Repair and maintenance

Hi all I was wondering. This is regarding after the kits are built.
As we all know, once they're on display; repair and maintenance has to be done on the cars, including wiping dust and probably restoring paint jobs on them.
Does anyone have any tips on what to use for restoring the paint finish it had when they were first built? This goes for any car kit in general.
What do you all do to maintain the display cars?
And regarding repairs, for example.
Let's say there's a cracked clear plastic windshield, and I want to restore it. Any suggestions?

Well, for paintjobs I'd suggest polishing or waxing, for the windshield, some sandpaper from 1200-2000 and polishing could make it look better and you should keep the models in a dust free enviroment, like a cupboard with a glass door or something.

Well, if you store the cars in a display case or cabinet, they should be protected from dust and damage.

Seems like a lot better plan that trying to clean them and repair them.

Well, if you store the cars in a display case or cabinet, they should be protected from dust and damage.

Seems like a lot better plan that trying to clean them and repair them.

I've been wondering. Where can I purchase a glass display case? I've been trying to find one, just like in the hobby shops, except smaller and probably with wheels.

IKEA sells them cheap. I have one. Do you have an Ikea in your area?

IKEA sells them cheap. I have one. Do you have an Ikea in your area?

I sure do. The thing is, I'm not sure how to describe it. What do I ask for when I buy it?

This. (http://www.ikea.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?topcategoryId=15561&catalogId=10103&storeId=12&langId=-1&parentCats=15561*15639*15645&productId=11638)

This. (http://www.ikea.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?topcategoryId=15561&catalogId=10103&storeId=12&langId=-1&parentCats=15561*15639*15645&productId=11638)

Not bad, but do they have anything larger? I have a LOT of cars that I built, like about 80 of them.

This. (http://www.ikea.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?topcategoryId=15561&catalogId=10103&storeId=12&langId=-1&parentCats=15561*15639*15645&productId=11638)

I have that one! But beware; it doesn't protect your cars from dust as the door doesn't completely seal!

Tim

I usually give the models a bath in water with a drop of dish soap followed by bath in water and leave to dry. All decals must be sealed with clear paint otherwise they will get lost, especially the tiny ones.

You can also buy individual plastic display cases for your models, I use a lot of them as I haven't yet made a permanent display. Wal Mart sells them, and I've found them also at Big Lots and Kay Bee Toy Works outlets as well, usually $2.99 each or a bit more for a 1/18 case.

IKEA has other shelving systems available as well, and they have some displays that you can buy glass shelves for only $5 apiece which is cheap. You have the choice of glass doors too. If you live near IKEA just go there and look at all of the various shelf units for yourself, and also check the scratch and dent area near the checkouts. Not only do they have the unit you saw previously, but the Billy (or Billi?) style bookcases/shelves are put together as components-you choose the color, the shelves, and the doors.

For cleaning dust there's an R/C product called Monokote cleaner/polish which is a liquid polish that's excellent as a product to remove dust and fingerprints. It results in a very nice shine. Tamiya liquid wax should also be good for a final spit-polish to clean a model when it's finished or if it gets dusty.

Yeah, what ZoomZoom said. I have one of these http://www.ikea.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?topcategoryId=15561&catalogId=10103&storeId=12&productId=43707&langId=-1&parentCats=15561*15639
with the glass doors and little halogen lights they sell with it. Lots of space, and it looks like furniture, so my wife let me put it up in the living room. Then she started building, and is working to overtake me in filling it. :grinno:

The Billys are cheap too. But the draw back is you cannot see your models from the side. Whereas if you buy the Detolf (I own one), you can see your cars in different angles. But the spacing issue (Only three cars each level) will come up and eventually you will have to buy another one. I trying very hard to figure out if I can get the best use of space out of this shelf.

Winston

The Billys are cheap too. But the draw back is you cannot see your models from the side. Whereas if you buy the Detolf (I own one), you can see your cars in different angles. But the spacing issue (Only three cars each level) will come up and eventually you will have to buy another one. I trying very hard to figure out if I can get the best use of space out of this shelf.

Winston

It's too bad you can't add extra glass shelves to the Detolf like you can the Billy. One can add a lot of glass shelves in the Billy which would display a ton of models. I wonder if the mirror tiles you find in the picture area would work behind the shelves? Another great thing from IKEA are the articulating drafting lamps-they're dirt cheap ($8) and really high quality, much better than the $10 ones from Office Depot, etc.

And don't forget to buy a bag of the frozen Swedish meatballs. Pop 'em in the microwave and they make a great modeling snack :grinyes:

mmmm...
MEATBALLS!