Cleaning body shells

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

This may sound like a weird question but should i be cleaning my inventory after handling it? I love to play with my collection and constantly swapping out engines to run a different set, or handling it while checking out the insides to make sure gears, etc are running well and thought maybe I am aging any custom paint jobs with the oil from my fingers?

I have a lot of older stock, some metal bodies with custom paint so want to make sure they last and don’t require a new paint job.

2

I guess that’s up to you. To me it seams abit obsessive, cleaning after each handling. I would think too much cleaning could have it’s negative effects on paint, details, etc., as well.

Mike.

3

Not after every time I handle them but 1/week or 1/month? I’m just wondering how much oil builds up on the body each time I touch it and after time does it do damage or just make it dirty?

4

I don’t think cleaning after each handling is a good idea.

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I clean my stuff usually only right before I photograph it.

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I do clean my hands before handling the equipment. That should be all you really need to do.

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-Kevin

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5

I agree with Kevin. I always wash my hands thoroughly before handling trains, and never allow food in the layout room - any food which you manually pick-up with your hands will leave residue on your hands, which you don’t want to transfer to your models. In my layout room, though, drinks are okay, as Rule G is not in effect.

If you need to clean locos or rolling stock after handling, in most cases you’d need to disassemble it - better to wash your hands prior to handling things, or, if you have particularly oily or sweaty hands, some nitrile gloves will keep it off your models, yet still allow good tactility.

Wayne

6

I agree…nitrile gloves or even cotton gloves

7

good advice to clean hands before handling instead of trains. thanks

8

I have been cleaning the dust off of quite a few items this week as I pack up the workshop.

I regulated my air supply to 25 PSI, and I use a blow gun and a soft make-up brush. This seems to be working very well, and no damage so far.

-Kevin