Plastic Parts

This page will cover the most basic & common techniques used for restoring the plastic parts on your old toy cars.

WINDSHIELDS

Windshields can have scratches removed from them if done right, with the proper tools.  First never attempt to buff the windshield when it is still in the car, this WILL cause some windshields to crack.  I use a soft, lint free cloth along with Novus Plastic Polish #2 to buff scratches out of windshields.  Place your finger behind the area you are going to polish to support that area.   Put some polish on a rag, rub inside & out, then buff with a dry area of your rag.  You may need to do this a couple times to get it looking good.  Once the windshield is clean & clear your job is done.  Some scratches may be too deep to completely polish out, but the Novus should get them to where they are minimally noticeable.

Cracked windshields cannot be repaired, but can be replaced if you can find an unrestorable car with a good windshield or you can purchase a reproduction windshield.

Sometimes cars have been painted by the "child artist" and the glass or interior are also painted, this is not a problem.  Easy Off Oven Cleaner in the blue can will do a great job removing paint from plastic, don't use the extra strength yellow can.  Just place the parts in a small baggy, spray a liberal amount of oven cleaner onto the parts in the baggy, then seal and let soak for atleast several hours, overnight is best.  Remove the parts from the bag and use an old toothbrush to scrub them, then wash, rinse, & dry.  Sometime parts may come nicely clean very easily & quickly, other times parts may need this process muiltiple times.

INTERIOR

With interiors always be very careful not to damage them.  Steering wheels and the folds/seams are places where interiors break very easily.  

If your interior has paint or some other kind of goo on it just use the Easy Off Oven Cleaner exactly as described for cleaning the windshield above.

The interior should always be gently washed with some dish detergent and a toothbrush to get it good and clean, even if it already looks clean, this will improve the appearance of it.

After washing very carefully dry with a papertowel, again always be careful no to damage delicate parts.