DDK - Die Deutschen Klassiker

Totally agree with Mick, it's in the perfect state for someone to paint it, don't rebuild it. You've done all the hard work so let someone with a decent booth and a steady gun hand make your prep work look its best.

No one will think badly of you for handing it over!

Get back to it Jamie!.....

....first try looked pretty damned good, I'm sure the next will be awesome!

MT wrote:I would like to suggest you'd be a fool to part assemble it before getting the paint sorted

Thanks Mick. You are, of course, absolutely right.

Right now I don't have any enthusiasm to give this another go - I'd like to get someone to do the final coat properly. I struggled with the space I have, and the height of the garage, and the wetsanding. I've prepped the car as best I can, and I can see that it's good and straight. Now it just needs someone with proper skill and experience to make it show.

Oddly, the thing I was most worried about - dust and bugs, turned out to be the a non-issue.

I've blocked the back half of the car back to 320 grit to murder the orange peel. I'll take it to 400 again afterwards. The suspension is on, and I don't want to take it off now, so I'll put the car on its steel wheels so it can be moved and transported to a body shop. I'm pretty confident the suspension can be wrapped and masked to avoid overspray - I painted it the first time with the banana arms in place, double-wrapped in plastic sheet, and they stayed totally clean.

Pulled the loom through into the engine bay this evening. It went in a lot easier than the old one came out.

I also sanded a bit more the car. I'm on a very low ebb with this thing at the moment. The thought of painting it again fills me with absolute dread. I'm expecting too much, and I know I can't get the finish I want out of that garage - there's simply not enough space for a beginner like myself. And even if I were to get the paint on right, there's nothing to stop me sanding through the edges again. I've already proven that you can't just blow over these mistakes.

This stopped being fun a while back, but now it has become quite stressful.

Just get it to a state where someone with a proper booth can paint it for you and get it off to them.

Stress over.

Then just sit back and wait for a shiny new car to come back to you and you can enjoy it again doing the refit and seeing it all come back to life

What Jason said.

+1 ^^

If you are fed up with it then take a break and send it off for paint, when it comes back all shiny your enthusiasm will return...

DustyM wrote:+1 ^^

If you are fed up with it then take a break and send it off for paint, when it comes back all shiny your enthusiasm will return...

After nearly two years of grinding and welding, and the lows that come with it, I sent mine for final prep and paint and the break while the car was anyway was very nice, but boy was I full of enthusiasm once it came back, all shiny and like new...... Give it a try it's good for the soul...Mark

Ask me about lows... Over three and a half years since starting on my wreck, my recommendation would be as above: give it to someone else to sort out.

But only the paint I think.

Get it to a pro and get going on the rest ready for the very best bit, re-assembly.

I DIY painted mine in a single car garage but with 4 cars under my (cellulose) belt.

That was hard work, esp the bloody bonnet (runs and flies).

Same paint still on the car but looking a bit shabby now after 26 years.

Have to bite the bullet soon.
Problem might be/will be getting someone to paint over what you have done. Might have to sign a 'no returns letter'?

Spent another day on the car - sanding it back to 400-grit.

I thought I'd be doing myself a disservice if I didn't have another attempt at painting something. I loaded-up the spray gun with the last 100ml of paint I have left, made a small booth from plastic dust sheet, and tested myself on the rear panel and rear engine lid.







It went on OK. A bit of dust due to not making a proper sealed booth like last time, but quite a bit smoother than before. I still couldn't face doing the whole car and then screwing up the polishing again, so I contacted a local paint place I've used in the past. He's willing to do the last coat for a grand in either 2K or water-based. I've booked the car in for the second week of August.

Good call. Enjoy the reassembly part I think you've earned it!

The right thing to do. The relief you will feel when it is gone and the delight when it comes back will be immense.
As said above, you will enjoy the re-assembly

Agggh, Jamie - nightmare couple of weeks for you....feel for you there.

I'm so glad you've made the call to get someone to put the finishing touches to the paint - there really comes a 'f**k it' point on rebuilds and it is so intensive when you're in there and then it gets expensive and time consuming and not enjoyable it all just gets a bit too much.

I think it's great you're going to get a pro to finish off all the incredibly hard work on this - it will be so worth it. I remember sanding down my beetle ready for paint prep. Did it once, single most boring thing I think I have ever done in my life (apart from spending any time with Jason of course). So much respect for you.

Keep the faith - it really is worth it at the end, honest.

Good call.