I recently added the first piece of scenery to my layout. It consists of some tress with lichen or ground foam on them as well as ground foam representing grass. The “grass foam” was glued down with the scenery glue the folks at Life Like make – it looks like “watered down” white glue – which I suspect it is.
I can see this eventually getting dusty. Does anyone have any tips or tricks in keeping such scenery clean?
Thanks!
Don’t let it get dusty in the first place? I’d look into finding a way to use a drop cloth to cover the layout or parts of it. If this isn’t feasable, you can use compressed air (low pressure!) to blow dust off of stuff that can’t be vacuumed.
I think this is one of the old layout problem…
The best solution is air cleaning system $$$$$$$$$
the second clean with vaccum cleaner, but you must to use small hose, something like 8 mm diameter, small brush and a lot of patient.
I always say “I am city Major” I need to clean, maintenance, modify, etc…this is part of the…
Andre.
Swiffer dusters especially the ones with the long handles are great. Pledge on the stuff you can use it on helps. The computer cleaning kits for shop vacs are a real assest.
Jim
Chuck’s idea of a drop cloth is good. I use a very thin clear painter’s drop cloth suspended above the layout by a frame when the trains are not being used. Sort of like a tent. The painter’s drop cloth is very inexpensive and, for me, works well.
Luther,
If you secure your scenery well (soak it through which is what I do) with the Woodland Scenics diluted glue (or 4:1 diluted matte medium or white glue), you can vacuum the scenery directly. Very little will come loose and the small amount that does is easily replaced. I use an old shop vac with a soft brush attachment and an old soft paintbrush where the shop vac attachment does not reach.
I do what Roy does. If I do happen to vacuum up something, I’m not the least bit upset. Better to be sucked up by the vaccuum than to find it’s way into a locomotive. As for track cleaning, I do that at least once a week. More often if I think it needs it. I use 91% isopropyl alchohol for this task. Jim
Inoc Breeze. Costs but we got one in living room and dust went away. That was a lot to say for this carpeted, inside dogs, 1940 house.
Thanks for the replies. This is good information. I think I may go for a combination of the Ionic Breeze and vacuuming as needed. The diluted glue does seem to have a pretty good hold on things. I have seen the smaller trees losing material pretty easily as I was fitting and gluing them in. I think I will give the branches and foliage a few sprays of glue as well to see if that helps to keep them in place. While I like the idea of covering the layout, I think it would be harder for me to implement.