Model Car Windows

[steveg]

Hello I was posting because I have a problem, first off I just started putting models together for the first time since I was a kid. Anyway I am putting together a Dodge Viper and while I was putting the rear view mirror on the front windshield. I got some cement on the windshield then I tried to remove the cement from windshield with some thinner and now I have a very foggy looking window and I cant seem to clear it up. If anybody knows why this happened and how it can be corrected that would be great!!!!

[Jay!]

Check out this thread to read all about the types of glue to use: Glue 101

But the short answer is this: Model cement melts plastic together. That works great when you can't see it, but for clear parts, it "crazes" the plastic, making it foggy. So what the glue did was actually damage the surface of the windshield.

How big is the bad part? You may be able to buff it out.

Edit: Also, are you married/have girlfriend? (Yes, it's relevant! :right: )

[awaken1973]

Also, are you married/have girlfriend? (Yes, it's relevant! )

Just interesting, how it related to modelling?

[Jay!]

Girls always have all sorts of useful things for us to take and use on plastic.

In this case, you're looking for a 4-way buffing stick that a girl would tell you is for fingerrnails. Well, it's not. Obviously, it's for polishing plastic. The one I have has one side that's blue and pink and the other side is white and grey. I got it for 99¢ at a beauty supply store when my wife was buying hair dye. My Hobby store charges $4.99 for the exact same thing.

You can use it to repair the clear plastic's surface. In this case, you probably don't need to start with the roughest side (the blue side on mine), but perhaps the second roughest (the pink side on mine). Give the damaged area a good going-over, but go slowly because you're making the windshield thinner as you go. You may want to do this in the bathroom under running water. Most sanding sticks are somewhat flexible, so the inside of a windshield should be no problem.

You will be scratching the surface of the plastic, but you only need to go over the damaged part. Once it's uniformly scratched, go to the nest finer grain on the stick (the white side on mine). The finer grain will take out the bigger scratches, but leave smaller ones. Because of this, you do have to go step by step and not skip any sanding grits. Once it's aluniform again, go to the last grit, the smoothest (the gray side on mine), and finish it off. As you go, you'll see it clearing up again, and you'll be able to blend it in with the surrounding undamaged plastic.

Let me know if you have any questions.

[Murco]

Does anybody remember those clear report binders we all seemed to use in high school? That clear plastic can be cut to the shape of that window and will fit that frame perfectly, and have a more "in-scale" appearance. Very easy to do!!