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I have an MTH Aerotrain.

The rear window in the final car is "foggy".

It appears as though this has been caused by the insulation on the 2 rear lights heating up and the fumes marring the window (my guess as the insulation around the 2 lights appears melted).

I tried water and Windex and neither removes this "foggy" look.

Any suggestions?

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If its a chemical reaction you're probably going to have to sand and polish it out.  

First you wet sand (try 800-1000 grit and see if that cuts through it), then move progressively higher to 2000 or 3000 grit. You can also move into the 000 or 0000 steel wools.  Finally, you'll need to get some polishing compound to buff out the fine scratches that remain. It would be best if you popped the window out of the car and could work on it by itself.   This is similar to restoring car headlights.  Something like a dremel with a cotton wheel may move the polishing along, but you'd need to be careful to not burn the window up.

Skip the sandpaper. It will take years to get the scratches off. Start with the least abrasive and work towards more abrasive. Not the other way around. I have plastic polish but found Mothers Mag Wheel aluminum polish to work best on foggy headlight covers. Try a metal polish if you have any before buying something else.

Pete

Thank you everyone for all the great suggestions.

After I read Richies comment on Meguiars plastic cleaner I remembered many years ago I had purchased some and went out to my garage and found the almost empty bottle.

Also, all the discussion about using very fine sand paper reminded me that many years ago I had cleaned/polished the headlight lenses of two Mercury sables I owned. The cleaning kit I used at that time used very fine abrasive sheets along with cleaning and polishing creams.

I never thought about using automotive cleaners for the Aerotrain window.

I did try the Meguiars that I had left over and it actually got most of the film off the window.

Not perfect, but very good. I can see the figures I placed on the back seats and it looks good again.

In the next few weeks I may try some very fine abrasive paper and see if I can make it look new.

Thanks to everyone who provided such great advice so quickly!

Jeff

@Jeff2035 posted:

Thank you everyone for all the great suggestions.

After I read Richies comment on Meguiars plastic cleaner I remembered many years ago I had purchased some and went out to my garage and found the almost empty bottle.

Also, all the discussion about using very fine sand paper reminded me that many years ago I had cleaned/polished the headlight lenses of two Mercury sables I owned. The cleaning kit I used at that time used very fine abrasive sheets along with cleaning and polishing creams.

I never thought about using automotive cleaners for the Aerotrain window.

I did try the Meguiars that I had left over and it actually got most of the film off the window.

Not perfect, but very good. I can see the figures I placed on the back seats and it looks good again.

In the next few weeks I may try some very fine abrasive paper and see if I can make it look new.

Thanks to everyone who provided such great advice so quickly!

Jeff

Glad the Meguiar's worked.

Before trying the abrasive, put a dab of vegetable oil (Canola, olive, etc.) on a tissue and apply it gently on both sides of the window. The window should clear considerably, with the downside being that it won't last forever and may need to be re-applied every so often. Worth a shot.

Meguiar's used to make both a plastic cleaner and a separate plastic polish with the cleaner being more abrasive than the polish; perhaps more like the Mother's. I used to start with the cleaner and then finish with the polish and the combination did a very nice job.

I think I have some Mother's Aluminum polish around somewhere, but never thought of using it on plastic. I'll have to give it a try.

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