Removing CA from Plastic shells

[Anonymous]

I was adding the details to my C-liner locomotive last night, and some CA (superglue) accidentally ran on to the outside of the shell. I tried to dab it up, but there is a small area that looks sloppy. Is there any way to remove it, or should I try to cover it with paint and be more careful in the future?

Gary

[Big_Boy_4005]

Tough call. I don't know of any "magic" methods for this one.

Solvents are probably out, as they will do more damage to the plastic. Does the damaged area have a lot of detail molded into it? If not, do you think it would be possible to sand it off? Is the model alerady painted? Do you have the matching paint? If you don't have the exact matching paint it may not be worth messing with, since it might end up smooth, but more noticable because its a slightly different color.

If you want to try the sanding, mask off the uneffected area, scotch tape works well. Make a tool, basicly a stick with some extremely fine wet dry sandpaper attached (600 grit and wet) and slowly and gently go after it. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

If you wind up with a depression from the sanding fill it with a body putty made by Squadron, and available at model airplane shops or your local hobby shop. Walters also carries it. Think of it as a learning experience :(

If you have to repaint do an entire section rather than attempting to match the smaller section. Done all the time on prototype equipment and only rarely an exact match due to weathering and differing paint lots and manufacturers.

Randy

[nfmisso]

Gary;

Just give it a heavy weathering job.

For future reference; use the gel type CA, and apply with a tooth pick. It doesn't run.

[Anonymous]

Try putting the shell in the freezer. Makes the glue brittle, and may be easier to remove witha chisel blade.

Andrew

[Anonymous]

Having built a sizable # of model airplanes with CA superglue, I can tell you the only real way to sand it down by now is with a jewlers fiale. Once you have the blob filed off, Go over the sanding zone with some 600 grit sand paper to sand out all the heavy scratches and then polish with 2000 grit. Wet sanding is suggested on both sandpapers.

James

[Anonymous]

I've had some luck with a flaf sander in a variable speed Dremel Tool.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by brunob1

I've had some luck with a flaf sander in a variable speed Dremel Tool.

You are a bolder man than I.

[Anonymous]

Acetone fingernail polish remover will remove the CA, just be careful as it can also remove the paint.
Ch

[AntonioFP45]

I agree with Big Boy. I would suggest using 3M masking tape to protect the surrounding area instead of scotch tape. I'm assuming that the area that the CA touched has probably been damaged. The body filler and wet sanding techniques should work well. Be patient. If you get a little frustrated, just walk away from it, take a break and then resume the job. Apply primer on the body filler area. You may be better off air brush painting the entire side. Remember that many prototype locomotives don't match perfectly either! Good example: Just look at pictures of typical C&NW locomotives coupled together in multiple back in the 1970s and 80s. What a varitey of yellows!