Classic & Vintage - Corrision blisters? Advice sought

My oldest son just bought his GF an older Quintana Roo time-trial bike (Kilo model) that has hideous blisters in the paint. Here's a section of the TT where both blistering and bare metal are visible.

http://i1215.photobucket.com/albums/cc509/Beas5963/Rootoptube.jpg

The bike seems solid and roadworthy, just ugly in places. No historical details are available, so I'm trying to solve something of a mystery.

I'm of the opinion it is a sub-standard factory paint job, but I can't be sure. Some of the paint has flaked off in other areas of the frame and it appears there is no primer, just oxidation. I've searched the archives and come across reports of bad paint on early Cannondales, but nothing on QR. Paint blistering seems to be caused by oxidation, whether steel or aluminum.

Is anyone familiar with the paint quality of QR bikes and/or paint? I'm thinking of doing some sanding and touch up (with zinc chromate primer, of course), but I'd like some advice first. Some of the decals will be lost, unfortunately.

She may not care about the looks of the paint, but I'd like to touch it up to prevent further corrosion.

Thanks in advance for any insights/advice.

Thread title should read "Corrosion". Sorry for the typo. I (usually) know how to spell.

If it is aluminum there should be little damage. As you said, sand, proper primer and paint should make it look better and extend the life of the frame. I wouldn't worry. Alan

Bump. Pic added.

older paint on aluminum wasn't very good. Almost all the older cannondales have this problem and the paint will just start the flake off.

Yeah, the corrosion doesn't hurt it quite as badly as it does steel. You could remove bubbled paint, polish to a shine, and wax if you didn't feel like using touch up paint.

older paint on aluminum wasn't very good. Almost all the older cannondales have this problem and the paint will just start the flake off.
old gm cars had this problem also.

Is that the one that was for sale in Anderson? I thought about going to look at it.

It could very well be sub par paint application from the factory which would just be amplified by years of sweat dripping down that bar. When bare metal is painted you have to give the paint something to bite on whether by sanding or using a self etching primer. If it has no primer and the fresh metal underneath is silky smooth I'd say they should have done better prep work.

Is that the one that was for sale in Anderson? I thought about going to look at it.

Yup. Did you check out that Unique?