Polishing a molded in color body

[junkyardjeff]

I picked up a molded in black AMT 49 Ford and since it survived this long without being painted I would like to see if I can make it look like paint so what do I need to do as I have never done it before.

[Leica007]

Hi Jeff,

I did the Starsky/Hutch Torino that way.  I treated the body like it was painted, wet sanding with increasing higher numbers until your body looks smooth with some gloss when you look at it from angles; when it's that smooth, then start polishing it until you get the sheen you want. I think I started with 1500 grit an went to 6 or 8K. Here's a photo, hope it helps.

[Ulf]

I've been a bit tempted to build a car this way so I've had a closer look at some really nice ones. Polishing as Leica007 writes yes but a couple of really nice ones that I looked at and talked to the builder about have been painted on the inside of the body, the one a yellow he had painted first chrome silver, then black, then blue(?) interior roof. He had tested with black directly but then the car became mustard yellow. In short, his cars felt solid. By the way, he is very careful to paint all the back sides black, outside interior, top chassis etc.

[TonyK]

I have used some good car wax on model bodies before and got decent results.

[Rick L]

I would do the same as Lei but limit my sanding to the parting lines and leave the rest of the body alone. Then buff it out. 

[StevenGuthmiller]

Just treat it as you would a painted body, but remove all of the mold seams first.

I did this Johan ‘61 Fury this way.

Sanded off the mold lines and then used a Micro-Mesh polishing kit and Novus liquid polishes to shine it up.

 

 

 

 

Steve

[espo]

I have polished unpainted plastic bodies maybe three or four so far. As Steven Guthmiller mentioned you can lightly sand away the molding lines using a very fine sanding pad and then use a polishing media. My go to is the Mcquire's Plastic polish that they offer primarily for polishing plastic lenses and taillights. This stuff is even great if you have a plexiglass boat or motorcycle windshield that is scratched as well.  

[Dave G.]

Wow, I think the first issue 49 Fords were the molded in black version. I remember black, grey, blue and now the latest years are white. That's all I have to say. I personally don't polish kit plastic, especially my first goal after flash removal is to get on a light coat of primer, so the kit doesn't look so plastic, lol..

[StevenGuthmiller]

1 hour ago, Dave G. said:

Wow, I think the first issue 49 Fords were the molded in black version. I remember black, grey, blue and now the latest years are white. That's all I have to say. I personally don't polish kit plastic, especially my first goal after flash removal is to get on a light coat of primer, so the kit doesn't look so plastic, lol..

As a rule, most molded in color bodies usually have some issues that make polishing the plastic a problem.

Many are so thin as to be somewhat transparent, and there is often swirls in the plastic where it came together in the mold.

The only circumstances where I have ever elected to possibly polish the bare plastic is if it’s thick enough to make it completely opaque, if there are no swirls or color blemishes, and if the color is “believable”.

Often there’s no possible way to make the surface look as if it’s been painted without actually painting it.

The only reason that I did my ‘61 Plymouth in this manner is because it met all of the criteria.  
I haven’t found another true candidate since.

 

 

 

Steve

[gtx6970]

On 10/27/2024 at 9:44 AM, StevenGuthmiller said:

Just treat it as you would a painted body, but remove all of the mold seams first.

I did this Johan ‘61 Fury this way.

Sanded off the mold lines and then used a Micro-Mesh polishing kit and Novus liquid polishes to shine it up.

 

 

 

 

Steve

I have a Johan 1964 Dodge nearly this exact color Im considering doing this as you describe

[Brutalform]

This Tasca Thunderbolt has it’s molded plastic polished. 

[slusher]

snake liked to polish bodies he sanded them and used a silver cream started with a w from Walmart if I remember right..

[bill-e-boy]

Works OK but the colour does fade. I did a Tamiya McLaren about 50 years ago and it still looks good but a little faded

Sometime paint fades too but doesn't seem to as much as raw plastic. The evidence is here so why not - better than a manky orange peely paint job

 

[mascari33]

I had good luck polishing this promo model.  It is the exact color of my first car.  I was not confident I could duplicate the color in paint so I thought why not just polish it?

I included the model as I got it off of eBay.