Stripping paint

[Gemini1962]

I have a series 3 that I need to strip the paint off but I'm new to Elans. My question is does a 1967 S3 have a gelcoat layer on top of the matting and if so, what colour is it? I need to know when to stop with the stripping!

[JonB]

It doesn’t have a coloured gelcoat. So rub the paint back by hand until you reach the natural colour, which is sort of cream.

It looks like this after stripping.

[Gemini1962]

Okay, thanks for the reply.

[Lens4]

Hi I used a sharp wood chisel to scrape away many layers Len

[Gemini1962]

Hi I used a sharp wood chisel to scrape away many layers Len

I was planning on using an electric DA but it depends on how well (or not) the paint comes off.

[greg40green]

Hello Gemini
My gel goat is a light grey colour , be careful with that DA sander !!!!

I have a series 3 that I need to strip the paint off but I'm new to Elans. My question is does a 1967 S3 have a gelcoat layer on top of the matting and if so, what colour is it? I need to know when to stop with the stripping!

[Gemini1962]

I presume that once I get down to the original top coat that Lotus put on there will be a primer below it? Does anybody know what colour that is likely to be?

[ill_will]

Hi,

My 1967 S3 FHC had a mid grey coloured gel coat and white primer on top of that (original top coat colour white) which I think was probably the original. But there may be some variation between cars, it is a Lotus after all!

Cheers,

Will

[Lens4]

Hi mine has a clear gel coat same as boot lid photo Len

[Lens4]

[aShort wheelbase model

[Craven]

My understanding is that Lotus was unable to achieve a consistent surface finish straight out of the mold and used a polyester spraying filler, light grey in colour, to give the required finish. Two S3 67 cars I’ve done both had this preparation, personally I would not go beyond this layer if you find it.

[ill_will]

Quite possible that what I referred to as a gelcoat in my post above was in fact a polyester filler. I wouldn't know how to tell the difference without some research, to be honest. What I can say is that if you sand through that layer you get to the yellowy/cream glass fibre shown in the boot lid photo.

[Craven]

This photo posted some time back, so what did the factory get up to. Bodies made in sections.

196904-22Ptw Elan bodies Hethel.jpg (102.11 KiB) Viewed 500 times

[Lens4]

Any repairs or a new shell has to age until it has cured before painting process. Len

[jono]

Chisel to spall off the thick paint and then an electric DA (I bought a Dewalt) to gently take it back to the fibreglass resin. Good quality abrasive are a real boon - I used Abranet and Sia which were excellent and lasted well.

...oh and many, many, hours