The trouble with having a rare project car (this one is one of 57 when made when they were new - I somehow doubt there's that many now...) is the issue of some parts. I had a good look at the rear bumper this afternoon. If this was not a rare car, the bumper would be condemned. But that's not going to happen since I cannot get one. At some stage in its life it had been brush painted with some sort of awful thick gloopy paint. Much sanding had revealed the bumper looked in fairly good condition. Sadly, I realised that after a much closer inspection, having cleaned it down with some white spirit, that this was not the case. There were a LOT of hairline cracks and even more "fish eyes" where air had been trapped under the top layer.
I had three options here. 1) Run without a rear bumper. Nope, looks silly and would mess up the rear of the car if I tried blending in the gap. 2) Throw it away and get another one. Also nope. I have never even seen another spare bumper. 3) Grind down and repair what I have. Again. Even though I REALLY hate sanding and bodywork, this was the best option.
So out came my friend the Dremel. I ground out the numerous cracks using the slitting tool, then put a grinding wheel on and took the top surface down in places until there were no more holes from the air pockets of the fish eyes. I built it back up with P40 ready to sand down. Again. Still, I got to use my bumper stand I'd built...
Solution? If you're going to buy a plastic Mini-based car, get one in better nick. Or one that is a more common example.
Did I mention I hate sanding??
Cracks, cracks, bleeping everywhere...
Large areas ground out. It was nasty.
P40 applied. Grudgingly.