How to clean?

[Dinkied]

Hi,
I have a breakdown lorry what has been out of its box for a while and accumulated a thin layer of settled dust.Iwas thinking of a cotton bud with tepid water. What would you recommend as the best method.
Thanks

[GHOSTHUNTER]

Using a half inch decorators' brush I first brush off all the loose dust. I then use soft supple artists paint brushes to carry on removing the loose stuff but the smaller brushes get into small areas and corners.

If I have to use liquids, it will be nothing stronger than scilicon based house polish in the spray can, sprayed on a flat surface such as an old bathroom wall tile and dip the brush into the polish and apply to the model. Follow up with clean dry brushes and or a clean dry duster cloth to buff up where you can.

I know some collectors do use warm water with a touch of washing up liquid but so far I have not used this method.

Ghosthunter.

[Diecastmolester]

I use warm water and washing up liquid.
Then rinse with running water, dab the excess water off with a kitchen towel and put it on the heater radiator to dry.

Avoid this method if the models have paper stickers, though.

[Dinkied]

Thanks for the replies. I will invest in a couple of artist brushes.

[YYS4BOB]

I wash models as above. So long as all parts are secure to the model, I use a hair dryer on a warm setting to remove moisture that can't be dabbed off

[Squid]

Ive been lucky in that all the models I've cleaned have needed nothing more than water and mild liquid dish soap. I apply that mixture with a Q-Tip or a piece of old T-shirt. Decades ago, I'd use a paint brush, but I noticed that particular brush put fine marks in the paint. For really dirty models, I might be tempted to use my air compressor cranked down to about 10 PSi.

I also wouldn't use soap and water on labels or decals that I wish to keep intact.

[Diecastmolester]

I have found that the old original waterslide transfers survive the cleaning with soapy water.
They must be of a similar material/glue that was used on bicycle frames, probably even the same.
Replacement decals don't and like you say, water shouldn't even be near paper labels.

[Tinman]

I seen some people use household alcohol to clean their models. Warning, alcohol will strip the ink right off the decal film and leave you with a blank decal (older decals are especially sensitive to alcohol).

[Idris]

I seen some people use household alcohol to clean their models.

I was also thinking about solvents, especially for e.g. adhesive residues.
Two important considerations: I) compatibility with the paint/decals (you don't want it stripping paint/ink or resulting in discolouration), and ii) purity (you don't want the solvent evaporating only to leave behind an insoluble residue).

[Squid]

For removal of adhesive residue, I always try lighter fluid (such as Ronsonol) first. It usually does a bang-up job, and I've yet to have it damage paint or plastic.