View Full Version : Red Gel Coat - how does this help build?
Jonathan427
03-11-2011, 03:23 PM
Since most of the kits are now converted to red gel coat, i've seen lots of comments that this helps reduce paint and body time to build. How does this save build time? What is the order or magnitude? Do we still need sanding and seam work?
Thanks,
Jonathan
Jeff Kleiner
03-11-2011, 03:33 PM
The bodies are better, but that is a function of the molds not the gelcoat. Yes, sanding and seamwork is still required. I have been chronicling Mk4 body prep HERE (http://www.ffcars.com/forums/showthread.php?t=266792) if you'd like to take a look.
Jeff
I see you might be a newbie... People talk about "red gel coat bodies" being less work because before red was black. The black bodied cars required a bit more more. As Jeff said, it's not the color, it's just a way of referring to one of the newer, nicer bodies.
68GT500MAN
03-11-2011, 08:47 PM
And before the Black was Grey! The color just determines a change. I think that the Red looks good "as is".
Doug
oldguy668
03-11-2011, 08:48 PM
Factory Five changes the gel coat color each time they redesign/refine their molds. The first generation molds were awful and the bodies that came from them required a ton of work to get them right. The latest bodies are from CNC-machined molds and are probably the best that FFR has ever produced. It isn't the red gelcoat that makes the bodies better, it's the new molds identified by red gelcoat.