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 Posted - October 19 2006 : 8:58:26 PM
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My Silver Streak engine and caboose have got some dust and dirt on them. Most of it is stuck there pretty good. Would a damp Q-tip ruin the finish??
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Country:  Canada ~
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Posted - October 19 2006 : 11:54:15 PM
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Assuming the paint is still solidly adhered, a q-tip is an excellent starting point. Be aware that they tend to fray and leave fibers all over the place as you run them over details.
I usually remove the shells and give them a nice gentle bath in warm dish-soapy water. Some rubbing with a q-tip or gentle scrubbing with an old soft toothbrush will take care of the tough spots.
If the above still leaves you with especially tough, spotty flecks and grime... you might have to use a careful fingernail or two. It's a judgement call.
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 Posted - October 20 2006 : 07:50:35 AM
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Use caution concerning bathing TYCO shells, due to stickers. You mentioned this was a Silver Streak item. I'm pretty certain the C430's UP logo on the nose is a sticker and won't survive a bath well.
I used to clean with a damp q-tip...occasionally with a minor amount of dilluted window cleaner...very, very dilluted. Anyway I was shocked when I found I was stripping the stripes off a COX GP-9 Championship Trails loco!! The shell is white and the stripes are red and blue and they literally flecked off at the slightest touch. This is a rare situation indeed, but it has led me to be much more cautious in my cleaning and detailing of older models.
Tony Cook
HO-Scale Trains Resource
http://ho-scaletrains.net
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Posted - October 20 2006 : 6:00:20 PM
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| Most of the really stuck dirt is on the part where the handrails should be and on the roof so I don't think I'll be gettin too close to any stickers or logos.
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