I'm going to look at my bodywork soon as I've spent the last few weeks rebuilding the garage roof, so the coupe can now go inside, and the weather is perking up.

I've bought a couple of compressors that i've linked together (so 50 litre 14cfm), a doozey of a spray gun that's about 40 years old, and I think with a bit of practice i'll be able to get a half decent finish.

So what paint-wise do I need to buy? It'll be on bare Gelcoat and filler.

If concensus is for 2-pack, I do have access to activated carbon face masks - and an air fed mask shouldn't be too hard to cobble together.

Current colour choice is solid dark grey - this might change.

If you have the facilities to spray it safely 2 pack is far better than cellulose on GRP.

Make sure you get a suitable plastics primer/ adhesion promoter when you get the primer and paint.

I can't see how to identify when these posts were listed but this one is 15th Feb 2011
Does anyone know which colour is the best match to the original gel coat for a red coupe. I assume that there will obviously be slight differences depeding on paint type, 2 pack or cellulose etc.

The gel coat colour will have faded from its original colour anyway.

Your best bet is to take a panel from your car to a paint shop that has a colour analyser and get some matching paint mixed up.

spraying 2 pack without a spray booth is going to be a nightmare, you need to clean air flow in booth and heat. Also if you get run or make a mistake you got big problems with 2 pack.
Preparation is the most important thing, use panel wipe before spraying to remove any grease, oil or wax using a lint free cloth.
I would go the cellulose route, using a etching primer first, if you want the paint to flexible then you add a plasticiser to the paint. You can rub down any in perfections in the finish paint and reapply if necessary. The problem you will have is getting cellulose paint as it is no longer allowed in commercial spraying, but is allowed for self use.
Good luck

I just had the front of my red coupe resprayed and it is a great match. I will ask the bodyshop.

David

Thanks to each for your help.
I didn't know you could add a plasticiser to alter the characteristics of the cellulous paint, interesting!
Cheers

I asked the bodyshop what colour the paint is...................and they do not know. They have a lot of swatches and they pick the right one and then ring the paint supplier, give him the meaningless number off the back of the swatch and the paint arrives.

I guess you need to go to a paint supplier as already suggested.

David