I recently inherited several locomotives both O and HO guage that were stored in their original foam packaging. When I removed them from the box the foam was disintegrating into a brown granular pile. There was a deposit of the foam on the locos anywhere the foam had been touching them. The metal parts are more or less corroded and the plastic appears to be either corroded or to have some kind of deposit on it.
Does anyone have any suggestions about what I can do about the plastic shell? The metal I can handle but the plastic leaves me scratching my head.
Welcome to the forum Carlton. Man you have a mess here. Only thing I would suggest is to use maybe a mild dish-soap and q-tip and very patiently try removing the residue that way. Any harsh chemicals will probably take the paint with it or even attack the plastic. Even that may remove some of the lettering. Someone may have a better solution here. Ken
You may also find, if any of it was colored foam, that the dye from the foam has set itself into the loco paint… I use to have some Sunset brass models and the box inserts were Red foam… Over time, the red bled into the laquer finish on the locomotives… The only solution was to repaint them… It wasn’t any suprise to me as I actually bought them that way and got them at a bargain price…
Can’t say I’ve ever had it happen with plastic, not that it couldn’t… I would suggest once you get them cleaned, if you repack them in anything similar, you wrap the trains with plastic wrap first.
That pile of granular stuff is the residue of a chemical reaction and it sure isn’t doing the locos any good, the next step is to thoroughly clean the engines, once that gunk gets in the inside you will have a mess. On this forum a while back this very question was asked and replies as to clean and replace the foam were answered, you must replace the foam with the proper type(it is available) check the archives. Imagine the fun some people are going to have who have ferreted away dozens and dozens of brass engines in their original boxes and foam (for whatever reason?) and never looked at them again, are they in for a big surprise one day. I saw one ex-beautiful locomotive that was physically etched almost to ruin in a pile of that granular gunk, get them out of it fast.
I can’t recommend anything for the plastic, but you can try using a worn out tooth bru***o GENTLY brush out every nook and cranny then if you have access to an air compressor use an air hose to Gently blow out whatever foam particles that are left in the awkward areas. I had to do this to a Westside model brass loco that was a “bargain” because the foam broke down to the consistancy of sand. Also use the airhose on the motor and frame because the foam dust gets everywhere on the loco then lube the motor, gears, wheels.etc.