Scottish Elises

The hardtop has a 3mm circular paint chip, it’s right down to the white undercoat an I see it every time I get in the car. So I have been meaning to have a go at repairing it properly while the roof’s in storage for the ‘summer’.

I’ve got my touch up stick from Lotus and remember reading on some web site about applying lots of very thin layers with a cocktail(?) stick, letting each layer dry before applying the next. Until it's higher than the surrounding paint surface.
Then it says you get some special fine M3 sanding block and sand it smooth. Any idea what this is exactly? Then I presume finish it off with some T-Cut?

The paint in the paint stick seems a bit thick – I’ve had it a year or two, any idea’s how to thin it down. Tell me it’s not as obvious as paint thinners? What about some white spirit? Or are they the same thing?


Cheers

scott

+



Job's a goodun

he's in here AGAIN!!

With emulsion paint and an angle grinder, I'm pretty sure he's back to normal now....

Do you reckon you`ll be able to repair it well enough that you wouldnt be able to tell?

Personally I`d get it done right - I paid 40quid to get my hardtop on my S1 painted and a bit of damage filled and repaired after it fell over in the drive, thats what I`d be doing rather than trying to paint it with cocktail sticks or whatever!

jke11y wrote:Do you reckon you`ll be able to repair it well enough that you wouldnt be able to tell?

Personally I`d get it done right - I paid 40quid to get my hardtop on my S1 painted and a bit of damage filled and repaired after it fell over in the drive, thats what I`d be doing rather than trying to paint it with cocktail sticks or whatever!

For £40 that's what I'd do too (if I was to bother)

FWIW, I managed to touch up paint on an old helmet (long since dead, don't worry) to the point that nobody could tell. Was a big flake, but used halfords touch up kit and a bit of time & T-Cut.

(Of course, never 'fix' a helmet, 'cos any damage on the surface almost always means the inner shell is fcuked)

jke11y wrote:.... thats what I`d be doing rather than trying to paint it with cocktail sticks or whatever!

lol yea fair enuff, but really it's not bad enough that I want to spend any money on it. I just want it to be a bit less eye catching. I'll wait till the roof is seriously feked before forking out to get it painted.

That site I read (somewhere) says you can make it impossible to tell it's been repaired, an I quite fancy having a go - an w it being the hardtop I'll have it indoors so wont be a hassle. It would probably be wiser to practise on a chip somewhere you can't see but I can't be ersed w that.

scott

Would be interested to know how you get on with that Scott. I'm contemplating tackling a few of the larger chips on the front of the car when my touch-up paint comes in.

Ive resolved myself to the fact that Ilike to drive it hard on iffy roads... I will proply end up needing a new front clam at some point, either through my own or someone elses carelessness... so in the mean time, I will wipe off the flys when I cant see where I'm going and maybe wash it if I get bored or fancy going possing somewhere..

New clam, defendal paint shield then perhaps...

So you recon all Mk1's are white underneath the paint.. I'm gona have fun finding out... Tut style....


Stone chips... poofters....

John Reid wrote:

So you recon all Mk1's are white underneath the paint..

Yup - before and after courtesy of my missing number plate:



Now, that's stonechips....

Scott I have some bullet hole decals you can have from Skys Pimp my Ride promo....

Gangsta cool man, pimp yo ride bitch!

Yo need some blingin 18" hoops on that bad boy and get it slammed to the floor!

It'll look da bomb!

/senseless drivel Westwood Stylee!

Sanjoy wrote:Scott I have some bullet hole decals you can have from Skys Pimp my Ride promo....

Anyone got some "fake" cracked fibreglass stickers...... Tut style...

John Reid wrote:

Sanjoy wrote:Scott I have some bullet hole decals you can have from Skys Pimp my Ride promo....

Anyone got some "fake" cracked fibreglass stickers...... Tut style...

Don't be a poof - just drive into something and get real ones!

JJ who painted you hard top for £40? Did they do a good job?

Cheers
Craig