LM10/4000 Liquid Model Rubbing Compound #4000

DSPIAE LM10/4000 — liquid polishing compound, 4000 grit

Liquid Model Rubbing Compound from DSPIAE is a liquid polishing compound — modeling chemistry, neither a kit nor a paint. The designation 4000 grit does not mean an ordinary abrasive: a grit of 4000 is already so fine that it does not sand but polishes. The compound holds a very fine abrasive in a liquid carrier that takes only a microscopic layer off the surface — instead of removing material it gradually clears it and brings it to life.

Where polishing is useful

The typical use is finishing a gloss clear coat, above all on car and motorcycle bodies, where a deep, mirror surface is expected. The compound removes small irregularities in the clear coat, specks of dust pulled into it and the so-called orange peel — the fine rippling of a sprayed surface. The second big area is clear parts: aircraft canopies, vision blocks, glazing and headlights. If you have sanded a clear part (because of flash or a scratch, for instance), it stays flat and milky — only polishing brings it back to transparency.

4000 grit is the first step — 6000 is the second

In the LM10 range 4000 is the coarser of the pair and comes in as the first polishing step: it levels and removes the fine scratches left behind by sanding. On its own it will not take the gloss to its maximum. It is followed by the finer 6000 grit, which finishes the surface and gives a high gloss. They are not alternatives but two successive steps — the best result comes from their combination: 4000 first, then 6000. You can go further still with an even finer polishing compound or with wax, which seals the surface and evens out the gloss.

Use

• Put a small amount of the compound on a soft polishing pad, a microfiber cloth or a polishing sponge.
• Spread it in a thin layer and polish with moderate pressure in short strokes.
• Wipe the surface with a clean cloth as you go and check it against the light.
• Then move on to the finer 6000 grit, and finish with wax if you wish.
• Let the clear coat cure thoroughly before polishing — a fresh, soft coat cannot be polished, the compound would dig into it.

Who it is for

For modelers of cars and motorcycles who want a genuinely glossy body, and for anyone who needs to bring transparency back to sanded clear parts. Suitable also for figure collectors and gunpla builders finishing glossy surfaces.

Safety: keep out of the reach of children and avoid contact with the eyes. Wash your hands after work. Before polishing a whole part, try the effect in an inconspicuous spot — on thin coats of clear there is a risk of rubbing through to the base.