Anyone have some good tips on cleaning their dusty models. Unfortunately, I don’t have a nice enclosed bookcase or anything to display my models so obviously collect dust over time.
I have an old fashion Shaving Brush with very soft bristles that I use to lightly dust my models. Any similar type brush will work, just go slow & gentle. Even in a display case, they will accumulate some dust, so I try & dust mine at least once a year before they get too cruddy.
Regards, Rick
Unfortunately, I believe this is a problem we modellers just have to learn to deal with. Cleaning is always a major chore which I dread. I keep all my models on glass shelves (which is really cool…You can see the bottoms of all the planes!) which collect dust like crazy. Just dusting the shelves is a royal pain in the a## since I have to remove all the planes from the shelves, which always includes parts falling off and lots of colorful language on my part. And, of course, removing one plane causes my arm to bump a canopy off the plane next to it, etc. etc.
As for the dust on the planes, I just blow it off from time to time. Occassionally, I will take a soft, damp cloth and dust 'em off, but they are just too fragile for that and something always pops off, falls off, whatever…
It certainly is a downer though to see that great model you just finished start to collect dust. It makes it look rather…well…unprofessional???
Basically what rjkplasticmod said, I use a very soft make up brush and canned air. I have a dog and 2 cats so dust and dander (sp?) is a constant problem.
It’s easy: just use your airbrush hose to blow the dust off.
I am fortunate to have a nice antique curved glass hutch so my models stay pretty dust free. Before I procured this wonderfull display case I used a soft makeup brush for aplying blush given to me by my sister twenty years ago. I still have it and it works great. I would be cafefull with compressed air. It can pack quite a punch and blow delicate pieces of you model into never never land and they could be lost forvever. This is one of those questions that there is no correct answer to. Evertime you handle one of your models you run the risk of causing some type of damage. You just have to accept that this is part of modeling. I don not believe there is a modeler out there that has not accidently done damaged to one of their carefuly crafted models
Soulcrusher
hi,
have you ever seen the ‘tamiya’ dusting brush its a bit dear but well worth it, its about £10,when you have brushed the dust off the model dust seems to go away from it and not settle on it !
This new Model Cleaning Brush from tamiya has been specially designed to help keep your display models looking sharp. Its fibers not only remove dust and debris, but also static electricity to prevent dust build-up. The long fibers of the main brush makes cleaning around delicate parts easy, while the mini brush lets you get to those hard to reach areas.
…ian. [:)]
Flat artist brushes work for me. It takes a couple of swipes, but gets the dust off good. It goes over small parts well too.
You’re all overlooking an obvious but more expensive solution - individual cases for each model. Yes, it can be more expensive initially, but in the long run think of all the agony you might save yourself. Of course, I model 1/700 ships and 1/72 aircraft, so I don’t need huge cases. But I also have an older, dusty apartment, and a cat, so for me cases are essential. I like the ones from IMEX because they are cheap, fairly optically clear and come in the range of sizes that I need. And, they’re stackable (another plus in a small apartment).
[:o)] LMAO [:D]
don’t forget to dust your models outside and not in the same room as your models…[:-^]
…ian.[:)]