Cleaning diecast Chargers

[Ghoste]

or any other kind of car. 

You guys who display these things, how the heck do you keep them clean?  Do you just dust them off once in awhile or is there some special miniature car detailing process you go through?

[LaOtto70Charger]

I rinse my off in the sink every once and while.  Seems to get the dust easily.  Plastic models I use to use windex and paper towel very lightly.

[ACUDANUT]

Really  ? 

[Ghoste]

Well dude, some of them are expensive and fragile.  You can leave them in the box and they'll stay clean but why?  So you put them out and jsut like stuff around the house, they get dirty.  I could hit 'em with a big old dust rag but then all the little crap breaks off of them.
So I take it you don't have any useful contribution?

[polywideblock]

as big a PIA as it is I leave mine in the box     

   its  easier to clean the outside of the boxes ( I use Windex ) and I can't break them with my clumsy ham fists  ( small parts just seem to fall off  )

[nvrbdn]

use the aerosol cans of air that clean the key board to dust the interior.

[TUFCAT]

I dip mine in a salt water bath to simulate "real life" driving conditions here in Michigan 

[Aero426]

I use an inexpensive make up brush, the cheapest one I can find, about $5.   Works very well.   

[nvrbdn]

I dip mine in a salt water bath to simulate "real life" driving conditions here in Michigan 

here in illinois too!!!!

[Aero426]

I have several display cases like this.  My house is very dusty.   I try and clean one case per year.   It is a major deal to take everything out, clean it and put it back the way it was.

[Indygenerallee]

Compressed air in the aerosol can for cleaning electronics.

[Aero426]

Compressed air in the aerosol can for cleaning electronics.

A good start.  This gets the big chunks, but there still seems to be a light film on the paint.   That is where the make up brush comes in handy.

As to the rinse off in the sink idea, I have done it very carefully for a swap meet find that was REALLY bad where it got into the interior.  

[Back N Black]

I display mine in the garage, i build shelf's for display and cover with plxi glass.

[bill440rt]

Light compressed air & the brush method works good. I have a little detailer's brush used for A/C vents & stuff that works well. Foam paint brushes, etc.
You could also try some detailer using a thin rag, too heavy & yes it will catch on small parts.

[twodko]

Whatever methods are used I'd never use a paper towel.......ever. It's the same as wiping them off with a piece
of wood.

[tan top]

I dip mine in a salt water bath to simulate "real life" driving conditions here in Michigan 

[8WHEELER]

I got lazy and bought display cases, dang things were $10.00 each 12 years ago, not sure now. Have over 70 more in the house, and that is just
the 1:18 scale cars. Stopped collecting seven years back, man how addicting   

Dan

[Ghoste]

Cases may be what I ultimately end up having to do.  I don't have anywhere near the number you do, maybe a third of that so I can't imagine trying to keep dust and film off over 70.

[LaOtto70Charger]

That's an impressive amount.  Even more is the amount of tool boxes!

[Ghoste]

A good tape collection too.

[ws23rt]

This is a good question and I look at mine that need a good cleaning without an easy answer. 

I think we just have to suck it up and get with little tiny tools that we use to do what we do with the big cars.

This reminds me of the world of miniatures (back in the day it was doll houses).  Their was a time I thought about building a miniature saw mill to build the lumber that these houses were built from.

So it follows that a scale working car wash could fill the need   Just keep the doors shut cause the detailers can't be scaled.

[TruckDriver]

I dip mine in a salt water bath to simulate "real life" driving conditions here in Michigan 

[8WHEELER]

That's an impressive amount.  Even more is the amount of tool boxes!

I have two more tool boxes out of the picture much bigger than the Snap-on box on the right. That was my first box actually, bought in 82.
I am selling it as well

The tape collection cost more than a box   

Dan

[8WHEELER]

This a third of the 1:18 thats in the house, tons of the other sizes two. I need to sell all of these actuay. Wish I could sell them all
to one person. At this point, I am going to only keep the 68's and the Datona's, but if there is still to many, I will go from there.

Dan

[Alaskan_TA]

Firecrackers are the most fun way to clean them out.