Do you flat and polish the laquer the next day? A few people i have spoken to suggest leaving 2k laquer about a week to fully cure.
The door edge foam tape is readily available and not expensive - saves a vast amount of work - The whole idea of using a 2K product is to accelerate the curing times - following day for flatting & polishing is fine - in fact with use of accelerants (Rocket) you can get this down 30 mins - I know of someone in the smart repair business that turns around start to finish bumper scuff repairs in well under 90 mins using a colour base coat & 2K lacquer system - Many of the 2K lacquers are also anti scratch so leave them for a week and you completely defeat the object of flatting & polishing - i.e. it will be very hard work to flat back & polish
Post by grumpynorthener on Apr 19, 2021 19:01:40 GMT
Flatted wet with P1500's
Then machine polished with a medium grade compound - Further polishing stages to follow in order to remove any very fine scratches / haze from the first stage process
The process always starts to look better once the masking is removed
Bonnet mid way through the polishing process
First stage completed on the bonnet
Then worked my way back down the offside of the car
Offside completed
Much of the rear of the car is plastic - this too responds well to a machine polishing
Bonnet refitted and the roof which is still the original paint was also given a quick polish
With the car now demasked its been relegated to outside for now
This frees some space up in the workshop to allow me to get the bumpers repaired along with the wheelarch trims & sill skirts - more tomorrow
Post by grumpynorthener on Apr 20, 2021 19:00:18 GMT
Gone are the days where the bumpers on a car were a small fraction of the complete vehicle
They can now form 25% - 30% of a modern vehicle
The front one especially required quite bit of work to remove the various scrapes, scuffs & stone chips - using the correct materials most damage can be repaired and even misshaped plastic bumpers will respond to some reshaping with the liberal use of a heat gun
All the plastic trim repaired & prepared for primer
How do you find out about all this amazing product and learn how to use it to such wonderful effect. Plastic adhesive that works, lens polishing compound, filler that really sticks to plastic and paint, polish etc to finish it all off. I am constantly amazed and impressed not only that you do this all in a time scale that would not only kill a younger (no offence intended...just admiration) person, but that needs a TARDIS to complete, but then you share it all with us...nothing but respect!!!!
How do you find out about all this amazing product and learn how to use it to such wonderful effect. Plastic adhesive that works, lens polishing compound, filler that really sticks to plastic and paint, polish etc to finish it all off. I am constantly amazed and impressed not only that you do this all in a time scale that would not only kill a younger (no offence intended...just admiration) person, but that needs a TARDIS to complete, but then you share it all with us...nothing but respect!!!!
My answer: Ear to the ground, always open to learning new tricks & methods alongside new products - ambition to succeed regardless of the challenge and I enjoy sharing the knowledge where & when I can - come to that so do the vast majority of the members on here
Must say I am disappointed not to read a report on the tiresome neighbours kicking off about you working on a "modern" car. Was looking forward to some action lol.
Must say I am disappointed not to read a report on the tiresome neighbours kicking off about you working on a "modern" car. Was looking forward to some action lol.
Ho - It may happen yet - Need to get it nearly finished then park it outside whilst I valet it under their noses
...and that is why this forum has become so successful. You were so right to get together and start it. Now such a valuable resource.
Ah - I cant take all the glory here - there are 5 other like minded individuals who also took the plunge to get BRM off the ground - were are still learning but heading in the right direction with none of that self righteous from its members that you'll experience on other forums
Neighbours - I had similar thoughts but didn't want to stir anything up as they might actually be reading this? I don't think that there is a real definition of a classic car, ancient or modern! Keep the video camera recording.
Neighbours - I had similar thoughts but didn't want to stir anything up as they might actually be reading this? I don't think that there is a real definition of a classic car, ancient or modern! Keep the video camera recording.
There's other reference available but this is pulled from 'Wikipedia' - It more than covers me for what goes in & out of the workshop - the below has also been taken into account by the planning department of my local authority
United Kingdom
There is no fixed definition of a classic car. Two taxation issues do impact however, leading to some people using them as cutoff dates. All cars built over 40 years ago are exempted from paying the annual road tax vehicle excise duty, and also exempt from the annual UK safety test known as the MOT test, however the vehicle can still be presented for test on a voluntary basis. HM Revenue and Customs define a classic car for company taxation purposes as being over 15 years old and having a value in excess of £15,000. Additionally, popular acclaim through classic car magazines can play an important role in whether a car comes to be regarded as a classic but the definition remains subjective and a matter of opinion. The elimination of depreciation can be a reason for buying a classic car and picking 'future classics' that are current 'bangers' can result in a profit for the buyer as well as providing transport. An immaculate well cared for prestige model with high running costs that impacts its value, but is not yet old enough to be regarded as a classic, could be a good buy, for example.
Modern classics
Modern classic cars are generally older vehicles, ranging from 15 to 25 years, but are usually not accepted as classics according to the Antique Automobile Club of America
In the United Kingdom, the modern classic definition is open to the discretion often by Insurance Brokers and Insurance Companies who regard a Modern Classic as a vehicle that is considered collectible regardless of age, The usage of the vehicle limited to recreational purposes or restricted mileage is also taken into account'
My planning conditions state that use of the workshop is for 'Small Scale Specialist Classic Car Restoration' - Through discussion the following vehicle range is acceptable 'Vehicles that can be proved of a collectable status through club & forum representation, Limited edition status, Representation through specialist vehicle dealers & auction houses, Representation through specialist magazines, written & published articles to all forms of media, Representation within specialist collector guides & pricing media'
Post by grumpynorthener on Apr 24, 2021 8:22:08 GMT
Headlamps & front bumper refitted
Along with the wheelarch trims
Offside door mirror rebuilt
Cavity wax applied to the flange edges of the wings prior to refitting the wheelarch trims as these just trap & harbour debris which in turn absorbs water and becomes a rust ingress sponge
All lights checked through for operation - bearing in mind I've had everything disconnected
So that's the fitting up virtually complete
A lot of the plastic trim is retained by these plastic push type studs which tend to fall apart when you release them - Main dealers charge a small fortune for these and its not unusual to end up spending a lump of money on OE retaining clips - trick is to check what 'Bresco' retain in stock - they supplied matched alternatives for a fraction of the main dealer prices
Exhaust silencer box heat shield had detached itself from all of its 6 mountings and was just sat rattling on top of the silencer - pain to sort and really could have done with dropping the silencer box but the system is original and it would have required all new bolts / gaskets / mountings / fittings etc - So I managed to do it in situ with large repair washers - the shield will require replacing when the exhaust eventually fails but there's probably another few years left in it yet
Locking wheel nuts have a steel band around them that had lost its finish and gone rusty - would be shame to refit these back to freshly refinished wheels - hence these have got cleaned up then primed & painted - Just some final polish now then along with a valet - new number plates and it will be en route back to its owners
Post by grumpynorthener on Apr 24, 2021 17:48:02 GMT
New number plates added
Final polish completed
Which allowed the Type R decals to be added
Main dealer prices for these are silly - 'Sticker Dude' up in Glasgow hold an extensive range of vehicle decals which are very close to OE quality and for sensible money
So how do you fit them - I always start with a location image of the original
Then transfer the measurements - use masking tape as required for a levelling guide
Ensure that the lettering adheres to the clear side of the transfer by applying pressure to the backing - I use a wide plastic scraper
Then carefully separate the paper backing leaving the lettering on the clear side of the transfer
Spray the application area with a fine mist of water
The water prevents the adhesive from taking immediately and gives you the opportunity to peel back if required for realignment
Once in the the correct position simply squeegee the water out from under the decal - working from the centre - firm pressure will be required - ensure that you also carefully work any air bubbles out to the edges
Then the clear transfer can be removed carefully
Dry the area & remove your reference location marks / tape etc and the job is done
Great work as ever GN but I have to ask, Towbar on a Type R? It wouldn't be my first choice of a tow car but i'm sure the owner has a fully valid excuse...
Great work as ever GN but I have to ask, Towbar on a Type R? It wouldn't be my first choice of a tow car but i'm sure the owner has a fully valid excuse...
Owner has several classic & vintage motorbikes and needs the towbar for the bike trailer - the classic mini in his fleet would simply not be up to the job