Well, I've got a bit of a process update that will answer your questions about the process.

The pics from last night are a mixture - some are 120 grit sandpaper, sanded wet, with windex, then once the heavy grooves or junk are off the material, then I used a green scotchbrite pad with windex to return the grain. The parts that weren't too heavily grained or contaminated just used the green scotch brite with windex. Then, I hand polished them up with a bit of Mothers Mag and Aluminum Polish on a rag.

A friend suggested I try the red scotchbrite pads, I had difficulty finding them locally and was going to order a case off eBay (20 huge pads for roughly $20 USD shipped), but I decided that I would prefer to try before buying, if at all possible. I went to a local discount home improvement store to get a wooden plank for a project, and was walking around and stumbled on them there, 1 for $1.89. They had 2 of them, so I purchased both - and used almost all of 1 tonight on the Creature guides. Really, I think it would've gone faster if I had more of them. The people selling them claim that they can be rinsed and reused. I simply don't see how that's possible, they seem to wear out with use. But, I'll rinse them and let them dry in the sun tomorrow and see if maybe once the crap is flushed out of them, perhaps they are useful again.

The 3M part # for the case of 20 is 07447.

The red pads are abrasive enough that I just don't see a need for sandpaper anymore.

Tonight's pics start here:
http://gallery.myhomegameroom.com/gallery/proto_cftbl_progress/DSCN1540

Wetsanding with the red scotchbrite pad


Windex is starting to bubble up, the part is ready to be wiped off. Note the material past the bend, it's not yet sanded


Shiny!


Both parts after buffing with mothers mag polish


All the polished parts, bagged up to wait on reinstallation


So, I'd say the red scotchbrite pads are a success!