Best paint prep

I am an impatient sod, friends here have guided me to go for chemical striping of my '66 S3 frame and panelwork prior to painting.
I've seen the results and they look impressive (so they should for close to 800 quid! - swiss prices)..however I can't get bits in until pre xmas which means wont be painted until after..and id really like to re assemble over the xmas break.
So thinking about the old fashioned way of wet and dry and sanders etc in the garage ...it will take me a couple of days I would think but what do others normally do. I've stripped back what looked like great paint to find masses of filler on the legshield and some pin holes already...so almost on the page of ditching and buying remade leg shields vs fixing up, anyone had experience with these
Thoughts and experience welcome
Thanks
Dean
I've seen the results and they look impressive (so they should for close to 800 quid! - swiss prices)..however I can't get bits in until pre xmas which means wont be painted until after..and id really like to re assemble over the xmas break.
So thinking about the old fashioned way of wet and dry and sanders etc in the garage ...it will take me a couple of days I would think but what do others normally do. I've stripped back what looked like great paint to find masses of filler on the legshield and some pin holes already...so almost on the page of ditching and buying remade leg shields vs fixing up, anyone had experience with these
Thoughts and experience welcome
Thanks
Dean