# Plastic model builders - can I remove glue from a clear plastic part? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** toys-models\ **Created:** [January 5, 2022, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plastic-model-builders-can-i-remove-glue-from-a-clear-plastic-part/957271 "2022-01-05T17:37:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![CC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f1d935/32.png) [@CC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CC)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2022, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plastic-model-builders-can-i-remove-glue-from-a-clear-plastic-part/957271/1 "2022-01-05T17:37:03Z")
Been doing this for a long time and continue to be a klutz at the wrong time. Dropped a bit of plastic cement onto a clear car windshield. Is there a way to remove it without dulling the “glass” finish, or am I destined to have an ugly smear on that window? ---
**Author:** ![Dandan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a87d85/32.png) [@Dandan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dandan)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2022, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plastic-model-builders-can-i-remove-glue-from-a-clear-plastic-part/957271/2 "2022-01-05T18:01:01Z")
Using a plastic cement? That stuff works by partially melting material at the joint so the two pieces “weld” together. So, nothing to “remove”. A defect has been eaten into the surface. If there is enough thickness to the part, you might be able to polish the defect out. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2022, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plastic-model-builders-can-i-remove-glue-from-a-clear-plastic-part/957271/3 "2022-01-05T18:31:29Z")
Make it a model of a car for sale and put a big price tag over it! ---
**Author:** ![MonkeysBrother](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3ab097/32.png) [@MonkeysBrother](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MonkeysBrother)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2022, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plastic-model-builders-can-i-remove-glue-from-a-clear-plastic-part/957271/4 "2022-01-05T18:43:49Z")
As Dandan said, you might be able to polish it out. Here’s a site that goes into some detail: > **[Getting the Scratches Out: Tricks for Clear Parts and Canopies-Updated |...](https://modelpaintsol.com/guides/getting-scratches-out-tricks-for-clear-parts-canopies)** ---
**Author:** ![CC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f1d935/32.png) [@CC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CC)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2022, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plastic-model-builders-can-i-remove-glue-from-a-clear-plastic-part/957271/5 "2022-01-05T19:02:21Z")
Yeah. I knew that but I had hoped that something had come along that would help. Oh, well. This has kept me sane for the last two winters of the pandemic. A small setback is a minor price to pay. Thanks, Dopers. xo, C. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2022, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plastic-model-builders-can-i-remove-glue-from-a-clear-plastic-part/957271/6 "2022-01-05T20:54:01Z")
I wonder if painting over the windshield with a glossy transparent paint would reduce the visibility of the glue drop. ---
**Author:** ![CC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f1d935/32.png) [@CC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CC)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2022, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plastic-model-builders-can-i-remove-glue-from-a-clear-plastic-part/957271/7 "2022-01-05T21:18:35Z")
Nah, I’ll just pretend that the car drove under a flock of pigeons. ---
**Author:** ![Pseudonym](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pseudonym/32/9895_2.png) [@Pseudonym](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pseudonym)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2022, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plastic-model-builders-can-i-remove-glue-from-a-clear-plastic-part/957271/8 "2022-01-05T22:11:20Z")
Sand and polish! That’s what the pros do, I’ve gathered. And I’m eternally grateful I know it can be done, in case I ever get around to building anything. Here’s a video, lot’s of these around: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/hfwcgQzeN00/maxresdefault.jpg "Aircraft Canopies & How to Use Tamiya Polishing Compounds | The Inner Nerd") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hfwcgQzeN00) ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2022, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plastic-model-builders-can-i-remove-glue-from-a-clear-plastic-part/957271/9 "2022-01-06T21:05:24Z")
For WWII era war planes a determined jab with a thumb tack produces a convincing bullet hole. A trail of those intersecting the airplane cockpit and the glue smudge, a bit of red paint… ---
**Author:** ![Rocketeer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocketeer/32/4437_2.png) [@Rocketeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rocketeer)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2022, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plastic-model-builders-can-i-remove-glue-from-a-clear-plastic-part/957271/10 "2022-01-08T02:15:00Z")
Car models are not particularly expensive; buy another of the same kit, use its windshield, and put the rest of the parts in your spares box. You might also be able to make a replacement windshield out of clear styrene sheet, especially if it’s a flat windshield (cars of the Twenties and Thirties).