One of my holy grails, Magirus crane

[godsey1]

Thanks for the input, it makes me feel better about it. Sorry for the poor lighting, but taking pictures is not me best attribute. What would be good at taking the rust off the axles?

Tony

[SMS88]

Thanks for the input, it makes me feel better about it. Sorry for the poor lighting, but taking pictures is not me best attribute. What would be good at taking the rust off the axles?

Tony

Why not leave it exactly as it is - the rust is patina and makes it look like it hasnt been tampered with.

[godsey1]

Hadnt though of that. Will debate it.

[GHOSTHUNTER]

Hello Godsey1, the model looks good so very happy for you, nice catch. The gentlest way to clean the steel axles used on Lesney models is to use an office eraser, run across the axle as if you were running your finger across the axle to spin it. The axle-ends can be cleaned with the same eraser, but you will punch holes in the end surface of the eraser, it is easier with the type of rubber found at the end of school pencils.

Some patina is good on models of this type and as Mick ("SMS88"), says, it helps to show the models originality, as many fakers of such models can not resist the temptation to use freshly cleaned bright axles!

This is the type of office eraser you should buy, very handy for axle cleaning on less important models.

A RUBBER.jpg (43.46 KiB) Viewed 1021 times

Ghosty.

[godsey1]

Thanks Ghosty. I dont think they will come that clean, i just want mine collection as clean as possible. I will check on one of thoes.

Tony

[nickjones]

I would not touch the axles on such a rare beast as this, Leave it exactly as it is, You might come to regret cleaning them when it comes time to sell it.

[godsey1]

Its looking like the rust will be staying on. Thanks all.

Tony

[numi]

Its looking like the rust will be staying on. Thanks all.

Tony

I would not touch the axles on such a rare beast as this, Leave it exactly as it is, You might come to regret cleaning them when it comes time to sell it.

Glad that this truck arrived safely Tony and is the real deal and happy for u The got the best advise from Mr Jones but a little extra care could help preserve this rare model and the original rust patina without any future spreading.

U really dont have to do as i say but heres just a handy tip to prevent further rusting and to protect this rare specimen and your investment (remember that ure a temporary custodian) and for the future owners enjoyment as well.No rubbing involved but apply a drop of WD-40 or similar into the wheel holes & axles-endings (where the wheels turn) using a toothpick and turn the wheels a couple of times (or clock & anti-clock wise movements) so that the rust (dirty oil) sort of squeezes/washes out.Wipe off and repeat maybe once,twice until the residue shows clear.It will then be protected and would disallow continual untreated metal-rusting and plastic-bonding over time and which causes wheels to fall off due to this rot.Many a rare model perished this way.Thereafter wipe off all excess oil on the wheels and axles.U could even apply this WD-40 or similar on the whole axle and wipe off any excess.This way u would not be removing the rust.If the wheel seems tight then do not force any but apply oil and leave overnight and that helps.Dad is a pro at this!

This product or similar would help remove the topical rust dust,inhibit rusting and give years of metal protection by helping dispel water & vapours.If however u intend removing this oil then all u do is immerse just the wheels & axles in dishwashing liquid (diluted moderately) then wash off with tap water while turning the wheels.Thereafter dip-wash in pure distilled water and dry it and u will be able to see all the original rust patina once again.Hope all of the above helps.
This product is available at handy stores and on Ebay.A recommended/renowned sewing-machine type oil could also work.
Am i canvassing here...
numi

[GHOSTHUNTER]

What "Numi" has conveyed in the above post is very valid and a treatment I use myself if more than a simple eraser rub is required.

'WD-40' is a wonder liquid with many uses for the collector/modeler, use it to protect other bare metal surfaces on models, refurbish rubber tyres and help clean glazing etc, but as always you should try it out on your 'Beater' models first and while technically it is not oil, but a 'Water Dispersent', No.40 (the Fourtieth attempt to make it work!), it is pretty good for gently lubricating wheels on their axles.

GHOSTHUNTER.

[godsey1]

Thanks for all the advice, I will use it on some of my other vehicles.

Tony