The romance of sandpaper and filler is over

How long did it last you ask. Well not very long. A few years ago when I started I managed to fill and sand the odd "ding" around the car. This was very satisfying and I was in love instantly. A few deft and lingering strokes from the plastic spatula, some gentle stroking of the lovely curves with 80 grit and a gentle caress of 120 grit  left my heart and spirits leaping with joy. How wonderful the world is.

Next up was the welding of new lower sections to the front wings. It needed a lot of filler and even more sanding. It needed several " attempts" to get a smooth curve. I got a little tired and it was beginning to be hard work, if not difficult. To keep things moving I looked elsewhere ( engine bay) and I began to feel a little guilty leaving the filler and sandpaper forlorn in the boot space. At least they were with all their other friends like " Red Lead", "Stopper Filler" and "Cork sanding Block". After what seemed ages I was ready to renew the romance. But alas filler had become cold and hard with time and 80 grit was torn, wrinkly and in shreds. I was skint and unable to frequent the haunts of similar acquaintances for a long time ( Halfords).

It was mid summer some years later when a breeze of opportunity ( some spare shifts in pub) came along  we had the opportunity to become very familiar again. But  where could we be together, alone and doing what were were made for. The Front Lower Valance of course. This was an Item long forgotten and abandoned in the depths of the shed, ignored and replaced in my dreams, head and heart by a ST spoiler.
How fortunate fate can be. Just when I was at my lowest ebb and resigned to re-using as many original as possible parts ( due to being unemployed ) we became entwined once more.

After several coatings of filler in strategic areas and sanding with 80 grit I again became a little weary of the elbow and wrist  work required to be well satisfied. I again looked elsewhere. The RH door skin was the obvious choice. Coated in a heavy layer of "Red lead" with a dusting of primer, it had been in my vision every time I lifted the car cover. I always thought it would be a big ask to get it something like ready for final paint prep but the challenge was there let alone serious temptation !  what else can a man do  ? So I did .

Here it is just after starting

A close up will show that the red lead looks like it had been applied with a very stiff bristle brush. This outlandish sight ( done by me years ago in the first flush of Restoration youth) is what had been teasing me for years almost saying " come on and tackle me if yer dare, I'm deep and streaky and cover a huge curved area". The grey primer acting as a guide coat, it took ages and ages. Almost 2 hours in fact and my shoulder was aching, fingers were sore and hands stiff.
Look done ! I was well spent though and I'm sure I heard the door ask me what I was thinking !

Just about 90% of the red lead had to be removed. What was I thinking all those years ago. Still it had been protected from the ravages of the dreaded tin worm and needed very little filler. The romance was already fading for the filler at least and the sandpaper and I needed a break too !.

We (The front Valance and I ) were all re-united through a rather unwelcome but now oft frequent bout of skintness and restlessness.The door had to be left abused and part naked due to the fact I had only a little grey primer (and no money to buy more) the hammerite KuRust was almost all gone but lasted to serve one more time.

The Valance, originally abandoned due to many small but heavy impacts low down and lots of rust patches deeply ingrained. Fortunately I did give it a coating of heavy grey primer all those years ago, but oh the filling and sanding. I so far have had about 5 attempts of filling and sanding and its still not perfect. I don't want perfection I just want it all to end because I'm thoroughly fed up with it all. And the romance is dead in its tracks..........for now at least.

I could not even be bothered to take a photo. Maybe I will next time..if I can afford some primer.