Got to carry on, rubbed the bonnet down again, I am getting closer.
I usually wait until its dark, and then shine a torch on the panel, running its length, you think its straight until you do that!

I know Einstein says light rays bend, but not on my torch they don't.
But they do show up every little dent and low spot.

I've got more primer on it, and it will get the same treatment tomorrow, until I'm satisfied.

[IMG]http://i928.photobucket.com/albums/a...pshfenrjeb.jpg[/IMG]

Today is my birthday, so I took the day off. :-)

Happy 40th!!

Happy birthday Scottie,don't drink too much because tomorrow there must be progress on the car..........

Happy birthday, soon you will of made yourself quite the present. Ed.

Thanks for the good wishes guys!

Well, apart from the cars roof, which I have not made yet, the build is almost finished. I have front inner wheel arches to make to stop water ingress to the headlights and the rear battery box.
and that is all the fabrication done. Everything has been made, I just have to resist the (very strong) temptation to paint the car now, but I MUST NOT, until I am sure the surface is flat and true with no ripples in the body. At present, it is not good enough, so I have to carry on the rubbing down, however long it takes.
That way, it won't have to be done again at a later stage.

Happy Birthday
 

Many happy belated returns Scottie! I know we have moved on past this but I couldn't resist...

http://i1373.photobucket.com/albums/...hulk_hogan.gif

PS - the car is looking great!

Your both looking great...

http://i1076.photobucket.com/albums/...IMG_0016_1.jpg

Ha ha hah ha

Monday
 

Mick, Jones and Gary, thanks for the comments! Much appreciated.

Another full day on the body work, bonnet and doors.
Flatting, stoppering, primer-ing and more flatting, but it is coming together, each day sees an improvement.

I have reached the stage when I am past caring WHEN its finished, just as long as I get it finished looking RIGHT.

It well may not be in time for Stoneleigh, but it will be in time for me to enjoy the car all summer.

My priority was to get it done for the show, but that has now changed,

and the priority now is to get it looking right, body work and paint wise.

I do not want to do this all again later, some people I know, have gone that route, but I don't want to.

Nothing much to show, but here are some pics:

[IMG]http://i928.photobucket.com/albums/a...psczmuzlwz.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i928.photobucket.com/albums/a...pse0q31ycg.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i928.photobucket.com/albums/a...pstd23gt5x.jpg[/IMG]

Scottie are you using a DA orbital sander or by hand? I do think you attitude is right though if you rush it you'll just be disappointed. You need to match the exterior to the quality touches you have completed inside. Can't wait for us all to see it in all it's glory this year or next at Stoneleigh

I am using both Jones, the orbital sander to get the filler roughly
flush, then do the rest by hand, wet and dry, 250, 400 then 600 for the final finish.
Slow process, and like you say, the car will be judged by its finish, which basically is the paint job first, followed up by a look at the interior.
The interior is as good as I can get it, so its all down to the paint job now.

Each day it improves, and one day I will be happy to chuck top coat at it!

Scottie - Belated "Happy Birthday".

I know getting to Stoneleigh meant a lot to you, but so far you've always done the best job you can.

So stick at the bodywork prep. and, as you say, one of these days it will be done. :cool:

I just hope I can match your dedication when the time comes to do my own car.

Good luck, Paul. :)

Scottie, have you a jobs list to be completed? To most the car looks nearly done but you must have a long list of little jobs or is it just paint?

Its mainly paint Danny, I still have to make inner wheel arches for the front, but that's straight forward, (providing I don't drive in the wet, I'll be okay, and I have no roof yet!) I will do it though, but right now its not a priority.
I need to pipe the drain holes in the boot rain channel out of the floor, again a short easy job.

I don't have a list as such, but I think that's about it really.

As regards the paint, I am not a professional, and probably taking longer than one would, and perhaps not even doing it right,
but I am doing my best, and eventually it will get its paint on hopefully, straight even panels, which right now is taking so much labour to get right.

As Paul says, dont worry about making stoneleigh, your better off making next years and many years after with the finish you want, rather than making this years with a paint finish your not happy with.

Yes you are right Danny, how bloody naive must I have been to have thought I could get it to Stoneleigh last year!!

I have seen so many cars at the show, spoiled by sub standard
paint jobs because the owners tried so hard to finish and get it there, promising themselves they would do it again later.

As you say, I want the finish I'm looking for first time.
This prep is so difficult for me, I do not want to go though it again.

Scottie - do the prep work. I am currently deciding on whether to get mine resprayed or live with the blemishes. These are things that have surfaced since the original paint went on. Little ripples around the door handles where, I think, there was some filler shrinkage, a screw head showing on the bonnet and some rippling at the front of the bonnet where I added extra glass underneath and the heat of it going off caused the distortion.

All minor and most people don't notice but they scream at me every time I look at the car. You will see what I mean at Stoneleigh.

Hey WCA, I thought you had it re-done by a pro? Remember when you rubbed it all down and it looked like a leopard?