Polishing A Model

[Hartness53]

Can anyone tell me how you go about polishing a model. I have seen people even polish them without even painting, this is incredible to me. I usually use primer and either Wal-Mart "Color Place", or Krylon spray paint and clear coat. I also just got a nice paasche VL airbrush and am collecting some Createx paints. I am mostly wondering about what type of "rag" or towel to use and any polishing agents. Thanks Christian

[Andy Wyatt]

This is one of those questions that you could get a hundred different answers to. Here's what I do. After the paint has cured ( using Krylon that might take a while...I've never used it) I use polishing pads from MicroMark. They are 2 inch square pads that range from 2400 to 12,000 grit. Depending on the surface of the paint ...how much orange peel or if there is dust will determine which grit you use first. Sand in one direction until the paint surface starts to look even. It will not be shiny yet...in fact it will be considerably duller but DON"T PANIC becaust thats supposed to happen. By the way, use the polishing pads wet with a drop of dish soap...they won't load up with paint and they'll last much longer. After using the first grit (lower number grit first, move onto next higher number...and don't skip grits) proceed to the next grit. You want to be extra carefull around sharp edges and door lines because it's very easy to rub through the paint in these areas. On large flat surfaces ike the roof, hood or trunk begin polishing in one direction and switch directions with each grit...lengthwise, crosswise.

Once I have the paint where I want it I will clear it. Some guys don't polish out paint before clear. I do because I don't like to load up a lot of clear to cover any orange peel...it just doesn't look right when the car has that much clear on it. Once I have cleared it and it has cured I will go through the polishing pads again...being extra careful because it's hard to see if you are rubbing through it or not. After the polishing pads I use Meguiars #7 Showcar Glaze in the tan bottle. I like it because it has no silicates in it and can be painted over if you need to touch up. I just rub it on with a piece of white flannel then buffing with a piece of clean flannel. The most important thing is practice. The more you do it the easier it will get. Good luck!