scumby wrote:
if i decide to sand it what is the "correct" grit? any suggestions for all the seams between body parts inside the body? not opposed to chemical stripping either.
The silicone problem can be removed by multiple wipe-downs with paper towels and "wax and grease remover" (any brand, find on the shelf in an automotive paint store). Sanding without wiping down will just grind the tiny silicone particles into the surface, not remove them. Wipe down between every sanding stage. You want to start with the finest sandpaper that does the job and graduate from there, cuttiing your numbers approximately in half each time. Your final cut grit will depend on the paint you are shooting. You can cover 200-300 grit cuts with a heavy fill primer. 400-600 is needed before a top coat. Any finer than that and you may have bonding issues down the road.
For the seams, clean them down to the metal, prime with a self-etching primer, and seal with "seam sealer". Seam sealer comes in a caulking tube, remains semi-flexible, but paint will bond to it.
