Several of my models have been displayed in the open air for years. They have accumulated dust and grime. Dust can be blown off, but the grime stays. I’ve tried brushes and Qtips to no avail. How do you clean the grime off, without leaving a stain or hurt the acrylic paint? Distilled water? Microsol? What?
Thanks for your help.
Chris Carl
How do you get grime on a build? Like nicotine residue in a smoker’s house? I have never had a problem cleaing up kits with soft brushes. The only staining that I have ecountered is on older builds where some chemical interactions have appeared between decal solutions and certain clear coats. Or an amber tinge appearing those same clear coats. Since those were sealed under a final top coat, there is nothing that can be done there
I take 'em in the bathroom, turn on the shower gently, and hold them under the stream. Works great, no more dust. As for other “grime” like cigarette smoke, no, this won’t work.
Hand soap is pretty gentle. I use a weak mixture of such soap and water after blowing dust off with airbrush. Soapy water is for plastic only. I do not put anything on thread ship rigging- air blast only.
Distilled water works great. Particularly on canopies.
As stikpusher says, the grime is like nicotine residue. But here in LA it’s most likely smog aerosols, super glue residuals, etc. It’s the same as why furniture needs polishing as well as dusting.
Thanks for your help, guys. I will try your ideas.
Chris Carl