[Captain Mark]

Howdy all,

I've topcoated a bunch of parts on a current F1 build, decalled them, and have shot clear over the lot. It's been left for nearly a week to dry and harden (it's lacquer).

Now I've polished two of the 8 or so parts, using a combination of MicroMesh polishing cloths and Tamiya compound - my usual methods. But I'm finding that the polishing is taking the lustrous blue colour from the parts.

I'm not at all polishing through to the blue however, and the reflection on the polished parts is much better than the unpolished parts... BUT, it's like the blue on the polished parts is much, MUCH duller. Parts have been washed and cleaned after polishing.

I've never come across is before and it's really confusing me. I'm worried about doing the rest of the parts now, and they really need a bit of polishing due to slight orange peel in the clear. I'm basically at a point where I either accept some orange peel and have a really deep striking blue, or remove the orange peel and have a duller blue. Dammit, I want my cake and I wanna eat the whole friggen' thing!

Can anyone tell me what on earth is going on??? Or how to avoid dulling the blue down?

Any advice much appreciated!
Cheers,
M