The next big task on Project 32, a 1986 VFR700 F2 in Pearl Crescent White, is a full repaint. Paint prep is time-consuming, but critical for a quality job. I begin with a thorough degreasing and general cleaning, then plastic repairs, and finally decal removal, at which point I turn the parts over to a professional for final finishing and painting.
In this case, repairs were necessary to the large right side fairing, headlight fairing, tail light fairing mounting tabs and the rear seat cowl. Here, I'm pealing away the ancient duct tape "repair" on the right side fairing. There were two similar cracked areas on this piece. I'll be plastic welding these cracks so I begin with V-grooving the cracks with a Dremel tool on both sides of the fairing. I use a small cutting head or, for larger areas, a flexible sanding head.
(click on an image to enlarge)
In this case, repairs were necessary to the large right side fairing, headlight fairing, tail light fairing mounting tabs and the rear seat cowl. Here, I'm pealing away the ancient duct tape "repair" on the right side fairing. There were two similar cracked areas on this piece. I'll be plastic welding these cracks so I begin with V-grooving the cracks with a Dremel tool on both sides of the fairing. I use a small cutting head or, for larger areas, a flexible sanding head.
(click on an image to enlarge)
Next I weld ABS filler rod into the cracks, smoothing the filler with heat to keep the repair at or below the surface of the piece (as seen on the lower crack weld). This will make finishing easier, as the ABS is difficult to sand. This done on both sides of the repair.
(Below) We've decided to fill the grooves around the turn signal holes on the headlight fairing, just for cosmetics. These grooves were part of a lazy fix for Honda to add the infill panels necessary to fit the U.S.-spec turn signals and their mounting stalks. Filling the grooves will clean up the fairing, giving a more finished look. I want to enlarge the groove here, in order to fill it with Plast-aid, a two-part acetate plastic product. In it's liquid state, the Plast-aid will level itself to the surface, making final finishing fairly straight-forward. Once cured (about 20 minutes) the area is sanded with 100-grit to smooth out the excess and prep the surface for body filler.
(Below) We've decided to fill the grooves around the turn signal holes on the headlight fairing, just for cosmetics. These grooves were part of a lazy fix for Honda to add the infill panels necessary to fit the U.S.-spec turn signals and their mounting stalks. Filling the grooves will clean up the fairing, giving a more finished look. I want to enlarge the groove here, in order to fill it with Plast-aid, a two-part acetate plastic product. In it's liquid state, the Plast-aid will level itself to the surface, making final finishing fairly straight-forward. Once cured (about 20 minutes) the area is sanded with 100-grit to smooth out the excess and prep the surface for body filler.
These pieces are ready for the painter.
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