Plastic badge refurbishment

[Monstyr]

After finding out the badges on my bike would cost an eyewatering total of £116 to replace I've decided to have an attempt at refurbishing my old ones, these are very tatty, scratched and chipped, one of them had a bit missing too.




I've managed to rebuild the missing part using plastic sprue (plastic frame that holds model kits together) though I know that a smooth paint coat will highlight any imperfections so theres still a lot of finishing to do on them.




I'll be interested to hear if anyone has used any of the 'chrome' paints on anything, how did you find it?
Any recommendations?

( cant figure out why the forum always awkwardly crops the images I link, is there a way to post the whole image? )

[dvhttn]

I did attempt to refurbish mine but decided that it was too much trouble! I got new badges from NLM for, I seem to remember, about £50/£55 or thereabouts. I also got the top yoke badge but sent that back as the quality was sh!te.

Oh, that was only this year as well.

[Monstyr]

I was taken aback by how much these badges cost, the ones I've seen for sale so far also appear flat rather than the bas relief originals, was this the case with yours?

If my initial attempts dont work then I may consider trying to cast them in resin and try a few things.
I'll only buy such overpriced baubles as a last resort.

[EVguru]

Are you talking about NLM's prices, or Giovannimoto1 on ebay (who buys from NLM and marks up by quite a margain)?

I was fortunate enough to be able to buy some of the last club stock of badges, which were resin cast copies of the factory items. The only 'flat' badges I'm aware of are vinyls. The NLM badges are from the same source the club used. It does help if you pre-curve the resin tank badges (a little heat and a former) to stop them lifting.

There are cast metal badges (unpainted/enammeled) available from NZ, but they really are quite expensive.

[Monstyr]

I've only seen ones via a couple of internet sites.
I dont know how much NLM charge as they dont list prices anywhere and I dont buy stuff blind, the exhaust spanner I bought from them would have been cheaper to buy, ...from them , on ebay.
If you know the price to be cheaper then post it up please, I'd like to know what it is.
In the meantime I'll try the DIY approach and keep an eye out for second hand ones.

[EVguru]

I dont know how much NLM charge as they dont list prices anywhere.

They do, but you have to know where to look.

Here's a direct link to the stock list; http://www.northleicestermotorcycles.co ... /parts.pdf

If you buy or download a parts book, you can look things up by their Morini part number.

Rob runs the stores at NLM and is very helpful. He'll look up prices for you if you're not sure.

[Monstyr]

As far as I can tell from that list the corresponding numbers are marked as decals and not the raised badges on the original.

I wish they would reorganise that list (separating the models would be a start), it's not especially usable in that form.

[unreal]

I've alway's found the parts list and a call to Rob at NLM works best as stock seems to change a fair bit.

Simon

[dvhttn]

I was taken aback by how much these badges cost, the ones I've seen for sale so far also appear flat rather than the bas relief originals, was this the case with yours?

If my initial attempts dont work then I may consider trying to cast them in resin and try a few things.
I'll only buy such overpriced baubles as a last resort.

As Paul said, the NLM ones (mine) are as per the originals. Though the tank one is ever so slightly smaller on the dimension of the part that "joins" each letter meaning they have to be placed exactly right to cover the rectangular "screw fixing" on each side of the tank that held the stock badges on. No problem, just something to watch for.

I must admit that I wouldn't cast them myself if I could get them at a reasonable price (like from NLM ....). If you think of the time you'd spend doing it then the £50 is easily justified.

[Daddy Dom]

Looking at this from a slightly different angle, having seen and handled the badges made http://www.morinibadges.com/ in NZ I imagine you will still be appreciating their superb, weighty quality long, long after you've forgotten the price.
Personally, I think that nameplates/badges are spiritually important to vehicles (just check out a badge table at any autojumble) and Malcolm's badges are absolutely bling-tastic works of art in their own right.

If you're investing your time and pride in bringing an old grunter back to life, the proverb about spoiling the ship for a haporth of tar springs to mind. Check out the amazing tricolour options too!
Cheers,
Dom

[tonup69]

I like the NZ badges. They were worth the money - and besides, isn't your time worth money, too?

[MarkB]

Monstyr, if you resize your photos to 800 x 600 they will fit the page.

Cheers, Mark