hey guys..i've been hearing that polishing work can bring up the shine of our scale model car after applying clear coats..

but..hobby use polishing coumpound and wax are too expensive! <_<

so..what do you use to polish and wax your car? what kind of automobile's polishing compound and wax is applicable in our models? i would like to find the replacement of the hobby use polishing compound and wax..what is your suggestion?

thank you guys for sharing your info! ^_^

maybe cham2020 might answer your questions :P

i've use several industrial polish wax, they works, but which are more or less abbrasive i really can't tell, so i dont use them anymore ^_^

but i can recommend that u start with Autosol(use for polishing metal), after that look for industrial polishing wax that can removes scratches leaves by Autosol, TurtleWax maybe?? ^_^

Alternative 1 - I use this method
Rubbing compound = Autosol (normal ones in black and gold tube)
Polishing compound = Autosol Deep Wax and Polish (in green and white tube)

Alternative 2 - used by Cham2020 if I'm not mistaken
Rubbing compound = Soft 99 Rubbing Compound
Polishing compound = Soft 99 Polish and Wax

There are more... just the matter of try and error :D

soft99 works too? oh man..i might just ask my dad to buy to polish my automobile and my scale "automobile" if it really works!

but be careful & better go slowly, i find soft99(i think the rubbing type) quite abbrasive ^_^

Soft 99? hmmm...... i should have asked Entau much earlier before i invested my money into those tamiya compound....

Is it as good as specialised for hobby ones?

for safe, use tamiya's compound, industrial compound and wax still works, but need some trial and error ^_^

FYI, I've been using Autosol polish (the black and gold tube) to level out the clear coats. Since I usually apply more than 4 layers of clear coat for each build, the abrasiveness of the Autosol did not affect the paint.

If you worry on the abrasiveness of industrial rubbing compound, maybe you can try Gunze's Rubbing Compound 1000 which is about RM9.90 per tube when I purchase them at MH (not sure whether they still have it or not because I bought them when they were in Mid Valley). Slightly cheaper than Tamiya but works the same.

Druid, have you tried Tamiya's Finish Compound? Which is finer in your opinion? Autosol Deep Wax & Polish or Tamiya's Finish Compound?

edit: actually i think Tamiya's Finish is very fine, but very expensive too, any other industrial substitutes that you can recommend? :)

Yup, I have both of them and I found out that both is about the same but the Autosol ones are for the polishing stage. It is non-abrasive.

Usually I spend most of the time rotating between the Tamiya Finishing Compound and Autosol Deep Wax & Polish to get the desired shine. :)

ok, will get one Autosol ASAP :P

For me,i will use compound mix with a litlle wax(auto wax like kit,turtlewax n etc)
for easy rubbing..thehehe..work for me.. B)

autosol is not abrassive? can i get it from tesco or giant?
what are the differences between rubbing compound, polishing compound and wax? what are these three stuff? i'm getting confused.. :huh:
by the way, after polishing using autosol, what should i do?

Correction UnknownUser... the Autosol Deep Wax & Polish is non-abrasive, it comes in green and white tube, not the normal ones that comes in black and gold tube. The normal ones are as abrasive as an 800 grit sandpaper. That's why I use it for levelling the clear coat or removing the orange-peel effect.

So far the Autosol Deep Wax & Polish can only be obtained in Ace Hardware in Mid Valley none at Tesco or Giant (maybe you can get the normal ones there).

As for the difference between rubbing compound, polishing compound and wax, the polishing compound and wax is basically the same. It is just that the wax will give a protective layer on the clear coat (correct me if I'm wrong).

Rubbing compound on the other hand works like wet-sanding process. To put it simply, it is a sandpaper in a tube... :lol: You use it to level off any uneven surfaces on the clear coats.

The steps that I usually use to finish my models are:
1) Wetsand with 800 grit sandpaper
2) Wetsand with 1000 grit sandpaper
3) Autosol Metal Polish (the black and gold ones)
4) Gunze Mr. Rubbing Compound 1000 (blue and white tube)
5) Tamiya Compound (Fine)
6) Tamiya Compound (Finish)
7) Autosol Deep Wax & Polish

Usually I repeat the step 3 to 5 a few times to get the desired finish.

I have a question.

I'm painting the car in Silver.

1) Should i polish it now and top coat and polish again?

or

2) I top coat it then only polish?

Thanks

imran, i am only using soft99 polish and wax.......
i didn't knew soft 99 have the rubbing compound...have to get it......


yes,jicco, industrial stuff works on models.......
No, never clear coat after polishing..make sure you clear coat is sufficient before wetsanding and polishing..if you polish first then clear coat, you will get a chemical reaction.......

Jicco, if u are painting silver, you definitely need to top coat, and after it dries, polish the topcoat, not the silver ^_^

if the silver surface are very rough, u can wetsand and remove all texture by 1000 - 2000 wetsand, then spray another light coat of silver because after wetsand on silver or metallic paint, the colour will become brighter on sanded area, so a light coat to even the whole body, then only topcoat with gloss :)

I agree with Entau. Silver is a bit tricky to paint. If you remove the rough area on the paint, it will look uneven when you apply the clear coat.

cham, your soft99 is in liquid form or gel form huh?

i've experience of painting silver (which are my r34 and 350z)...but due to lack of knowledge in this tricky paint, i couldn't achieve gloss finishing..

and now..

i plan to paint my R8 in silver again..so i need more and more info about silver colour painting and polishing before my assembly work starts so that i won't ruin this beauty!

as beauty as Transformers Revenge of the Fallen sideways.. :lol:
or
Ironman's ride.. :P

Thanks for the info guys.

This Mr Color GX 100 - Super Clear III should work well as a clear coating right?

Thx again.