my previous post on cabinets seems to indicate that (apart from a few) most people use shop bought cabinets or open shelves to display their models. Both of these over time will result in dusty models. So I was wondering what people do to protect or clean their creations? Would several coats of varnish do the trick or do you have a method of washing and dusting that works.
Alternatively does anyone creat acrylic or perspex covers?
You see I have a dilema. I can’t start building again until I’ve decided where or how I can display them. It’s looking to me like open shelving in the alcove over the stairs which is the simplest, cheapest and easily diy’able option.
You need to find yourself a loving wife willing to accept your hobby. Once you do that then you can do like I did. Remove all her fine bone china so you can properly display your creations in a prominent dust free environment.
Even in display cases they’ll still attract and collect dust albeit on a slower bases. I have them on shelves, in cases and hanging from both ceilings and walls. You just have to give them either a wipe down with a soft cloth or a shot of air from the compressor (airbrush works well).
Plastics attract dust by design…a static field forms around them and the dust particles are attracted and cling to them.
Acrylic or polycarbonate are quite expensive solutions. I use a very soft hair brush specially designed for dusting. The key is to prevent the excecive acumulation, because if that happens a very hard to clean crust will be created. Static dusters also work very weell. Air compressors are another option, but not for me since my collection is in my office…
Mine are all in the wide open. Maybe 2-3 times a year, I’ll go through and dust em off. I take em out the basement door to do this, so I’m not just puttin dust back into the air inside. I use a fairly stiff paint brush, and “sweep” while blowing across it. Using a rag or cloth of some sort seams to embed the dust a bit, (not always) then you’re screwed!
Phoenix, Arizona itself is a dusty environment, so I keep my models in covered clear plastic boxes. Or I like to put them on a lazy Susan and use a clear plastic cake cover.
I am currently in the process of dusting my collection. It is over 500 models so i have been putting the task off for several years. All of my models are kept in the basement on either shelves or hanging from the ceiling. The walls are fieldstone and cement with a open wood joist for the ceiling. Needless to say I have all kinds of dust from different sources. I use a large soft brush and when necessary either a dry soft cloth or wet soft cloth. I found after about 5 years of dust, that Testors Glosscoat protected the finish best and was the easiest to clean. Dullcoat had mixed results. Depending on the base color they cleaned off easily with tan and gray colors, but dark colors like blue and black in some cases almost allowed the dust to embed in the paint so I had to use a damp soft cloth to buff it out. I found on some of the older models that I didn’t use any clear coat on that the dust almost bonded with the paint.
I’ve had to rearrange my collection recently as I’ve been looking after my Mom’s very active cat, so all my models had to be moved to my bedroom. I’ve been using a car wash mitt that I got from the dollar store. It has lots of fuzzy tendrils on it that get into every curve & valley on my planes & removes dust very well.
