57 replies to this topic

[The Clubby Hubby]

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Painted this in a tent 😋

[garethr123]

Hi all. So its been a short while but between work and christmas life I've managed to get back into the swing of the yellow peril.

 

Ive finally managed to de seem fully and what a pain in the backside!!! Its no mean feat by any means but now its done its worth it i think.

 

I lead filled the gap after welding the seems together, this was followed by several small skims of filler and eventually today, I'm happy with the smoothness!! All will show once in primer however!!

 

Another small patch of rust discovered under filler and paint!!

 

So i primed the doors, boot and bonnet last weekend with some high build primer. They were flatted off, small low spots filled and then reprised yesterday.  

 

Hanging in my new booth :)

 

This morning I flatted off with 600 grit Wet and Dry, cleaned up and sprayed. So happy with the outcome especially as this is my first attempt.

 

This was 4 coats of 50/50 cellulose.

 

Door

 

Bonnet

 

Boot

 And other door

 

 

 

 

As the eagle eyes about you will spot, i managed to touch the bonnet with the air line, Left me infuriated but it'll repair later.

 

Im hoping now tomorrow i can finish the rest of the shell and get it in primer over the rest of the weekend.

 

The yellow parts will possibly be colour sanded and buffed but ill worry about that at a later date.

 

For now, happy Gareth :)

[garethr123]

Last of my days off today and went out the hit the mini again. 

 

Did a final skim and sand and finally got some high build primer on. In total i got 4 coats on. Ill wait to see how it wet sands before i decide where to go but for now its all coming together!

 

 

 

Quite pleased as to how smooth the de seaming is too. I weren't to sure show it would come out but seems to look straight and flat.

 

 

[sledgehammer]

 

looking good

 

I love the de-seamed look - still playing with my one - but too cold at the moment

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Edited by sledgehammer, 20 January 2015 - 07:14 PM.

[garethr123]

To be honest I never was a lover but knowing how much work it takes to get it looking like it came fr a factory and smooth, makes my appreciation for it go up.

Having said that I know the de seemed look is not for the purist but hey, someone's cut the roof of this mini :)

Edited by garethr123, 20 January 2015 - 08:41 AM.

[dolph]

Nice work. How will the hood attach above the the windscreen?

[garethr123]

Dolph it has little press studs poppers however after removing the gutter I want to bring the studs forward to make the roof a bit more taught (right spelling?!?) Same with the side. There is one deseamed like this on ebay for £6250!!!

[garethr123]

If I'm honest though I like the idea of hood down 24/7 and keep her a dry car :) these roofs like quite poor when they are up I think. Folded back with tonneau cover over looks far more respectable.

Edited by garethr123, 20 January 2015 - 03:16 PM.

[Ben_O]

Good work!

 

I don't really like the de-seamed look on a Mini and having helped out with the final stages of de-seaming for a friend, i know how many hours goes into getting it looking right.

 

However, i think it really suits the Cabriolet well!

 

Keep it up

[garethr123]

Cheers Ben, appreciate it. Id have to agree too.

 

Seems a shame but this mini will probably be up for sale around easter/summer time. Mainly as its not really my sort of mini but i couldn't see another one sent to the graveyard. 

 

I was offered a 91 sprite in a dire state. This will become a project for me and no body else grubby little mitts :)

[garethr123]

managed to squeeze in the drive this weekend from taunton back home to sunny Essex. 

 

The plan was do do 16-20 hours of mini-ing and hopefully flat off the primer, one more dusting the smooth and paint. However as with a genius idea come flaws.

 

I attempted to smooth over some very minor imperfections with some U-Pol glazing liquid. Looked awesome, went on incredibly smooth and nicely. I felt myself getting a tad carried away with this. Next thing I've got about 30% of the car skimmed lightly in this in an attempt to maintain the fact it WILL be flawless paintwork. No problem i hear you all call. Well if you've tried sanding this stuff its horrific! Clogs the paper like no bodies business. So i used up all my rolls of paper, the went to rub the rear quarter down with panel wipe and grabbed the topcoat thinners instead!! Next thing i have a small run of primer where its reacted!

 

Today was one of this days! Fingers crossed tomorrow will be better and i should have it back in primer. hopefully extra smooth :)

 

this years purchase is definitely going to be a DA sander. My fingers are in tatters!

Edited by garethr123, 23 January 2015 - 05:37 PM.

[Ben_O]

I feel your pain.

 

I used a knifing putty recently on friends Mini to smooth over some minor sanding scratches and blemishes and all it did was soften the primer and not fully harden itself so when we started flatting off the putty, it just dragged badly pulling off the putty in strips and taking the primer with it.

 

caused no end of problems.

 

Oh well, tomorrow is another day

[garethr123]

Thats identical!! Grrrrr!!! I would've taken pictures but i was too busy kicking stuff around the farm in rage........ 

[garethr123]

New day after yesterdays catastrophe!! 

 

Picked up a tidy little DA sander and I'm blown away. It amazing. That amazing that i managed to sand, prep and primer the mini today! Honestly made my day

 

 

This primer went on far better. Smoother and there are barely any defects in the bodywork so good start

 

 

 

Left her to dry and went attacked the subframes!! Tore out the engine and stuck it on a pallet, that'll be refurbed at a later date.

 

 

Stripped the rear subby, wire brushed down with the grinder and a good slap of Hammerite. 

 

 

 

 

pretty much everything i took off was in great condition bar the dirt. Im going to clean and salvage what i can.

 

Decided to go view my potential new project too. I need someone with an ounce of a brain to tell me "No Gareth thats too far gone, it'll take ages blah blah blah"!!

[Ben_O]

If it's just rusty Gareth, then it's not to far gone IMO.

 

If it is full of hideous bodges and badly fitted plates, then i would walk away and find something better.

Mine was/is very rusty but it's mostly original apart from a pair of cut down and well fitted oversills and a patch on the front floor.

 

Don't know about you but i much prefer removing holes panels than piles of patches