Hi all, apologies if this question has been asked before, but does anyone have advice on how to remove fingerprints from a completed model? I've just brought my 1/48 bf 109 home from judging at my club meeting, and it's got a couple of whopper fingerprints on both upper and lower wing surfaces. I've tried polishing with a soft cloth, but it doesn't seem to work. The model's topcoat is Humbrol matt enamel - will spraying on a little more of this help to get rid of the fingerprint? Any suggestions? thanks Brad

Was it wet when they touched it or was it a guy with a
Jelly donut.this is weird because after the paint is cured their should not be a way to get them there.I've handled mine a lot with no finger prints.But never the less I would take some 1200 grit and LIGHTLY sand until un seen then respray.
Hope this helps

Hi Brad

Light detergent used with a cotton bud should get rid of oily/dirty fingerprints. But if they are actually "embedded" into the varnish, as Justin says, gentle sanding and refinishing is probably the answer.

In either case, I should have a word at your club to try to make sure the organisers are more careful in future...

All the best

Rowan

Thanks Justin and Rowan,

I've actually used both techniques you suggested - 12,000 grit micromesh cloth to sand off the fingerprints, and then warm water/detergent applied with a cotton bud to give things a final clean. It's all looking much better, though still not perfect - I'll give it a final touch up with Humbrol matt at some stage to reduce the shininess in the areas I worked on.

I think the problem is all part of my ongoing battle with Humbrol matt enamel varnish - I'm not sure why I'm still using it, I always have problems...The varnish certainly wasn't wet when it was picked up - it had actually been on the model since February - but it clearly didn't provide the rock hard, impermeable coating that I was after.

Thanks again, hopefully I won't have to use these techniques again...

cheers Brad