MrBuick Posted February 8, 2016 Share Posted February 8, 2016 I've got a few kits laying around that are molded in color. One of them is a '67 'vette roadster, and the body is molded in red. I am going to stick with red for the body color, and I've heard people claim they've been able to just polish the body and get good results without painting. Does anyone have any experience doing so, and if so, how did you accomplish it? Final results pics would be awesome! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cobraman Posted February 8, 2016 Share Posted February 8, 2016 I tried it using the Novus polishing items. Worked ok. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1972coronet Posted February 8, 2016 Share Posted February 8, 2016 "Final Cut #2" Meguire's [sp] works well , too . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snake45 Posted February 8, 2016 Share Posted February 8, 2016 I've polished plastic on several, and do it every time I think I can get away with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete J. Posted February 8, 2016 Share Posted February 8, 2016 You can do it successfully with the same process that you use of paint, however, you should check the surface for things that may need filler such as sink marks, seams and other issues with the plastic. If there are defects in the plastic that you would normally fix, then paint is the only way to go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrBuick Posted February 8, 2016 Author Share Posted February 8, 2016 Awesome, thanks guys, I'm gonna give it a try. I guess the worst thing that could happen is it doesn't come out well and I have to paint it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
espo Posted February 8, 2016 Share Posted February 8, 2016 Another Meguiar's product to try is called Plastx clear plastic cleaner & polish. It is designed for taking scratches out of plastic instrument covers and tail lights. I'm sure it would work on head lights also. I used it on an old Monogram '64 GTO molded in red. I trimmed the mold lines as much as I could with a #11 blade followed by fine sanding sticks and a 3200 sanding pad. This leaves you with just a little polishing and maybe some waxing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peteski Posted February 10, 2016 Share Posted February 10, 2016 While I have seen some amazing-looking models with unpainted (polished) bodies, you have to make sure that the plastic is not slightly translucent. If it is, even polished, it will look plasticky. In my experience bright red or yellow plastic is often translucent. Easy test: look at a light source (like a table lamp) through the body. you'll be able to easily see whether the plastic is opaque or translucent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StevenGuthmiller Posted February 10, 2016 Share Posted February 10, 2016 This '61 Plymouth was done this way. It was molded in the yellow & then just polished out with a polishing kit. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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