Strip it or sand down?

I am restoring a westinghouse 102. it has dents, a few screw holes, and some spot rust. I dont know wether to use aviation stripper and take it to bare metal or to sand down to the white primer underneath. some stuff I read said to lkeep the original primer. I have to go to bare  metal to fix holes, a crease, and spot rust. What do you suggest. body work is not my specialty. If I go to bare metal, can I use regular auto primar in cans and wet sand it to keep the metal covered until I shoot it with the paint? thanks

[Pat Pixley]

Hey there Tommy, This is what I would do get some
picture's all 4 sides so you have the paint scheme .          
Then I would strip it down to bare
metal,Then if you have access to a sand blaster
use it on those rust spots. And the reason for stripping it
if there is any srcatchs they could be hiding some rust.
then go after those holes and dents.
As far as the paint I take my machines to a body shop
that I work with and he handles the primer and painting
part.

Pat P.

Some of these units were galvanized before they were painted. Sanding the paint off would mean sanding the galvanizing off too. Not good. I would use stripper as much as possible, touch up around the embossing with a bead blast and use a scotch brite pad to clean the surface. Use regular sprayable (like Kondar from PPG) primer and automotive paint.

Nate