I reacently bought an Optimus 8R on an Ebay auction. I could tell from the photos that it was an opaque sky blue in color, and thought I would clean it up and give it a repaint as soon as I got it. On recieving I noticed that the original decal was in place, and the paint looked origanal though not the paint I thought was rite. I thought meatalic blue was rite. Apon showing my new treasure to my brother who was also an avvid backpacker in the 70s and 80s, thought the color looked rite. In short I thought 8Rs were meatalic blue and my brother says they were opaque light blue. Does anybody the know the chronollogy of 8R colors.
Hello and welcome! Depends on the age of the stove. The colors changed over the years. If you could add a picture of yours that would be great or add the ebay listing or item number. I would be able to tell you. Metallic blue sounds right for your stove. Jeff
I would guess by the key which is the the same as the key on a 123R as seen in the photo that it is a later production stove. By the way after a little go over it fired up and boiled 500ml of water in about 5 minutes.
That color doesn't look quite right. Too light. Most 8r's were repainted by their owners. The label was taped off no doubt. Cheers, Jeff
I am pretty sure I have seen that flat color on other 8R's, it is not very common but it might be original.
Yeah, here's one in that color... Not as pretty as the metallic though. Must be a later model paint. sam
Since you are repainting it the proper colour is what ever colour you choose. Me i'd like to see one in camofladge sand. lance
Thanks for the input and pics. My brother looked at that stove and thought it was the same color he rembered seeing at the outfitters in the 1980s. I can only remember the metalic blue. At anyrate the paint is preaty poor on the inside, and its going to get an oringanal looking mettalic blue powder cote. The powder cote should be very resistant to fuel and heat. I'll have to post pics in the Fettler's foram when its done. Rick
Trevor Never seen such deep texturing in a "hammer" finish paint. It almost looks like the dimples go right down to the metal. Or is it a trick of the light?
That hammered finnish looks great I just stripped my case, and was going to powder coat it. However as I was cleaning it up (it came out great) I started to think that this mite be a tulf powder coating job. I'll just have to talk to the powder coating guru at work and see what he thinks. I like the way this stove is coming allong and I have pics of the progress that I may post in the fetlers forom when its done.
Do post your progress. That's probably my favorite kind of post on this site, especially on complete restorations like you are doing. Thanks, sam
