Am I screwed? *Please Help!*

I was doin the trim on the windows for my R33 and after the paint was done drying I started to peel of the masks. When I took it off I saw some stuff on the window and I was like w/e its just residue and I'll just scrape it off, but when I tried to take it off I noticed it was actually deep scratches...I have no clue on how they got there, but Im thinkin the masking tape might have ripped of some plastic when I was taking it off...Is that possible? What else could it be and how the hell am I supposed to fix this??? I think Im screwed but I just wanted to ask here if there was somthing I could do about it...Please HELP!!!
Heres some pix of the damage:
http://img33.imageshack.us/img33/4319/window1.jpg
http://img34.imageshack.us/img34/4307/window2.jpg
http://img34.imageshack.us/img34/7735/window3.jpg

it kinda looks like the plastic melted. Id reccommend ordering a replacement from the Company if you can.

dam bro car was looking beautiful. I think your screwed but maybe someone here can help. May i suggest making some windows from clear plastic, like the mod plastic. Once again sry to here about this hope you find a solution soon

What kind of tape were you using? It looks like the adhesive melted the plastic. Call TamiyaUSA, tell them the kit, parts tree it came on and they will send you another one free of charge. Search for the thread where somebody gives TamiyaUSA "props".

Alright thanx guys

I was using regular masking tape, maybe i shuda used painters type tape :banghead:

3M makes really good tape! check that out. I think Mike hit it right on the head...adhesive melted the windows.

3M makes really good tape!

Be careful though. Some 3M does leak (regular home paint tape tends to sometimes). 3M Blue Plastic tape (found at auto paint stores) is and excellent tape, a little pricey but it does the job. Tamiya Masking also works very well.

It look like it got some heat.

try transparent Styrene (cost about 1$/sheet) you should be able to make a new one

Thanx for the tips guys, I just wish I knew that b4 heh

Also Mike thanx for lettin me know bout TamiyaUSA, I called um up but there closed so Ill try again tomm.

Hey pyro, if you find that url will you post the link? I had a prob were my paint had bled threw the tape and I also need a new Honda s2000 Windsheild. Thanks... :smokin:

Have you tried to clean it up? It's obviously hard to tell from pics if the plastic is deeply etched, but it seems like it'd be worth the try. Strip the paint with your favorite method- if it's enamel, I highly recommend CSC or similar, if it's Tamiya acrylic, window cleaner or alcohol tends to work very well also. Then, take a bit of toothpaste (not gel) on a cotton ball, and polish the effected areas. Toothpaste has extremely fine abrasives in it, and is great for this type of problem. Add a bit of water if necissary. If this works, the toothpaste will leave a very fine haze, which can be removed with Tamiya polishing compound or the like.

I would at least give this a try before ordering a new set- or (gasp) attempting to scratchbuild a replacement. Recreating the curves of the windshield almost makes this a non-option. It can be done, by hot stretching clear thermaform plastic (not styrene!) over the kit part. If you're keen to try, I can tell you how, but the supplies you need will likely be more expensive than ordering a replacement set of clear parts. Making decent clear parts tends to require very advanced scratchbuilding skills- unless you like the flat plate glass windshield look.

The best option is, if the kit part proves to be unusable, order a new set of clear parts from Tamiya.

MPWR, I have tried cleaning it with rubbing alcohol cuz thats what usually takes off the residue for me and I was also considerin using GooGone(very effective stuff) but when I found out it was actually scratches, theres no point. Im pretty sure they are scratches tho because when I run my nail over it, it goes down and in..

I can't imagine how you scratched the windsheild like that. Quite strange

I can't imagine how you scratched the windsheild like that. Quite strange
I think so too. But I can see the melted plastic in some pictures.

I didnt scratch it, somehow the tape melted it...

It sounds like the paint and tape adhesive reacted together and chemically etched the plastic. I cetainly can't tell from the pics how deep the etching is, but if its realitively superficial, buffing them out with toothpaste may help. (You could sand them out with fine grit sandpaper, and then buff out the scratches with toothpaste.) But, really only you can tell how deep the etching is, and if it's worth attempting to buff out.

What kind of paint did you use?

The paint and adhesive cudnt have caused it becuase there are alot of spots away from the paint that are melted/scratched.

I used Duplicolor flat black

Was the paint Laquer? Because laquer is a 'hot' type paint and can eat or even melt the plastic you put it on. Usually a primer will prevent this for painting bodies but since you put it dirrectly on the clear plastic, it melted.
So, it either bled under first and etched/melted the plastic...or it etched/melted the glas and capilary action drew the paint into the recesses it made when it melted the plastic.
~Mike