body finish

Gone in 60 seconds · Post by **Gone in 60 seconds** » Mon Jan 03, 2005 1:40 pm

for those buiding a kit or having done so in the past, i was wondering whats peoples experience with regards to quality between the manufacturers?

I ve just had the guy from my local body shop come over to discuss the paint job, and to quote, and he picked the cars finish apart, very politely, but a bit mortified at the minute!

Really it was the seams and edges which in areas such as the bonnet and boot that werent even sealed together, is this very much other peoples experience? Looking at the cost of these kits and what we get a tub and a bonded chassis for your £3k ish I was wondering which manufacturer gives the best result for the money?

I do feel fairly lucky mind having read Stevesprites story about the arches on his car not even fitting the pan! Is this part of the "fun" of home builds? My build experience has been VERY positive up until this point, and genuinely recommend it to others, just slightly disappointed with todays review...

Droog · Post by **Droog** » Mon Jan 03, 2005 10:09 pm

my M&W speedster is pretty good, i have gel coat finnish, i have even had a lotus owner and peple in the trade comment how good it is, idid have to do a little work on door fit ect. but on the whole i feel its not a bad job on what at the end of the day is a big bit of fiberglass..

shambly · Post by **shambly** » Tue Jan 04, 2005 4:21 pm

The GRP of my Chesil was pretty good, though they seem to be a little lazy when it comes to finishing bodies they know you are going to paint compared with their advertising (deluxe kits)....

What annoys me is the _VERY POOR_ quality of the powder coating on the sub-frame and hinge assemblies. I had all that I could remove re-coated by the local company that I use but couldn't do much about the sub-frame.

Now 18 (dry weather sheltered use and dry garage) months on its rusted quite badly. Whilst the engines been out i've waxoiled inside the rear subframe in the engine bay, wundersealed the exterior, and repainted the engine bay. Need to repeat this process on the sills and front cross-member. As I'm no longer using heat exchangers I will waxoil and seal the sills to help protect the box section from the inside, as they will no longer need to carry cabin air.

My one regret is not getting the sub-frame zinc plated.

JonR · Post by **JonR** » Wed Feb 02, 2005 10:58 am

I've just been to see mine at the body shop, and they were very impressed with the quality of the bodywork (Chesil)

I've posted a few pics here:

http://groups.msn.com/Speedster/shoebox ... &PhotoID=1

http://groups.msn.com/Speedster/shoebox ... &PhotoID=2

http://groups.msn.com/Speedster/shoebox ... &PhotoID=3

http://groups.msn.com/Speedster/shoebox ... &PhotoID=4

Hope the link works !

It's Porsche Seal Grey. Looks dark on the photos, but it's a seriously overcast day.

Oh, by the way, I know the dash isn't painted, they're sorting that out this afternoon ! Deliberate mistake/misunderstanding

I agree with Simons comments re: Chesils finishing of kits vs their advertising

Gone in 60 seconds · Post by **Gone in 60 seconds** » Wed Feb 02, 2005 7:16 pm

Jon
Car looks fabulous, the colour was nearly my first choice, luckily I changed or with the fuch as well we would of been building two identical cars!! But it has worked really well. Very impressed.

My cars been back from the paint shop for about 3 days, the guys did a great job and tidied the areas that concerned me, so totally happy now. Ive fitted a few pieces, just to get a impression of how its going to look, but looking forward to the weekend to really make some progress.

I went for Aquamarine Blue, I wanted a very period colour, and one correct to the car, no real reason, just fancied that path..The photo doesnt really do the colour justice, will take a few after the w/e..Keep in touch though good to see another car at a similar point, i keep waiting to hear about someone SVAing but have a feeling I m going to be one of the first

The white around the bonnet is foam for transport.

Post by **Bootsy** » Wed Feb 02, 2005 7:22 pm

Looking very cool, great colour choice

Post by **Bootsy** » Wed Feb 02, 2005 7:24 pm

and your Jon, very cool - you're all making me very jealous!

Gone in 60 seconds · Post by **Gone in 60 seconds** » Wed Feb 02, 2005 8:19 pm

Thanks Bootsy, pleased you like the colour really hard decision to make - I was real nervous, right up until the moment it arrived.. I wanted to ask do you have any pic's of the M&W interior kit and how it looked in your car? I ve picked colours just want a feel for whats produced. Barries trying to find some pics but thought I d ask.

Cheers James

hot66 · Post by **hot66** » Wed Feb 02, 2005 8:34 pm

that looks superb

Have you got any piccy's of the whole car?

JonR · Post by **JonR** » Wed Feb 02, 2005 9:42 pm

Gone in 60 seconds, that looks truly superb. Well done, can't wait to see some more pics

Not sure if I'm keen on the colour I've selected, I think I'll have to get some trim on before I make my mind up. On a positive note, the body shop seem to have done a great job on the prep, so I could always get a respray at some stage. But you never know, it might grow on me.

Post by **Bootsy** » Wed Feb 02, 2005 10:20 pm

I've got this if any help

Gone in 60 seconds · Post by **Gone in 60 seconds** » Thu Feb 03, 2005 10:53 am

Thanks Bootsy, and thanks everyone for kind comments ref the colour - dead chuffed.

Jon, I think the cars need lights etc to balance out any colour and the shape in general, I wasnt so sure with mine until i fitted a few bits to it, now really pleased.

Hot66 I ll get the car out over the w/e and take some shots to show it as a whole..still being precious and hidding in the garage!!

Cheers James

stevesprite · Post by **stevesprite** » Thu Feb 03, 2005 7:12 pm

Hi James

The car looks great. I love the colour.

I am still undecided on the colour for mine, Ive got it down to either minerva blue or Primrose yellow, I dont think I will have made my mind up until I have actually bought the paint !

I am hoping to SVA the car at the end of April, I have had one or two unforseen snags with the build but I think I am still on track.

Steve

Gone in 60 seconds · Post by **Gone in 60 seconds** » Thu Feb 03, 2005 8:18 pm

Sounding good Steve I think we should all go for a mass SVA and bully the inspector!

hashman · Post by **hashman** » Fri Feb 04, 2005 1:00 pm

just wanted to add, love that colour.