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drivin_me_nuts

Original Poster:

17,949 posts

235 months

Wednesday 21st September 2011
quotequote all
Quick question. Is it difficult to get a good finish on gelcoat? I have a colour scheme in mind and was wondering is professional effort involved in painting a GRP car more than a metal one. I was wondering if a wrap would be a more viable option for a complex (read multicolour) paint scheme.

hedgefinder

3,418 posts

194 months

Wednesday 21st September 2011
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a wrap will be WAY cheaper than a quality paint job..

356Speedster

2,294 posts

255 months

Wednesday 21st September 2011
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You can get a good finish on GRP as long as your painter is familiar with working with it. HOWEVER, you will need to apply a PaintShield type film on top of it to stop chips, as it's not as durable as a traditional finish. That's when it gets expensive.

The only thing you might struggle on is getting vinyl sheets big enough to cover the clams in one go. You might end up with some joins that need to be hidden with stripes, etc.

Does your planned colour scheme include any of the 8 std gel colours as a base? If so, I'd be tempted to take gel and then apply the necessary vinyl accents to complete the look.

drivin_me_nuts

Original Poster:

17,949 posts

235 months

Wednesday 21st September 2011
quotequote all
356Speedster said:
You can get a good finish on GRP as long as your painter is familiar with working with it. HOWEVER, you will need to apply a PaintShield type film on top of it to stop chips, as it's not as durable as a traditional finish. That's when it gets expensive.

The only thing you might struggle on is getting vinyl sheets big enough to cover the clams in one go. You might end up with some joins that need to be hidden with stripes, etc.

Does your planned colour scheme include any of the 8 std gel colours as a base? If so, I'd be tempted to take gel and then apply the necessary vinyl accents to complete the look.
It does indeed have stripes... But as I am in two minds as to whether to buld (space. skills issues!), or buy s/h. Ideally, for depth of colour a black car would be absolutely perfect. It will add real depth to the colours, whereas red, or especially yellow I suspect will not work as well. I have seen wraps in strong sunlight 'leak'(if that's the right word) the car's original colour.

Cheers

F.C.

3,899 posts

232 months

Wednesday 21st September 2011
quotequote all
A good grp painter will know there are some elastisised primers available that withstand chipping to a greater degree than normal primer.
I had the front of my Noble done like this and didn't bother with the 3m paint shield turned out to be much better than the original durability wise.

LuckyP

6,243 posts

249 months

Wednesday 21st September 2011
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Interested much in this topic. The GTW will need a recoating to look A1 and torn between paint (over paint) or wrap. Not sure which way to go.

deadscoob

2,265 posts

284 months

Wednesday 21st September 2011
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A good wrap is approx 1/2 the cost of a mid range paint job, and lasts what, 3 years?

Would a painted Ultima need freshening up after 3 years?

LuckyP

6,243 posts

249 months

Wednesday 21st September 2011
quotequote all
deadscoob said:
A good wrap is approx 1/2 the cost of a mid range paint job, and lasts what, 3 years?

Would a painted Ultima need freshening up after 3 years?
That's what I'm thinking..

Then there's potential purchasers choice. Why spend twice as much if they want to change the colour later?

drivin_me_nuts

Original Poster:

17,949 posts

235 months

Wednesday 21st September 2011
quotequote all
This is what I am thinking to. At the end of the day, should I wish to sell it, the rap can be peeled off and binned.

Storer

5,024 posts

239 months

Wednesday 21st September 2011
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Mine is being painted at the moment but in a single colour.

It is being done by a quality painter and is going to cost between £4K and £4.5K plus VAT, so not cheap.

You could have a CF look vinyl wrap for £2K to £2.5k - would suit the GTW. A good one looks very much like the real thing these days.


Paul

drivin_me_nuts

Original Poster:

17,949 posts

235 months

Wednesday 21st September 2011
quotequote all
Storer said:
Mine is being painted at the moment but in a single colour.

It is being done by a quality painter and is going to cost between £4K and £4.5K plus VAT, so not cheap.

You could have a CF look vinyl wrap for £2K to £2.5k - would suit the GTW. A good one looks very much like the real thing these days.


Paul
Thanks for posting the cost. Always good to have ball park figure.

Rusti Evo

537 posts

218 months

Thursday 22nd September 2011
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CF wrap on a whole car looks cheap and naff. You have to stand next to one........yuck Maybe just OK on a track slag.

CF accents and parts breaking up glossy colour looks pretty darn cool. IMHO

drivin_me_nuts

Original Poster:

17,949 posts

235 months

Thursday 22nd September 2011
quotequote all
I don't plan CF at all. I'm after something completely different - think a black and white photo look of different shades and contrasts.

Rusti Evo

537 posts

218 months

Thursday 22nd September 2011
quotequote all
drivin_me_nuts said:
I don't plan CF at all. I'm after something completely different - think a black and white photo look of different shades and contrasts.
Sounds good - look forward to seeing that! Seems the contrasts lift the design doesn't it.