Bodywork Painting
Discussion
Prepping and painting fiberglass is pretty easy. It doesn't even need primer. You just scuff the gelcoat with scotch-brite or around 200 grit sandpaper, clean it throughly with prepsall and then spray right over it. Not a bad idea to rub-out and polish the paint also.
You're going to get rock-chips but you can buy "clear bra" type 3M protective material and put it on the nose to protect the paint.
I painted my Radical in my garage (yeah, would have been safer and nicer to have a spray booth) and it wasn't that big of a deal.
Wet sanding:
You're going to get rock-chips but you can buy "clear bra" type 3M protective material and put it on the nose to protect the paint.
I painted my Radical in my garage (yeah, would have been safer and nicer to have a spray booth) and it wasn't that big of a deal.
Wet sanding:
Thanks for the info - our painter has experience with GRP and compared it to painting colour coded bumpers etc.
Pete - the 3M film sounds like a good tip - and the paint job looks great!
Rob - we inherited boxes full of spares when we got the car - I will hunt through at the weekend and see
if there are any wishbones?
Pete - the 3M film sounds like a good tip - and the paint job looks great!
Rob - we inherited boxes full of spares when we got the car - I will hunt through at the weekend and see
if there are any wishbones?
Gary, that shot was 4 years ago...unfortunately I have my bodywork all put together with the wing support etc. in place. However, next time I have it handy, I'll see if I can write something up.
Arnold, I live in California and the standard Automotive Acryllic Enamels aren't for sale (legally) here. So I had to use a Urethane Enamel which sprayed HORRIBLY and necessitated the wet sanding...Had never done wet-sanding and polishing before and actually it made for easier repairs because I was able to mask-off the repair area (with a hard line) then paint and wet-sand the repair which would cut that hard line down to almost nothing and with the polisher, it would be nearly unnoticeable.
You might be able to see how much "orange peel" it has here (before wet sanding):
After wet-sanding and polishing:
Also meant I didn't have to put a clear coat to get a good shine so that also facilitates repairs.
I also found a paint-stripper which was fiberglass safe (my car's body is 100% Polyester Resin and gelcoat...think that's what all the Radical bodies are except the CF ones).
http://www.m-tc.com/paint_stripper/environmentally_safe_paint_stripper.htm
When I got my car in 03, it had a VERY low-quality "silver" paint job which had to come off. It had also had some "repairs" which were mainly epoxy (incompatible with polyester) and bondo...had to re-repair those with fiberglass, microbaloons and a LITTLE bondo.
Put my nephew on it
Arnold, I live in California and the standard Automotive Acryllic Enamels aren't for sale (legally) here. So I had to use a Urethane Enamel which sprayed HORRIBLY and necessitated the wet sanding...Had never done wet-sanding and polishing before and actually it made for easier repairs because I was able to mask-off the repair area (with a hard line) then paint and wet-sand the repair which would cut that hard line down to almost nothing and with the polisher, it would be nearly unnoticeable.
You might be able to see how much "orange peel" it has here (before wet sanding):
After wet-sanding and polishing:
Also meant I didn't have to put a clear coat to get a good shine so that also facilitates repairs.
I also found a paint-stripper which was fiberglass safe (my car's body is 100% Polyester Resin and gelcoat...think that's what all the Radical bodies are except the CF ones).
http://www.m-tc.com/paint_stripper/environmentally_safe_paint_stripper.htm
When I got my car in 03, it had a VERY low-quality "silver" paint job which had to come off. It had also had some "repairs" which were mainly epoxy (incompatible with polyester) and bondo...had to re-repair those with fiberglass, microbaloons and a LITTLE bondo.
Put my nephew on it
Thought I’d resurrect this old topic, partly because I thought Pete’s (NACA racer’s) pictures were worth a second look, but also to elicit some feedback on what paint system to use.
The reason for asking – I’ve accumulated various spare panels of different colours and would like ‘em all the same!
So what paint should I use here in the UK?
BTW, I’m still after an old-style Clubsport tail section (with surface-mounted clips) – small reward offered for information leading to purchase
(You can't beat a good drop of Guinness!)
The reason for asking – I’ve accumulated various spare panels of different colours and would like ‘em all the same!
So what paint should I use here in the UK?
BTW, I’m still after an old-style Clubsport tail section (with surface-mounted clips) – small reward offered for information leading to purchase
(You can't beat a good drop of Guinness!)I've got a complete old style body (front / rear and both pods) currently as spares but was looking to upgrade it with the recessed catches to make it compatible with the body fitted and then have a fancy paint job.
Do you have a later rear body that you want to swop - cash adjustment either way?
Do you have a later rear body that you want to swop - cash adjustment either way?
Laurence7 said:
So what paint should I use here in the UK?
You might find this guys blog helpful, if you go back in time a bit before the fibreglass moulding stuff he talks about respraying and what paint he used. http://www.rgbracer.com/double d racing said:
Hi all
Just a thought....but why not "wrap" it in vinyl or partially. The benefits are it is usually lighter than paint, you can do multi coloured designs...and if you keep the offcuts you have some stuff to repair the odd ding/scrape.
FOB DD
Certainly a thought / possibility (in fact I've seen both partially and fully wrapped Radicals), but it's most definitely a specialist job i.e. not a job for the amateur. A Radical has some very complex shapes (especially the new look SR3/5/8) and anyone who has tackled the application of the simple by comparison Big Bonnet R will confirm how difficult/frustrating/much practice it takes.Just a thought....but why not "wrap" it in vinyl or partially. The benefits are it is usually lighter than paint, you can do multi coloured designs...and if you keep the offcuts you have some stuff to repair the odd ding/scrape.
FOB DD
On the tongue in cheek side, the biggest danger of discussing vinyl wrapping a Radical is that it could leads us to finishing up like the Porker Forum
, where nowadays they seem to spend (IMHO) an unhealthy amount of time talking about wrapping and valeting and tyre dressing and bodywork polishing i.e. aesthetics ........ when Porsche (like Radical) used to be about optimising the performance and driving the things.Personally, we (actually I as I always seem to be nominated for that bit!) use XXXX on the Rad's bodywork, a little known (but well disguised) fact because hopefully no-one with a Radical will ever be even remotely interested in that aspect of Radical Ownership
splitpin said:
Personally, we (actually I as I always seem to be nominated for that bit!) use XXXX on the Rad's bodywork, a little known (but well disguised) fact because hopefully no-one with a Radical will ever be even remotely interested in that aspect of Radical Ownership
I struggle with your TLA's at the best of time but XXXX? Castlemaine?David - look forward to meeting you on Thursday, not in my car unfortunately, been invited for a few laps with Lord ROC!
looks full of good stuff (he's clearly got far too much time on his hands!), but I couldn't actually see anything on spraying gel-coated grp. Did you find anything?You're right, there's a whole bunch of posts missing from the start of last year when he must have done the painting - it was a collection of colours,mainly red and then turned to Subaru Blue. He's moved the blog from different hosts so might have happened then.
ETA Adrian has the missing posts and will attempt to stick them into the current blog at the weekend.
ETA Adrian has the missing posts and will attempt to stick them into the current blog at the weekend.
Edited by nick997 on Wednesday 24th March 20:46
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