usually something in the right ballpark is fine.

 

Sounds like a great idea to me, sounds like you want to find an experience Ducati painter. Good luck in your quest, post up lots of pics won't you

 

The orange is a semi fluorescent. Hard to impossible to get IN THE QUALITY (light fastness) that is required to stand up to UV (sun) light. More then likely it's a propriety color made for Ducati. It can be replicated but not to a standard I would offer my customers.

 

I'm doing the same to my 999 but just follow the superleggera lines with my own pick of color, lettering and so on.
I like the line flow but I don't want it to be a mini me of the superleggera.
A really good painter just for bikes in CT has been mentioned by many on this site, can't remember the name but someone will chime in.
Good luck

 

...a really good painter just for bikes in ct has been mentioned by many on this site, can't remember the name but someone will chime in.

Anthony,

You might want to chat with Danbuc... If the painter in CT that Larossa is referring to is the same one that Daniel used for his 748R custom job you "may" want to look elsewhere. http://www.ducati.ms/forums/56-superbikes/143111-2001-748-restoration-thread-26.html#post5719081

There are several very skilled painters who are part of this forum who you could contact re. this project... Ducky996R ( http://www.ducati.ms/forums/12274-ducky996r.html ) and Artistimo ( http://www.ducati.ms/forums/20795-artistimo.html ). Here is some of Artistimo's stuff:

Jason LeCavalier's Library | Photobucket


Ducky's work is more traditional, but his attention to detail is exceptional:

 

Hi

I am planning something similar..well, I am planning lots of things but this is one of them..the painting I mean. I found out that Ducati Motogp bikes might use same paint as for example McLaren F1 cars, the old ones. Here are some links to check:

Marlboro brilliant re paint code??? | Adventure Rider
mclaren or marlboro reds - ApexSpeed
Mclaren MP4 (Marlboro) Red Paint 60ml

Dion't know for sure, but should be close..

 

One of the main problems with this idea, at least in my opinion, is that the design lines (Character/Belt/Bone, etc.) which are the hard "creases" or seams in the bodywork on the 916 series bikes are not conducive to the rather linear/parallel proportions of the Superleggera. To see what I'm talking about, check out Ducati Detroit's lovely 899 Superleggera:

Start from the angle on the top surface of the tank and work your way down. You should notice that a large number of design elements and features in the bodywork, as seen from this perspective, are parallel with one another. The bulge on the side of the tank which creates the knee cut, the top surface of the seat, the seam where the front fairing joins the sides, the rear shock/damper, etc. etc. etc. The Superleggera paint scheme works on the Panigale because it was designed FOR it. I'm not saying it won't work on the 916 series, but it will fight the as designed lines on those bikes. Take a look at the 916 below:

I did this scheme in Photoshop a few years ago for one of the forum members here who was rebuilding his bike. He liked the Corse scheme from the 848, and was able to purchase the new lower fairings which he was able to work into the rest of the scheme because we used the small fairing segment below the tank to blend the main Corse paint lines from front to rear, and to taper and angle them so they complemented the existing body lines on the 916.

Just my .02 cents, but if it were me, I would go with a scheme that tied in better with the existing body design.

 

One of the main problems with this idea, at least in my opinion, is that the design lines (Character/Belt/Bone, etc.) which are the hard "creases" or seams in the bodywork on the 916 series bikes are not conducive to the rather linear/parallel proportions of the Superleggera. To see what I'm talking about, check out Ducati Detroit's lovely 899 Superleggera:



Start from the angle on the top surface of the tank and work your way down. You should notice that a large number of design elements and features in the bodywork, as seen from this perspective, are parallel with one another. The bulge on the side of the tank which creates the knee cut, the top surface of the seat, the seam where the front fairing joins the sides, the rear shock/damper, etc. etc. etc. The Superleggera paint scheme works on the Panigale because it was designed FOR it. I'm not saying it won't work on the 916 series, but it will fight the as designed lines on those bikes. Take a look at the 916 below:

I did this scheme in Photoshop a few years ago for one of the forum members here who was rebuilding his bike. He liked the Corse scheme from the 848, and was able to purchase the new lower fairings which he was able to work into the rest of the scheme because we used the small fairing segment below the tank to blend the main Corse paint lines from front to rear, and to taper and angle them so they complemented the existing body lines on the 916.

Just my .02 cents, but if it were me, I would go with a scheme that tied in better with the existing body design.

Some nice photshop work there @ProphetPVD

 

Reminds me of the 899 Ducati NYC did in a SuperLight theme with the yellow/blacl/white paint and even replicated the two piece wheels with the polished rim and mag color spokes. Looks fantastic.


I think it'll look great. It's a pretty simple paint scheme that should flow just fine with the 998 bodywork I think though some 'interpretation' may be required to get it to look right.

 

I have one at hand here. Ridden it when it was brand new, ie two years ago. Back for service and mapping.
SL is VERY orange!

 

Thanks for the props, Prophet! All that stuff is old though lol I just got back on here for first time since May or early June after finally sorting my log-in issues (Thanks Scott!) Check out my FB page (Artistimo Custom Design) for more up-to-date stuff. Have done a few Ducs from the West Coast in the past year or so that are on the page. Just finishing up a Jimmy Adamo 851 restoration for another forum member right this moment actually.

https://www.facebook.com/ARTISTIMO-CUSTOM-DESIGN-296109502142/

 

Hey Prophet!

Great input. That's a great concern of mine as I'm obtaining the body work... Is there any chance (for shitz and giggles) that you can photoshop the colors onto a 916/996/998 series to see what it would look like?

By the way I value all of the opinions here on the forum otherwise I wouldn't have put myself out here...

So thank you all for your input!!!

 

No problem sir... in the works already. By the way, as a 748 owner, I take umbrage at your omission of that model from the series description.

 

My situation is being dealt with and we have sorted our differences lol. I also may not be the norm. Can only speak for myself on that.


I've heard fantastic things about Peach Pit. That's who the NYC Duc dealer uses for their custom builds. They're up in NH I think though?


OP is in Cali, there HAS to be a painter out there who can pull off the SL paint.

 

First you need to talk to a professional.... The only useful advice you've gotten so far would be the person that suggested that scheme may not transfer that well to that bike.. That is very true, The 2 bodies are very very different, I have this discussion all the time with customers, some people just want what they want & can't see that it may not be able to be done... But, That dos't mean we can't create a Very Sharp looking 1 off, using styling cues & colors of the Super L.. You need to be able to conform to things & think outside the box....

John
Finishing Touch
www.Finishingtouch4u.com
www.Facebook.com/FinishingTouch.MC

 

PainterDude's Gulf Racing replica livery is my all-time favorite Ducati paint scheme.

http://www.ducati.ms/forums/11-ducati-motorcycle-chat/64385-ducati-1098r-gulf-racing-replica.html

 

Thank You, That scheme also seems to be the most duplicated scheme by other painters,... I take that as a compliment also....


Back to the 998 super L, I can see a couple possibilities already, Im sure Prophet will reveal something nice..

 

The Marlboro livery Desmosedici was always at the top of my list... that's moto porn right there.

 

If you want to clean up the lines a little, purchasing a set of fairing with the nose attached to the side fairing will work. Typically for race fairing.