HELP!! with clear plastic

Hmmm...I might try progressively finer sand paper, then a polish with something like an unused coffee filter and then a drip in Future Floor Polish.

Try this:

* Start off with a fine sandpaper, like 600 grit. Get most of the residue off.
* Next, go get a package of 3-grit emery boards from the drugstore. These can be found in the cosmetics section with nail-grooming items.
* Starting with the "roughest" grit, sand the area. Progress to the other 2 grits, going perpendicular (across) the previous sanding area.
* When you're done, *carefully* blow off any residue or grit.
* I like to use plain Colgate toothpaste as a plastic polish...it's cheap and works well.
* Once that's done, dip the piece in Future like MG said and let it sit for at least 48 hours before doing anything with it.

Thanks....I'll give it a whirl!!!

This looks like the perfect tutorial for you:
http://www.briansmodelcars.com/tutorials/tutorial.asp?TutorialID=14&CurPage=1

What is `Future`? I gather from the tutorial that it is a clear floor polish (or cleaner ?). Is it the type you dilute in water or do you use it `neat`?
I have a couple of nasty glue thumbprints on a couple of winsdscreens that I thought were ruined. Thr tutorial has persuaded me to have a go at cleaning them up.

QUOTE: Originally posted by Spitfire 321 What is `Future`? I gather from the tutorial that it is a clear floor polish (or cleaner ?).

Go to www.swannysmodels.com/Tools.html for all you want to know about future (and whilst there check out the rest of his site there are some terrific builds there even if there are planes.

Mark, Thanks for that web site - it`s a great one. My question about `Future` was answered in full. Believe it or not - we have a bottle of it in the house, it`s called `Krystal Klear` (their spelling, not mine), in England.
Thanks again. Jim

If you're going to 'sand' or 'buff' the windshield clean...just be careful not to exert too much pressure while doing so and thereby cracking the plastic part! I've ruined enough canopies/windshields over the years to know from experience. Just be careful whatever technique you decide on!

Glenn

Thanks for the recommended tutorial....It is very thorough....I'll give it a try. Thanks again...I'll let you know how it turns out!!!

You can try and form a new windshield by using most any clear packaging plastic that you get from various products you buy, including food packaging. Go to your local hardware store or a craft store and buy some plaster of paris to make a mold. It is cheap. Use the original windshield for your master mold, coat it with a mold release agent, ex. vaseline. Use some old legos to form a box around your windshield. Put some clay in this box form to hold and support your windshield. Put the windshield in so you will be pooring the paris mix in on the inside of the windshield. Make sure the clay is all around the outside of the window, not on the inside portion. Mix up the plaster of paris and poor it in, bring it up level to the top of the lego box. When dry remove your mold and super glue or use panel adheisev to glue it to a piece of scrap furring strip. Clamp the furring strip in a vise when the glue dries get out the hair dryer or heat gun and heat up some of that plastic until it starts getting soft and deforming, then quickly pull it down fast and and hard over your mold. Use a piece big enought that you can hold it with out getting your hands hot and pull it over your mold and trim later. Your plastic doesn't have to be a flat sheet it can be any shape because when you heat it the molecules change so it can take a new shape. Try it out, if it doesn't work the first time the plastic can be reheated and reused again untill you get a good windshield.

I'm gonna try that last idea........just because it sounds so cool..... thanks for the great ideas everyone....I'll post some pics when I'm done...
Thanks again.
Sammy