Repairing gelcoat after a hit and run?

[baddie]

I'm in need of repairing the green gelcoat on the rear quarter of my Striker after being the victim of a hit and run. The gelcoat is cracked on the surface and has flaked off in small areas. The fibreglass underneath is reasonably intact. I'm not sure how to repair the surface and retain the colour, or if I should use the usual filler as it's much less flexible than fibreglass and may crack. Do I use fibreglass mat or fibreglass paste? Do I try to match and blend the paint (bound to be disastrous)? Another option is to repair the panel and then paint the whole back end (i was thinking white (with a red nose cone) for jap racing colours), or to simply replace the whole rear panel... Any repair suggestions gratefully received

[peterpsg]

If you want to do it yourself you can use a bumper filler as it's more flexible than the usual stuff.

I recently had several cracks taken out of my front clip, but as mine GTR is painted, it's easier to blend in than a gel coat repair I imagine...

I'd recommend you get a specialist to do it, unless you have a decent bit of workshop space, lots of spare time, and even more patience...

[MR2Mike]

I have stuck a very good PDF document Repairing Fiberglass Bodies onto my webspace for you. Slapping filler on top will most likely not provide a permanent repair, but it's not difficult to do it properly. I think you will have to respray it to get a reasonable finish anyway, getting gel coat to match the old and probably faded GRP on your Striker is not going to be very easy.

[baddie]

Thanks very much fellas. My mate recently spent £500 having a small chunk in the sill of his Elise repaired - which has put me off getting it done professionally as a new panel should cost less. I think I'll have a go at the repair - can always cover it with duck tape until i can buy a new panel! I don't have an air compressor, was thinking of using aerosols (I know I know), possibly with an etch primer over the sanded gel coat, and finish with a lacquer.

[tribbles]

I drove my first kit car with the entire front duct-taped up after it had managed to hit a lamppost which embedded itself 30cm into the front. I was lucky to find some duct tape exactly the same colour as the car.

It even passed an MOT like that! I did eventually repair it though.

Edited to add: it also needed another repair after a hit and run on the side (although I did chase them through the streets of Portsmouth at 10pm at 60+mph - very exciting! I did confess to the BiB who didn't seem to mind, and took pictures of my car in case the other person was found).

Edited by tribbles on Monday 12th March 21:48