We’ve all had it happen: You’ve finished your color coats and the paint didn’t come out as smooth as you’d like, or you see that a bit of dust or a pet’s hair has fouled the paint job. That’s when it’s time to call in the reinforcements: polishing pads and/or sticks. (Polishing cloths work, too, but I don’t use them anymore.)
You can use polishing pads on models that you intend to add a clear coat to and those you’ve used real automotive paints, like those from MCW, that you don’t intend to topcoat. Polishing pads smooth rough surfaces and eventually deliver a glossy, deep appearance even if you omit clear coat on top of color coats. However, you have to be extremely careful using polishing pads.