Touch up Paint?

[jsamuel8]

I just recently purchased an '03 Classic and noticed there is a slight blemish (about 1.5" by .75") on the rear panel that extends from my back window to the side of the coach. It appears that it has been rubbed down to the bare aluminum as it is shinier than the entire panel. I've hand waxed it (with Walbernize) to no avail; is there any touch up paint that will cover it or a polish that will remove it? I'm afraid if I polish it with a polisher I will have to do the entire rear end to get the same effect. Of note is the entire panel is rougher to the touch of the other rear-to-side panels. It's relatively unnoticeable but the fact that I know its there is the problem.

[Ganglin]

What's on that area - Paint? or is it clearcoat...

[jsamuel8]

It's paint; the rear panel under the bedroom window and sides are clearcoat.

[2airishuman]

Originally Posted by jsamuel8

is there any touch up paint that will cover it or a polish that will remove it? ...... It's relatively unnoticeable but the fact that I know its there is the problem.

sorry but almost anything you do will make this area MORE noticeable...

the factory solution for this is panel replacement. no fooling.

the area can be cleaned with a solvent and covered with clearcoat touch up, or clear finger nail polish...

and the factory does sell an acrylic 'spray touch up' that is also used on the interior woodwork

any of these coatings will cover or reseal the aluminum but each will be obvious too...

IF you really wanna hide it, place a school decal, flag decal or bullet hole decal over it.

cheers
2air'

on edit, i see you write it is "paint"...

having trouble visualizing a painted area in that location. there is a decal/trim and clearcoat but paint?

got a picture?

IF it is paint, yes a/s sells spray touchup paint in all the stock colors, which are mostly shades of gray/metalic

[jsamuel8]

I was afraid of that; I'll just keep waxing it like the rest of it and refer to it as a beauty mark. Maybe claying it and applying the Menzerna will brighten the rest of the panel and lessen the contrast. Thanks for the reply.

[2airishuman]

the curved panels on the endcaps have that 'brushed' look because of how they are formed.

alcoa prefinished the panels with clearcoat , but a/s uses compression/stretch-forms to mold the curved shape from flat sections....

this stretch-form-molding gives the metal and clearcoat that 'grain' we see...

you can read about the alcoa panels here...

http://www.alcoa.com/car_truck/en/success_airstream.asp

since it reads like you are an 'enthusiast' when it comes to detailing....

you might want to read some here....

hope you've got a strong stomach for the photos...

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f142...ams-31743.html

many (if not all) of us will be dealing with small defects in the clearcoat that can develop this filiform corrosion.

using a good polysealant (like fmj) may delay this issue.

cheers
2air'

[jsamuel8]

In response to the paint question that I overlooked; it's not painted, it's the brush look you've described. Thanks for the info; you definitely know your stuff!

[thecatsandi]

You need a can of acrylic clear coat.