Winter prep over the last week or so.

[paulhdi]

Hey guys.

Just had the chance to do some winter prep ready for the lovely winter months that lie ahead.

First up is a customers car. Vectra Elite cdti 150. #80/IW x2/476S x1
http://autopia.org/gallery/data/500/vectra111.jpg

Here's a previous shot from earlier in the year with VM/RMG/EX/Souveran.
http://autopia.org/gallery/data/500/vectra.jpg

Next is the sisters car. Totally used and abused unless I wash it. process as on Vectra above.
http://autopia.org/gallery/data/500/1lx.jpg
http://autopia.org/gallery/data/500/2lx.jpg

continued....

[paulhdi]

Father's Astra. He QD's his car without the QD, resulting in a greyish looking car from all the dust he rubs into the paint religiously. This one's had #80/#21 x2, and will leave it to see how it goes through the winter.
http://autopia.org/gallery/data/500/1astra.jpg
http://autopia.org/gallery/data/500/2astra.jpg

Now my car. It's only had a quick polish just after I got it. Since then its had Nattys blue/OCW/Nattys blue x2. It'll be getting done this week, now the cyclo's arrived. Not sure what the combo will be yet.
http://autopia.org/gallery/data/500/dturbo1.jpg
http://autopia.org/gallery/data/500/dturbo2.jpg

continued.....

[paulhdi]

I think the next few months may end up being testing time on mine to find a really nice combo for the colour.
With the last car I found this to be one of the best looks i got from the colour. VM/RMG/EX/Natty's Blue.
http://autopia.org/gallery/data/500/ex1.jpg
http://autopia.org/gallery/data/500/ex5.jpg

Ta for looking, guys and gals.

Paul

[Suasexed]

Great pics there Paul - that's alot of work! :D I especially like the wet look on that dark 206 and the Vec.

[paulhdi]

Thanks Tom.

The dark blue 206 got written off in august, and I must admit I'm really missing the darker colour.

Paul

[Peter D]

Great work Paul.
How do you find the IW and 476s? What do you think are the strong points for that combo?
Thanks, Peter

[paulhdi]

Thanks Peter.

I'd heard that the IW has more solvents in it being a liquid, so thought that'd be a better base for the paste wax. I put 2 layers of IW on by PC, and just added the 476S with a couple of days in between, as extra protection, even thought the IW would probably be fine by itself.

The IW is sooo easy by PC, and goes a very long way with just a few dabs of product on a finishing pad. Wipes off easily too, leaving a nice glossy shine.
The 476 can be a bugger if applied too thick, but I've been very careful to keep all layers thin, as with #16. I'll sometimes give it some Spray & Gloss before wiping the residue, to make removal that little bit easier, and to get any 3 inch thick layers I may have put on by mistake.

Paul

[182_blue]

brilliant work there, how do you find white cars for cleaning ?

[Brazo]

Nice pics Paul. I cleaned my wifes car for the first time in 4 weeks after treating it to a coat of IW wax for the winter. It cleaned up beautifully and the w/w drying towel just glided over the paint. Will be testing just one coat of IW over the winter to see how it fares!

[k80]

All cars looking good Paul.

Your sisters car looks better with your old alloys on.

Look like the builders have taken over your street!

[paulhdi]

thanks for the kind words.

182 Blue,

the white astra cleans up pretty well, TBH. Then again, with this car, swirl removal isnt a priority, so it just gets a good cleaning when the pc comes out.
#80 usually is all i need.

k80,
yeah, they've been there for ages, and still aint done. The day after I put the 1st coat of #21 on, they were mixing cement right next to the car. As you can imagine, I was not amused, so it was moved to a safe place, washed and had another layer put on it.

As for my sisters car, I'm really liking the colour now, as it's the darkest colour i've got access to lol

the alloys do make the car look a bit better, yeah.

Paul