Polishing and filling on Gelcoat

[batbuilder]

After two long and tortuous years I am finally coming to the end of building a Banham BAT. The kit was in a red gelcoat, but with Mr Banham disappearing so has the technical advice an hence a few questions.

What is the best way to fill deep scratches in gelcoat. I have found a cellulose paint that is an almost identical colour match can I mix it with the filler? or do I just fill the scratch with paint and rub it down?

What is the best way to remove the flash lines?

What is the best way to polish the body? What grades of wet and dry paper and polishing compound should I use? I have a polishing machine but what grade of sponge would be best to use?

Any information from anyone who has polished a gelcoat car would be appreciated.

See what I have done so far on my website at:

http://batbuilding.mysite.freeserve.com

[ferg]

I took the flash lines off my car with 600....1200.....2000.....T-Cut. You'd never know they'd been there. As far as Gelcoat goes, I got a small quantity from the company and mixed it, filled the holes, covered with tape to exclude the air (it stays tacky otherwise) and rubbed down as above. I don't think you'll have much luck mixing the colour with paint....

[grahambell]

Like ferg, I've removed flashlines with increasingly finer grades of wet and dry (used wet with soapy water) with T-Cut to finish with. Initial removal of very bad flash can be done with careful use of Stanley knife and/or fine flat file.

Also agree with ferg that best way to deal with deep scratches is to use some matching gel coat (Pilgrim used to sell it in 'touch-up' kits) to fill in and then rub down.

[edelbrock]

get yourself some farecla polishing compound,its available in different grades from most bodyshops,the t cut is about useless,you can also use it on the polishing machine,i used it when prepping my cobra body and its excellent and gives great results

[ferg]

edelbrock said:

the t cut is about useless,

Must have imagined it...sorry.

[lanciachris]

Congratulations on your hard work.

I have to ask, in the name of all that is holy, why a bat???

[batbuilder]

The BAT design always provokes a strong reaction, most people have not seen one in the flesh. Everyone who has seen mine have liked it, (either that or they were being polite).

When the heart shaped grille ,huge air intake and the odd angled mirrors are removed it starts to look quite good from the front.A bit like the Lancia Thesis?
The rear I think has always been a strong point.

Building one though has been a different matter.