paintwork

[boon51]

        hi as a proud new owner Austin ruby ,could someone advise please,  the paintwork is showing cracks  very fine ,although the paintwork is shiny   i will try and upload a picture,

[bob46320]

Probably not the original paint, so anyone's guess. It looks like the filler coat has shrunk away from the top coat over the years. may even be a "modern" paint system on top of the old cellulose paint.

[boon51]

Probably not the original paint,  so anyone's guess.  It looks like the filler coat has shrunk away from the top coat over the years.  may even be a "modern" paint system on top of the old cellulose paint.

thank you for you thoughts, im wondering how to make it look better ? , or do you think it might be past improving ,and need a strip down and re spray/paint

[Chris KC]

Can't tell how extensive it is but probably the only real solution is rub back and paint again. But I'd urge you to think about whether you really want / need 'perfect' paintwork. Many of us go out of our way to have it look a bit 'lived in'. Nothing looks worse on a vintage car than that 'just back from the spray shop' look.

[Tiger]

Just pained a classic bike with the same problem.
Paint was 1/8” plus thick in places when I took it off.
I am considering coach paint for my A7.
Regards
Tim

[JonE]

if you just block- flatted that shiny paint back to a satiny sort of finish with a 240 grit, the problem would probably visually disappear.. and you'd get some vintage appeal back!

[Zetomagneto]

if you just block- flatted that shiny paint back to a satiny sort of finish with a 240 grit, the problem would probably visually disappear.. and you'd get some vintage appeal back!

JonE 240 would wreck this, more like 800 if you wanted to take the shine off, but those marks won't flat/ polish out.
Looks like too thick a paint finish, cracked back to primer.

[Michael D]

My 1936 Rosengart LR4N2 cabriolet (the French Austin 7 'clone') that has. been restored by an anonymous previous owner shows it's a brushed paint job with even some dust particles in places.. at first the missus and I thought about rubbing it down and having it resprayed....to cut a long story short.... we've been advised to keep it that way and so we will at least for the near future...

[David.H]

if you just block- flatted that shiny paint back to a satiny sort of finish with a 240 grit, the problem would probably visually disappear.. and you'd get some vintage appeal back!

JonE 240 would wreck this, more like 800 if you wanted to take the shine off, but those marks won't flat/ polish out.
Looks like too thick a paint finish, cracked back to primer.

Not many options with my paintwork when I got it!
Now taken down to the original metal (after removing several kilos of filler & paint!), some of which had to be replaced (no surprise there) and now being prepared for painting.

[Zetomagneto]

if you just block- flatted that shiny paint back to a satiny sort of finish with a 240 grit, the problem would probably visually disappear.. and you'd get some vintage appeal back!

JonE 240 would wreck this, more like 800 if you wanted to take the shine off, but those marks won't flat/ polish out.
Looks like too thick a paint finish, cracked back to primer.

Not many options with my paintwork when I got it!
Now taken down to the original metal (after removing several kilos of filler & paint!), some of which had to be replaced (no surprise there) and now being prepared for painting.

David,Definitely no real option there!