My son put a scratch in my new canopy on my plane. What can I do to fix it. It's quite noticable and is detracts from the look of the plane. I could order another replacement but, can you buff it out or at least make it disapear somewhat? Any great tricks?


Thanks,

Shawn

follow these steps:

1) sand with fine wet paper (very VERY fine at the end), at the end the canopy will look like its foggy (thats normal)

2) get a bottle of FUTURE floor wax, and either airbrush it on ...or some folks dip it in the stuff...

when dry, the canopy will look better than new

I have not tried the Future floor wax. Have to try that sometime.

As vasek suggested, get some fine wet and dry. Start with about 800, then 1000, then 1200 and finally 1500, all used wet.

Get some ultra fine rubbing compound. I use 3m Machine Polish (Part #39003) applied by hand, followed by 3m Swirl Mark Remover (Part #39009) applied by hand.

This will take out all but the very deepest scratches and leave it looking like new. You don't want to remove so much material that it completely destroys the strength of the canopy.

As vasek said, do not have a heart attack when you see what the wet and dry does, the compound will bring it back like new.

This also works well to bring paint to a 'wet look' finish. An automotive paint supplier should have the 3m compounds and wet and dry out to 1500 grit.

Plastic modelers use the Future trick to great effect on their canopies... works good, lasts a long time..... and its cheap!!

Cheers!

Jim

For what it's worth, I fine sand my windows and clearcoat them for a deep glass effect.

I have used the Future Floor "Wax" to increase the shine on the canopy of my new HE-100. It makes the canopy look great but, it is definitely NOT fuelproof!!! At least not at the 15% CoolPower I use.

Appricate the responses. Were can you get the fine sandpaper? My local HW store only carries up to 400 grit. So, this method of sanding scares me. Any before after pics? Clear coating sounds interesting also. Keep the tips rolling. I will fly my model real soon but I do want to fix this blemish.

Shawn

Fine sandpaper can be found at automotive paint outlets. Also, there are CD/DVD scratch repair kits at Radio Shack that will work as well. James.

I saw one fixed that was out of a 20 year old kit. He sanded it like was said above. Then cleared it with Top Flight high gloss clear. It looked better than a new one.

david

You can use the Micro-Mesh plastic polishing kit to remove scratches from almost any kind of plastic material, from ABS and Lexan, to Plexiglas. IT can be ordered through your favorite hobby retailer. You successively sand the canopy's scratched area with progressively finer sandpaper until you get to the finest grade. You then use polishing compounds. The sandpaper goes from 1500 grit to 12000 grit and really does a good job!.

bax

Use Tooth Paste.



Ray

The auto parts dept. of the local Wal-Mart here has wet or dry in 600, 800, 1000, 1500, and 2000.

jess

Good tips.

Micro-Mesh - any online links to the product?

Toothpaste? Please elaborate experience and application process.

Good tip on the sandpaper. Wallmart my wifes favorite place. Will check that out.


Thanks,

Shawn

Tooth Paste is an abrasive. but of course very light ,so use as you would other products.

You will find that as it is low Micro will do the job well.



Ray