fixing clear plastic parts

[youpey]

on the 1/16 corvette i got, the windows front and back were very chewed up looking, scratched and all and all not looking very good. in my brilliant head, i assumed if i sanded them and then used a compound to polish it out, it would be fine. 

i started the sanding with a 1500 tamiya sandpaper, then 2000, then the compound using 3 levels of compound, from tamiya fine, then tamiya finish, then microgloss liquid abrasive as the final. 

however, i was not able to get out the deep scratches, but now the glass is also a little foggy. i have tried many times to clean it up, but its not getting really clear. 

is there something i missed or will it always be a little foggy? unfortunately, i am not sure if it was every really crystal clear in the first place since i got it 2nd hand

 

Edited May 10, 2021 by youpey

[Muncie]

It will take more sanding to get the scratches out.  Finish polishing with something like Mequiars cleaner wax - it has a very mild abrasive - with a fine microfiber cloth.  Go easy on the glass, too much force will cause stress cracks in old plastic that won't come out - easy does it.

[youpey]

18 minutes ago, Muncie said:

It will take more sanding to get the scratches out.  Finish polishing with something like Mequiars cleaner wax - it has a very mild abrasive - with a fine microfiber cloth.  Go easy on the glass, too much force will cause stress cracks in old plastic that won't come out - easy does it.

is this the right stuff to make it less foggy?

https://www.amazon.com/Meguiars-Cleaner-Wax-Liquid-Protects/dp/B0002NYE5M/ref=sr_1_2?crid=C4USCWV5IX6V&dchild=1&keywords=mcguire+cleaner+wax&qid=1620682288&sprefix=mcguier+clea%2Caps%2C168&sr=8-2

Edited May 10, 2021 by youpey

[Steamboat]

I use an automotive spray wax for the final coat after any polishing. Just spray a couple of drops on a flannel rag and rub it in. 

The"haze remover" in my polishing kit dried out and I wasn't able to revive it so I had to look elsewhere. 

[Steamboat]

Also, I polish clear plastic down to 12000 grit, then use polishing compound. 

[peteski]

After I'm done sanding clear plastic pieces, I use the Novus polishing system.  It makes the plastic part as clear is it was before.

[Deuces ll]

What if you just dip the windshield in a tub of Future?????

[Can-Con]

5 minutes ago, Deuces ll said:

What if you just dip the windshield in a tub of Future?????

Then you'll have a frosted windshield covered in Future. ?

[Can-Con]

2 hours ago, Steamboat said:

Also, I polish clear plastic down to 12000 grit, then use polishing compound. 

That's what I do too. 

It's easier to polish out if you sand down finer. 2000 grit is what I'd start with. 

BUT, if you keep at it with the polishing compounds you have it will eventually clear up. But it may take quite a while.

[Muncie]

3 hours ago, youpey said:

is this the right stuff to make it less foggy?

https://www.amazon.com/Meguiars-Cleaner-Wax-Liquid-Protects/dp/B0002NYE5M/ref=sr_1_2?crid=C4USCWV5IX6V&dchild=1&keywords=mcguire+cleaner+wax&qid=1620682288&sprefix=mcguier+clea%2Caps%2C168&sr=8-2

That is what I use - I'm on the same bottle I had 20 years ago.  As the other posts show, other builders have their own sauce which will work as well.  The cloth is also important - I prefer a microfiber towel cut in smaller pieces. 

Back in the days when we used paper towels and tooth paste, it was even brand dependent.  Viva towels would leave a shiny part.  Other brands had enough toughness that they would fog up a good shine.  Colgate left a foggy finish, other builders claimed success with the brands the used.

Edited May 11, 2021 by Muncie

[youpey]

58 minutes ago, peteski said:

After I'm done sanding clear plastic pieces, I use the Novus polishing system.  It makes the plastic part as clear is it was before.

this one? and do you start with 3 and work to 1?

https://www.amazon.com/Novus-7100-Plastic-Polish-Kit/dp/B002UCYRZU/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=Novus+polishing&qid=1620696807&sr=8-3

[peteski]

Yup. I just use #3 and #2 for polishing plastic. #1 is more of a cleaner than polish.

Edited May 11, 2021 by peteski

[youpey]

i kept going at it with the different compounds, and i also wetsanded the windshield again with the 2000, going in an opposite direction from last time. up/down instead of side by side. 

 

anyway, its not crystal clear yet, but its not foggy anymore. in fact, it looks clear unless i hold it up to the light. its way better than before. im going to get the novus and the wax to try to get it better. i cant get the chips out though. i would need to sand down too far. the rear window is much more scratched, but not deep scratches. that one definitely needs some work.

 

thanks again to everyone

Edited May 11, 2021 by youpey

[espo]

The Mequiars product that Muncie mentioned is designed for use on plastic. Used to for years on the windshield of a couple of boats. Might even want to try it on your tail lights and headlights regardless of the scale.  

[youpey]

Here is my work with the tamiya and the microgloss liquid abrasive.  I cant get 2 of the very small chips out. I sanded and sanded and i feel the divot still, so short of somehow filling it somehow, its going to stay like this. Other than the small chips they are clear. I gave it another coating of the microgloss and polish each one for really long time and then did final cleaning with new rag.

I wish i took a before picture but i didn't. they were in horrible shape with scratches all over the front and back windows 

 

Its a little hard to tell but they look amazing. If it wasn't for the tiny chips i would be so happy with the results. I dont have any more hazing that i can see. They look great now

Edited May 11, 2021 by youpey