Dusty ships

[stuglo]

A friend has inherited some wonderful models that were NOT kept under raps for more than several months. Any suggestion how to clean off the rather adherent dust and dirt?

 

[Smithy]

I clean dusty models with soft make-up brushes, the ‘blusher’ type used in conjunction with airflow from my airbrush. The blown air shifts most of the dust and the blusher lifts the tiny adherent layer into the breeze without knocking any fine details off. It takes a long time but I find it rather satisfying.

If your adherent dust is a result of smoking tobacco or cooking in the same rooms as the model, this probably won’t help much. (I once kept a small model in the kitchen and that was a write-off.)

 

[Winter]

You can use a medical bulb to blow away dust.

 

[Smithy]

You can use a medical bulb to blow away dust.

Or those cans of pressurised gas used for cleaning computers perhaps.

 

[Namabiiru]

Or those cans of pressurised gas used for cleaning computers perhaps.

Do be careful with those, because they will blow parts off. The airbrush is good because you can control the volume of air. Even better is a small handheld vacuum nozzle to suck up the dust you raise with the makeup brush. As opposed to blowing dust around to resettle on the other models…

 

[Smithy]

small handheld vacuum nozzle to suck up the dust

And do be careful with those as well, because they can suck your parts clean off.

 

[Namabiiru]

And do be careful with those as well, because they can suck your parts clean off.

Quite so. That’s why I wouldn’t use it for directly removing dust (not to mention trying to navigate something so bulky amongst all that rigging). Rather, it’s for sucking up what’s already airborne so you never get it close enough to do damage. A vacuum generates less force on a given point than a jet of pressurized air.

 

[Smithy]

Quite so. That’s why I wouldn’t use it for directly removing dust (not to mention trying to navigate something so bulky amongst all that rigging). Rather, it’s for sucking up what’s already airborne so you never get it close enough to do damage. A vacuum generates less force on a given point than a jet of pressurized air.

Now that is an interesting assertion. I agree with you if we are only considering static pressure but what if we include the mass of the airflow?

 

[Roger Pellett]

Professional ship model restorers use (lots!) of QTips moistened with human saliva. The enzymes in the saliva apparently work well to dissolve the dust.

Roger

 

[Namabiiru]

Now that is an interesting assertion. I agree with you if we are only considering static pressure but what if we include the mass of the airflow?

I would think mass of air flow only comes into play if you let the nozzle get dangerously close to the model. The point is to use it to suck dust out of the air, rather than straight off the model. Same idea as a spray booth

 

[Korsan]

A friend has inherited some wonderful models that were NOT kept under raps for more than several months. Any suggestion how to clean off the rather adherent dust and dirt?

Blowing,Brushing with a soft brush or Spraying the solid parts with a diluted transparent varnish
İn the attachment
my blower is rechargeble and 2 step blowing grade
Varnish treated part with extra dust on it before&after, refreshes the dull appearence also.Test this method before appliying on a small area.İmportant ,do not apply on the ropes and sails

 

[AndyA]

I would think mass of air flow only comes into play if you let the nozzle get dangerously close to the model. The point is to use it to suck dust out of the air, rather than straight off the model. Same idea as a spray booth

True. The thing to keep in mind is that it is the velocity of the air that can cause damage, not the volume of air. In the case of a vacuum cleaner, the velocity is highest at the nozzle and drops off quickly with distance from the nozzle. Fair winds!

 

[Hotspur]

It takes a long time but I find it rather satisfying.

I agree. I rather enjoy spending some time on a wintry Sunday dusting off parts of the collection. It also affords the opportunity to reattach those pieces that inadvertently come loose over time. So have some glue and tweezers handy because you're bound to break a thing or two regardless of how careful you are.

I use the make-up brush / airbrush compressor method. Computer dusters are dangerous, and so are vacuums. I also employ the Q-tip / spit method for the firmly attached grime.

When finished, everything looks shipshape and Bristol fashion.

 

[Rick Thompson]

When not working on my model I drape it with plastic sheeting. It is the stuff that your clothes come in at the dry cleaners. Completed models are always in a display case.

 

[Hotspur]

Thumbs up to the display case comment.

I will say that over time they still get dusty, not anywhere near being out in an open room.- but enough air infiltrates around the doors to let dust in. It just takes longer.