Polishing lexan shell that's been scuffed on the inside before painting?

[Truck Norris]

I bought a NIB Focus WRC 2001 body set last week and was delighted when it turned up sooner than expected yesterday. My delight soon faded when I saw the state of it:

Looks like someone has taken a Brillo pad to it or something All over the windows too, which is stupid given that this version has clear windows and an interior, not tints.

There was no mention of this on the listing or I'd have given it a miss.

These shells are few and far between, especially this 2001 version so my question is can this be sanded / polished out?

[Nitomor]

Can't give any advice I'm afraid, what a shister not mentioning it on the auction

That looks like an awful lot of work. Maybe hit it with some fine sandpaper then polish up after? At least it would even out the scratches maybe.

[Truck Norris]

I'm prepared to give the seller the benefit of the doubt, opening the box and looking inside it's not immediately noticeable so a busy seller might have glanced inside and then checked the next item.

I've sent him a message asking if he has another, which at the time he didn't have any more listed, but after checking a moment ago he's now got a full Focus 01 kit. The opportunity is there to do the right thing and exchange the shells, so it will be interesting to see the response.

[Bullitt3577]

Wow, I've always scuffed my lexan bodies before I paint but that's a little on the extreme side. Hope you get it worked out?

[InsaneJim69]

I don't want to sound silly, but is it def on the inside of the body and not between the body and protective film? If its def on the inside, there is no way to save that TBH

James

[berman]

I bought a toyota gt one body exactly like this. NIP from my LHS. I can't remember what it was, but it comes off with a light polish, I believe it is something to do with the age and maybe air. I only tried to polish the wing and then sold on the body, you would just have to watch the glass area.

[Truck Norris]

Interesting! That does remind me I had a clear helmet visor (real, not RC) kind of fog up and it took polishing it to remove the clouding. There didn't seem to be any reason for that to have happened, except being stored in a cold garage rather than indoors.

[svenb]

I have some good results with cheap kids tooth paste and brasso.

Make sure tooth paste is fine with none of those cleaning granules in.

sven

[Nitomor]

Meguires do a headlamp cleaner for jap cars with plastic headlights which might be perfect, it's really good stuff, I'll have to find the name out.

Meguires Plast-RX

[Truck Norris]

Thanks guys!

I've got all 3 of the Tamiya polishes as well as a load of Menzerna and Megs car stuff so a good variety to try.

I'll be sure to start with the finest stuff first.

[Vrdetailing]

As all above.. Metal polish is the best to use... I use it with a mop to take scratches from CDs

[Gruntfuggly]

I bought a NIB Focus WRC 2001 body set last week

NIB? I would be asking for my money back...

If you want to try another fine polish, have a look at the Novus range.

[mr crispy]

I've had good results with T-Cut on lexan bodies.

[Truck Norris]

I bought a toyota gt one body exactly like this. NIP from my LHS. I can't remember what it was, but it comes off with a light polish, I believe it is something to do with the age and maybe air. I only tried to polish the wing and then sold on the body, you would just have to watch the glass area.

This man nailed it

Nothing more than a light wipe with Tamiya Polycarbonate Body Cleaner!

Very happy now

[OLD KID]

Farecla G6 will be your best bet,use it on 1-1 car paint

i would be careful with any polish that contains silicone

Good luck

[nowinaminute]

Digging up an old thread but I just wanted to say that i believe that is fungus, similar stuff grows on camera lenses if they spend too much time in the dark and/or in damp conditions. It can be a real killer on camera lenses because it eventually etches into the coatings or even the glass itself but with lexan it probably just sits on the surface and so wipes off easily. The spores are in the air all the time but they need darkness and/or humidity to thrive.

[Truck Norris]

That makes sense. I'm familiar with lens fungus as I've bought a few second hand lenses (all clean fortunately).

I've now painted this body but the paint adhesion was quite poor, most likely as a result of what happened.

More info here: https://www.tamiyaclub.com/showroom_model.asp?cid=130728&id=43050