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Honda
Big Red
700 4x4 Natural Gear Camouflage |
The science of camouflage is all about blending
in with your environment. You wouldn’t
wear a suit and tie to a tractor pull, right?
In the terrain where you ride off-road, a more
traditional form of camouflage is called for,
one that lets you disappear among the trees,
rocks and vegetation. That’s why Honda
is pleased to offer the new Big Red in a Natural
Gear camouflage scheme, in addition to Honda
Red.
Those in the know recognize the essentials
that effective camouflage must address: position,
shine, shadow, color, texture, outline, height,
tone and location. Natural Gear has a unique
take on developing camouflage patterns. The
company constructs its camouflage on seven
natural laws.
First, the law of tone. Much camouflage is
either too dark or too light, especially for
the black and- white range in which many animals
see best. Natural Gear patterns are photographically
derived, so its natural tone blends well.
Second is the law of gravity. Trees and other
vegetation grow vertically, so Natural Gear
patterns have a vertical orientation.
Third is the law of shadows. While other
camouflage patterns add dark, “shadowed”
areas that blob up, Natural Gear figures that
since shadows occur in nature, there’s
no need to add them artificially.
Next is the law of the open. Too much camouflage
yields to the temptation of adding and adding
to the pattern. Sure, it looks great from
a couple of feet away, but it turns into a
single dark mass at distance. Natural Gear
camouflage uses an open pattern to blend at
a greater variety of ranges.
Some camouflage is highly specific, working
well only in pine forests or the desert. Natural
Gear em-braces the law of versatility: Since
it’s not situation specific, it blends
over a wide variety of outdoor areas.
Finally, there’s the law of definition.
Animals identify objects as threats by their
shape or image, so Natural Gear has soft,
blurry edges that defy sharp focus. This is
part of the reason it doesn’t feature
the “sticks and leaves” details
of other familiar camouflage patterns.
Honda’s Big Red uses a thin-film application
technique to print the camouflage pattern
directly over the bodywork. It’s an
extremely durable process that bonds perfectly
and leaves no wrinkles or bubbles. And because
the base color of the hood is a tan/beige,
even if you do suffer a deep gouge on the
hood of Big Red Camo, the effect isn’t
compromised.
Effective camouflage is a total package.
If you want your Big Red to blend in, you’ve
got to pay attention
to all of the details. Don’t skyline
it; parking in the shadows and against an
irregular background will work much better.
And don’t think that you’ll be
hiding from much if you’re riding around
with a big, red ice chest strapped to the
rear rack.
In fact, if there’s any single drawback
to Big Red’s new Natural Gear camouflage
bodywork, it may be this: You’ll have
to pay close attention to where you park because
it blends so well you may have a tough time
finding it when it’s time to leave.
To learn more about Natural Gear Camouflage,
including its line of clothing, log on to
its Web site at www.naturalgear.com
or call 1-800-NATGEAR.
www.Powersports.Honda.com
