So I got this 55 Columbia for my sister about a month ago. I belive it is all original except the base of the front fender light.Took it apart, cleaned it now in the process of priming and sanding it.I have decals ordered from Maple Island Sales,although I might have to get the colors changed on them at the graphics shop.While this is no way a 100% resto, I do want it all to be period correct and nice and shiny.The wheels were chromed but after cleaning them up the rear had too much pitting,and I decided to paint them white. I had seen some Columbias from the 50s w/ white wheels.I used the straw method for masking. It takes just as long to mask this way but much eaiser to unmask.My sister liked the colors that were on the bike,Robins egg blue and dark blue(ORIGINAL?). Here is a before pic and some progress pics.Oh ,I am laying down the pinstriping first, I will mask that off and then lay down the body color.
I think I underestimated the detail on this bike,very tedious.For taping around the curved lines I used pinstriping as the masking, it worked real well and left pretty clean lines. I will be touching the whole bike up once it goes back together.The lines on the tank need a bit of work. A mudflap that was ordered came in yesterday as well as the decals.The color was changed from blue to the red because of decal issues,after sisters approval :wink: 
