how would you polish clear plastic?

raser13 · Post by **raser13** » Wed Apr 07, 2010 9:25 pm

this is something that won't be an issue for a little while but......... ........ i have the enterprise-d main hanger bay from federation models. and it is a thing of beauty. the thing that has bothered me the entire time i've had it is that you wont be able to see hardly any of it once it is installed. i was actually contemplating cutting the top of the main bay off and making a hinging system so you could open it up and see the bay. but with round 2 coming out with the ent-d in clear i was thinking of just sanding off the details and polishing it to window clear so that you can see into that beautiful bay. my question is after filing and sanding how do i go about polishing it back to completely smooth? i know to go to like 1000 grit paper but that still leaves minor scratches that give the plastic a cloudy look. how do i get it completely clear again? is there a way? i've hear roomers from the airplane guys about tooth paste? what does that do for you? and is there any special way to seal it once it is smooth? any thing else i forgot? i know i have to watch the super glue for cloudiness.

Kylwell · Post by **Kylwell** » Wed Apr 07, 2010 9:49 pm

Work your way up to some 10k grit and then on to the plastic polish like Novus.

raser13 · Post by **raser13** » Wed Apr 07, 2010 11:23 pm

novus?

Kylwell · Post by **Kylwell** » Wed Apr 07, 2010 11:42 pm

Novus!

raser13 · Post by **raser13** » Thu Apr 08, 2010 12:33 am

THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!!!!!

Zen-Builder · Post by **Zen-Builder** » Thu Apr 08, 2010 12:36 am

Personally I would go with sandpaper to about 1500 than start using different grades of polishing compounds.

Slow route as it will take some time but results are worth it, IMO.

Maestro shows it in his Dunbine video in the "Plamo Tsukurou" series.

HTH.

ajmadison · Post by **ajmadison** » Thu Apr 08, 2010 9:21 am

BTW, another good plastic polish is in your bathroom. Toothpaste!

naoto · Post by **naoto** » Thu Apr 08, 2010 9:51 am

ajmadison wrote:BTW, another good plastic polish is in your bathroom. Toothpaste!

Not only does it leave it gleaming white, you've got a minty-fresh scent!

kenlilly106 · Post by **kenlilly106** » Thu Apr 08, 2010 7:24 pm

To add to what's been posted:

- Make sure the scratches from the previous grit have been sanded out before moving on to the next grit.

- Sand at right angles to the previous grit

- Change the water between grits, don't want a coarse grit contaminating a fine one.

Ken

ajmadison · Post by **ajmadison** » Fri Apr 09, 2010 9:47 am

kenlilly106 wrote:To add to what's been posted:

- Make sure the scratches from the previous grit have been sanded out before moving on to the next grit.

- Sand at right angles to the previous grit

- Change the water between grits, don't want a coarse grit contaminating a fine one.

Ken

Put a drop dish washing liquid into the water. Allows the fine particles to stay in suspension and not clog up your paper. Extends the life of the paper and the paper will be less likely to p/u a bit of grit and gouge your polishing effort.

MillenniumFalsehood · Post by **MillenniumFalsehood** » Wed Apr 14, 2010 3:49 pm

Use white toothpaste.

Seriously! It has micro-sized abrasive particles that will polish the plastic to a mirror sheen. That's the white toothpaste; gel won't work.

mightymax · Post by **mightymax** » Fri Apr 23, 2010 11:20 pm

Also a used 'Bounce' dryer sheet will polish it up nicely

Max Bryant

rocketrider · Post by **rocketrider** » Wed May 26, 2010 1:57 pm

I have seen all these steps done on a P-51 canopy in Fine Scale Modeler. But the very last step was to dip the canopy in Future and let it "drip dry". Left the Mustang's canopy looking like real glass.

Glen

mech · Post by **mech** » Wed May 26, 2010 3:01 pm

Bon Ami powder will work and is cheaper than toothpaste.