product and paint to patch gaps in lower plastic grill area?

[spiff]

Hi all,

I'm working on a project at the moment and after removing the horizontal grills of my mk5 jetta (where the fogs sit), there're some gaps that I would like to seal, sand and paint over. There are also some scratches that I suspect can be fixed with the sand+paint job for the aforementioned.

Are there some recommendations on products I should be using that can stand up to the weather, heat, flexing of plastic? Some type of putty or something? Also, what type of black paint?

Here's a picture.

On the left are two "V" areas that need patching. Similarly, on the right, another "V" area but more difficult to see. On the bottom are two areas of scratches that need removing. I presume I would need to sand back the whole area to paint. Would I need to prime?

cheers.

[Gigitt]

you can rebuild the spaces with the old grille bits... get some Actylic Liquid solvent. Keep some plastic grille shavings and melt it up with the solvent then use it with solvent to glue in small bits and backing strips to build up the V gaps.

sand lightly with fine grade sandpaper or wet and dry... then spray with Vinyl paint... thats waht I did to mine and it looks OEM.

Hacked mine up for Hella LED DRL's

[spiff]

you can rebuild the spaces with the old grille bits... get some Actylic Liquid solvent. Keep some plastic grille shavings and melt it up with the solvent then use it with solvent to glue in small bits and backing strips to build up the V gaps.

sand lightly with fine grade sandpaper or wet and dry... then spray with Vinyl paint... thats waht I did to mine and it looks OEM.

thanks for that tip with the liquid solvent. never knew that was an option.
what brand of vinyl paint did you use?

by the way, do you have a close up? is your top horizontal grill open or closed (like mine)?

[Gigitt]

I used Supercheap auto 3M Black Matt Vinyl spray - light coats only - no primer.

Top slat is closed,
I did open up one side slat to match the otherside.
I had to remove the bottom horizontal to fit the DRL's

My grills are totally diferent - they have fogs

[spiff]

I used Supercheap auto 3M Black Matt Vinyl spray - light coats only - no primer.

Top slat is closed,
I did open up one side slat to match the otherside.
I had to remove the bottom horizontal to fit the DRL's

My grills are totally diferent - they have fogs

yup. i noticed the fogs. i prefer the clean look myself.
thanks for teh info about the 3m. )

[spiff]

you can rebuild the spaces with the old grille bits... get some Actylic Liquid solvent. Keep some plastic grille shavings and melt it up with the solvent then use it with solvent to glue in small bits and backing strips to build up the V gaps.

Gigitt, just picking up on this again. Can you please explain what you mean by 'backing strips'? Is that strips from the original plastic grille I've trimmed off, or some type of tape strips that I tape over to 'hold' the solvent/plastic mixture in place?

[Gigitt]

Yeah - use the the waste parts from the grille to build up the holes etc. I used the virtical stabilisers and horisontal parts, cut them up to fit with a bit extra across the back - backing strips. Use the plastic dust with the acrylic glue to make a paste to fill in rough bits etc then sand back.

TYhe Acylic glue I useed is:

ATA
Solvent Cement
Acri-Bond 105
Best for joining cast Acrylic
Acrylic Technologies Australia

http://www.google.com.au/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&ved=0CCMQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.acrylictech.com.au%2FAcri-Bond-105.html&ei=poV0UJ6eHsmOiAeBroDoCQ&usg=AFQjCNF7ofrKu-IxV6W9uKgezbCXCMN5tA

I have also use this to successfully to repair cracked Polycarbonate Lightforce Spotlights!.