Stone chip / heartbreak / advice

[Clifton Viper]

Well it was bound to happen sooner or later. A rock decided to bounce off the hood and richochet into the windshield leaving deep scratches in her hood and a chip in the windshield.

Even the 5 coats of Zaino was not strong enough protection for this.

Now that the mourning period is over, I need to get on with life and fix it. Need advice:

The scratches in the hood are deep enough that you can see the white composite material underneath so polishing compound is not going to help. I thought of filling the hole with touch-up paint and then buffing it lightly to try to get a uniform surface.

Short of painting the entire hood, any ideas?

I'm not usually this anal about the paint but it is very visible just behind the vent louvers on the drivers side.

 

[sun diego]

www.langka.com
They have a touch up kit that will get rid of blobs and provide clearcoat. All you have to do is buy touch paint elsewhere. That great guy Chuck Tator sent me some touch up paint free, in addition to lots of good advice on other things. I can't promise he would do it again, but....

 

[joe117]

Don't do anything to it. Take it to a good body shop and they will have it looking like new in no time and they won't paint the whole hood.
What makes you think you want to start learning about body work on your Viper?

 

[Gerald Levin]

I agree with joe117. Have it done right. I bought some Langka and after many attempts of using to touch up some spots on one of my other cars, I just gave up. It looked like crap. Not sure if anyone else has been more successful, but Langka in my hands was like crapka.

 

[prodiver]

If you decide to do it your self go here: http://paintscratch.com/automotive-paint-tips.htm#top. order the whole kit from them. I have used their kits for Vette's and Vipers and they do work if you follow the instructions.

 

[italian1nj]

I agree with the others on the body work especially if it is as visible as you say. You know it will bug the hell out of you if it is a screwed up job right in front of your face. As for the glass, I caught a rock in the upper passenger side and after a Novus repair attempt I couldn't stand seeing it from the inside any longer. Bottom line, new windsheild which is being installed today. Good luck

 

[Ulysses]

I found that Langka left the repaired spot looking a bit dull and discolored. (tried it on my truck). Had to follow up with polishing compound to get it to look good and you could still pick out the repair spot. Before the I used Langka, the paint blob that dried was the perfect match in color.

 

[joe117]

You can save a bundle with a little kit I saw on TV. It has all the tools you need to cut your own hair, comes with instructions too.

 

[Clifton Viper]

Jeesh. I did not expect such a polarized response.

Think I'll try the Langka on my wife's car and then take the RT/10 to a body job.

Can anyone recommend a good paint shop in the Northern VA area? I had a bad experience with the shop HBL recommended last year.

Thanks for all the responses.

 

[2001 Sapphire Blue]

You can save a bundle with a little kit I saw on TV. It has all the tools you need to cut your own hair, comes with instructions too.

Yea, You're talking about the Flowbee. I've used one for years. Saves me a bundle!