I always think paint protection is a personal thing; what I feel is required, may be seen by others as either overkill or woefully inadequate. Experience has taught me, that Caterhams like to eat paint, in much the same way as they eat tyres. Therefore you can only do so much.
It helps that I am a short drive from the factory painter, who painted Caterham chassis for the factory for many years. I have often used this company, TSK (https://www.facebook.com/TSKCaterhamPaint/), to refresh paintwork on my car and return it to factory fresh. Their prices have always been reasonable, often costing less to paint than having paint protection applied by the company Caterham uses for this.
I don’t apply paint protection film, just heavy duty protection in the areas of heavy wear. For this I use 3M helicopter tape. 3M helicopter tape is clear and very strong, which makes it ideal for areas likely to be subjected to something rubbing or vibrating against it.
The spring bonnet latch can rub on the paint 
I use the “water & washing-up liquid method” of application
To apply the tape, I use the water & washing-up liquid spray method, so I can move the helicopter tape during application and squeeze the water out using a decal squeegee. Remember, only a very small amount of washing up liquid is needed, one tiny drop in a spray bottle.
Side screen rubs near the screen 
Side screen bow 
Nose cone protection
On this build I applied protection to the following areas:
- Side screen corner (near the screen)
- Side screen strap (bow)
- Side screen strap (bottom of the side screen)
- Bonnet spring latch
- Hood sticks (near the roll bar diagonal mounting points)
- Nose cone (above the front upper wishbone mounting point)
I didn’t apply paint protection to my 360R on the side screen bottom because it had arm rests fitted. Also, I haven’t needed to apply paint protection for the nose cone before; I am assuming this is because this is my first carbon fibre nose cone.
The basic rule of thumb is: if there is something that can rub or vibrate on the paint, I have protected it with 3M helicopter tape.
Tools Used
- Decal squeegee
Caterham 420 Detailed Build Blog 
Any recommendations Chris for the tape to use ?
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3M helicopter tape, not cheap, but the protection is great. Especially under the front bonnet latch springs. On my car you can clearly see where the springs rub the paint protection, but don’t touch the paint.
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Just watched your Paint protection blog. Is the tape you used self adhesive ?
Also do the bonnet springs not have rubber sleeves?
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Hi Phil The tape I use (3M Helicopter Tape) is self adhesive. It’s only recently that Caterham have started delivering kit with the hose off cuts protecting the paint from the front bonnet springs. They aren’t fitted to the factory builds I have seen. Obviously they will do the job if protecting the paint, but they are much thicker than the helicopter tape, and that rubs on the spring, so I feel they will put more pressure on the aluminium side skin. Therefore I prefer the traditional look of the spring uncovered.
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