GazB Posted January 14, 2021 Share Posted January 14, 2021 So something I've noticed a lot is when I put models aside, they're frequently getting coated with a layer of dust that seems to be impossible to remove. Short of buying one of those £20 Tamiya anti-static brushes (if they come back into stock), is there any other way to remove dust without potentially flicking parts off? I've tried dabbing with blu-tak, makeup brushes, even a keyboard cleaning brush. Nothing seems to truly clean it off 🤨 Any help would be appreciated Gaz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bentwaters81tfw Posted January 14, 2021 Share Posted January 14, 2021 I use a 15mm wide flat artist's brush. If it doesn't come off dry, dampen it. If your decals are sealed in, as they should be, you will have no problems. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GazB Posted January 14, 2021 Author Share Posted January 14, 2021 17 minutes ago, bentwaters81tfw said: I use a 15mm wide flat artist's brush. If it doesn't come off dry, dampen it. If your decals are sealed in, as they should be, you will have no problems. Thanks, I'll give that a try Gaz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spruecutter96 Posted January 14, 2021 Share Posted January 14, 2021 Gaz has pretty much summed this situation, above. Just to state the blimming obvious, if you have not sealed the decals under a clear-coat, don't use any dampness on the brush - it will likely remove your decals and ruin your model. Good Luck. Chris. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ckw Posted January 14, 2021 Share Posted January 14, 2021 I use the Tamiya brush for light dusting - I thought it was a ridiculous price when I bought it (£17), but it is really good for dust. But it won't deal with any kind of grime. I've recently been cleaning up some models that have been in the loft for years. After spending ages carefully wiping the surfaces with cotton buds and mild detergent ... and knocking off numerous parts in the process as well as managing to break nearly every stretched sprue antenna wire ... I decided life was too short and stuck the lot in the bath in warm soapy water. Some gentle agitation, a rinse, and after drying out they were much improved. And nothing fell off. Decals were protected by a varnish top coat or Future. In places where I had used Krystal Klear or white glue, the glue went milky (but didn't let go) and dried out perfectly clear. I was worried I might lose some charcol exhaust staining but that survived as well. Obviously I wouldn't actually encourage any one to do this, as your particular paints, weathering, glue etc. may not survive - but might be worth trying out on a model you don't care about or would otherwise scrap. CHeers Colin 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colin Posted January 14, 2021 Share Posted January 14, 2021 There's really only one way, but it can become expensive, and that's putting them in a sealed display case so you never have to clean them, even a unsealed one is better than just on a shelf 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GazB Posted January 15, 2021 Author Share Posted January 15, 2021 4 hours ago, spruecutter96 said: Gaz has pretty much summed this situation, above. Just to state the blimming obvious, if you have not sealed the decals under a clear-coat, don't use any dampness on the brush - it will likely remove your decals and ruin your model. Good Luck. Chris. 3 hours ago, ckw said: I use the Tamiya brush for light dusting - I thought it was a ridiculous price when I bought it (£17), but it is really good for dust. But it won't deal with any kind of grime. I've recently been cleaning up some models that have been in the loft for years. After spending ages carefully wiping the surfaces with cotton buds and mild detergent ... and knocking off numerous parts in the process as well as managing to break nearly every stretched sprue antenna wire ... I decided life was too short and stuck the lot in the bath in warm soapy water. Some gentle agitation, a rinse, and after drying out they were much improved. And nothing fell off. Decals were protected by a varnish top coat or Future. In places where I had used Krystal Klear or white glue, the glue went milky (but didn't let go) and dried out perfectly clear. I was worried I might lose some charcol exhaust staining but that survived as well. Obviously I wouldn't actually encourage any one to do this, as your particular paints, weathering, glue etc. may not survive - but might be worth trying out on a model you don't care about or would otherwise scrap. CHeers Colin 2 hours ago, colin said: There's really only one way, but it can become expensive, and that's putting them in a sealed display case so you never have to clean them, even a unsealed one is better than just on a shelf Thanks, Chris, ckw, Colin Yeah, wish the display cases weren't so expensive. But I'll have a go with a brush to see what I can take off. Gaz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry Callahan Posted January 15, 2021 Share Posted January 15, 2021 I tried to remove dust with airbrush and brush, but nothing working well. So i tried to give a wash in soapy warm water and it was successfully, but note, my models are all sealed with a satin varnish, so my decals are safe. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray_W Posted January 15, 2021 Share Posted January 15, 2021 I have no other solutions than that already suggested. The solution I settled on was as put forward, being the bath with mild agitation and blow dry. Best solution is what I do now and that is avoid the dust. Keep them in a sealed cabinet and, if not ready to go in, sealed container. When I was a kid my my mother never called them "models" they were always "dust collectors" 🙂. I still think of them that way. Ray 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bonhoff Posted January 15, 2021 Share Posted January 15, 2021 It was always obvious when Mum had dusted my shelves as she'd hand me a pile of bits to glue back on 😂 IanJ 1 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GazB Posted January 15, 2021 Author Share Posted January 15, 2021 15 hours ago, Harry Callahan said: I tried to remove dust with airbrush and brush, but nothing working well. So i tried to give a wash in soapy warm water and it was successfully, but note, my models are all sealed with a satin varnish, so my decals are safe. 11 hours ago, Ray_W said: I have no other solutions than that already suggested. The solution I settled on was as put forward, being the bath with mild agitation and blow dry. Best solution is what I do now and that is avoid the dust. Keep them in a sealed cabinet and, if not ready to go in, sealed container. When I was a kid my my mother never called them "models" they were always "dust collectors" 🙂. I still think of them that way. Ray 8 hours ago, Bonhoff said: It was always obvious when Mum had dusted my shelves as she'd hand me a pile of bits to glue back on 😂 IanJ Thanks Harry, Ray, Bonhoff. And lol, I've had that issue before with parts getting knocked off, only mine tried to cover it up Gaz 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnT Posted January 15, 2021 Share Posted January 15, 2021 8 hours ago, Bonhoff said: It was always obvious when Mum had dusted my shelves as she'd hand me a pile of bits to glue back on 😂 IanJ I always said my late Mum “killed more Spitfires than Herman Goerings Luftwaffe” No easy solution though I found that moving out of the city to clean air rural living assisted greatly. A bit extreme perhaps 🤔 The only solution really is to have them under cover. After that it’s what the guys have said 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogsbody Posted January 15, 2021 Share Posted January 15, 2021 Just chuck the dusty one and build another. Before the chucking, reduce for re-use. Chris 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bandsaw Steve Posted January 15, 2021 Share Posted January 15, 2021 I agree with everything above especially the whole ‘prevention is better than cure’ thing which is the main reason several of my models, both finished and work in progress, live in sealed Tupperware containers and only come out now and again. The only thing I can add is that KY gel (you know the stuff😳)is basically just ‘Thickened water’ with no really strong chemicals. Brush it onto the model and brush most of it off and - being very sticky - it will lift most of the dust. Then run luke-warm water over the model to dissolve and remove any remaining gel & then let the model dry. It won’t give a perfect result but it is quite an effective method in my experience. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GazB Posted January 15, 2021 Author Share Posted January 15, 2021 59 minutes ago, JohnT said: I always said my late Mum “killed more Spitfires than Herman Goerings Luftwaffe” No easy solution though I found that moving out of the city to clean air rural living assisted greatly. A bit extreme perhaps 🤔 The only solution really is to have them under cover. After that it’s what the guys have said 22 minutes ago, dogsbody said: Just chuck the dusty one and build another. Before the chucking, reduce for re-use. Chris 18 minutes ago, Bandsaw Steve said: I agree with everything above especially the whole ‘prevention is better than cure’ thing which is the main reason several of my models, both finished and work in progress, live in sealed Tupperware containers and only come out now and again. The only thing I can add is that KY gel (you know the stuff😳)is basically just ‘Thickened water’ with no really strong chemicals. Brush it onto the model and brush most of it off and - being very sticky - it will lift most of the dust. Then run luke-warm water over the model to dissolve and remove any remaining gel & then let the model dry. It won’t give a perfect result but it is quite an effective method in my experience. Thanks John, dogsbody, Bandsaw. lol, bit extreme on a move or chucking I've kept some in these pop up plastic shoeboxes for a while, but it seems lately as soon as anything comes out, instantly coated in dust for some reason 🤨 I even thought about those little sticky putty things they use for model trains and dusting. If only I could remember what they were. Gaz 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AltcarBoB Posted January 16, 2021 Share Posted January 16, 2021 Never used one of these but looks useful https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/233655259138 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrumBum Posted January 26, 2021 Share Posted January 26, 2021 i use a can of air from the camera shop. they come with a thin pipe that can direct a very precise jet of air. with care i manage to clean them up rather well but it must be noted, i only build jets that dont have hf wires anywhere. and i dont aim it at canopies hinged open either, i gently hit those with a cotton bud. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GazB Posted January 26, 2021 Author Share Posted January 26, 2021 On 1/16/2021 at 11:13 AM, AltcarBoB said: Never used one of these but looks useful https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/233655259138 Sorry, could have sworn I'd replied to this oO I remember these though on the JML ads, heh. 13 hours ago, DrumBum said: i use a can of air from the camera shop. they come with a thin pipe that can direct a very precise jet of air. with care i manage to clean them up rather well but it must be noted, i only build jets that dont have hf wires anywhere. and i dont aim it at canopies hinged open either, i gently hit those with a cotton bud. Hmm, interesting. I have wondered about breaking out my airbrush sometimes to give them a blast, maybe with a little bit of water. Never knew if it would have a major effect. Gaz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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