Needed - tips on cleaning....

[dukeaholic]

I have a small problem with keeping my finished models clean. I don't have a showcase YET and they're on a shelf in the open. My question is what is the best way to keep them dust free, besides dusting them with a duster, and that won't be harmfull to the paintjob?

[Guest zebm1]

Micro-Mark sells a mini vaccumn cleaner, but I've never used one. Anyone else? I used to wash mine in distilled water, paint brush applied and dry them with a blow dryer, then I converted my ex's china hutch into a show cabinet.

Zeb

[robertw]

Get covered storage as quickly as possible even if it's just a piece of clear vinyl drapped over your shelf. I had open shelving at one time but boxed it in using the acrylic sheets of clear plastic (the type you can buy at lumber yards to make storm windows etc). I attach the sheets to the front using a few small screws which can be easily removed when I want to add or remove a model. I went from constantly dusting models to nearly dust free. Now a model can be cleaned up using just a soft but fairly large artists paint brush. In the past I've even resorted to repolishing with Novus 2 to clean up thick dust coatings.

rob w

[Harry P.]

Open display? Keep them dust free without dusting?

Impossible! How are you going to manage that???

I'd suggest one of those anti-static "fluffy duster" brushes...the kind that have a head of thousands of soft, thin little strands of polyester.

[MonoPed]

You're gonna have to bite the bullet and find some sort of covered storage...even if it means putting the built models back in a box.

[hookedonplastics]

Here is a link to site showing how you can make your own display case relatively cheaply.

http://www.italianhorses.net/Tutorials/Display/dcase.htm

[bobss396]

Great tutorial on the display case. I had seen one similar to it, except the front plastic piece was made to slide up and down, was held in place with pegs. But definitely food for thought.

I have those mirror-backed plastic cases that hold around 27 cars, 3 on a shelf x 9. I believe they are known as dragster cases. I see them online for around $110 and they are pretty good if you remember to keep them closed tightly.

Bob