Steven33458

Am I the only person who wears cotton gloves when handling there 1/400 collectables? I can't believe how many times lately I buy a suppossed mint condition plane, take it out of it's box and it has finger prints all over the fuselage. Whats up with that??? Please go out and buy a pair of cotton gloves they are like $4-5 bucks at any drug store.
Thanks and happy collecting...

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Thanks,
Steve

stevenschmidt@bellsouth.net

Yukon 880

I share your frustration Steve. Personally, I go to great lengths to keep my models and the packaging in as pristine condition as I possibly can. Whenever I sell or trade models to someone, I always hope that they will both notice and appreciate the additional effort. It's always nice when you get the same in return.


I wear the gloves too.

Don

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Fly Delta's Big Jets!

dave wictor

It would be nice to think that our fellow collectors take care of their collection as well as you two. Over the Christmas holiday I started to wax my models with a Q-tip and carnauba wax, Followed by a buffing with a silk cloth. You guys know that is a time-consuming task, but it's a great no-brainer therapy.

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Dave

nosegear

thank you guys,i thought i was the only one that put on cotton gloves before i touch my planes.....
im not crazy after all!

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Mystère

You're not the only one, at least !

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gospodin

Actually, I used to wear the gloves, since I started collecting diecast cars years ago. But when I snagged the gloves on a propeller and broke it, I stopped. Now I wash my hands before I handle my planes, making sure they are completely dry. I haven't left any prints on the models, and I also very carefully wipe them with wax-treated wipes, as well as gently spraying them with a can of compressed air they use for computers and keyboards.

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Steve


When you wish upon a star, your dreams could come true. Except if it's a comet heading for Earth, then you and everybody else are pretty much hosed. Unless your wish was death by comet.

Steven33458

Gospodin, thanks for the great idea...

__________________
Thanks,
Steve

stevenschmidt@bellsouth.net

QFA388

I only use cotton gloves.
The only time I 'touch' the models is when buying and I hold it to inspect.
As soon as I get it home, I give them a polish to remove finger prints or other marks (and I use a cotton glove for that).

B773ER

I do not see how finger prints on a model prevents it from being "mint." However, I must agree, when buying a model on the second-hand market, I would expect the seller to wipe down the model for me and not ship it with finger prints if at all possible.

Like gospodin, I once wore cotton gloves when handling my Franklin Mint and Danbury Mint diecast cars. (In fact, the Mark II came with cotton gloves.) But I snagged a hood ornament on one of the cars and broke it off, and that pretty much negated the value of the model, given Franklin Mint does not sell replacement parts for their diecast cars.

So, I now wash my hands prior to handling and very gently wipe them down with a very small cotton cloth.

gospodin

Great to hear from someone else who collects the DM and FM cars . I have a total of 146 so far (and 65 1/18 cars from Highway 61 and AutoArt), so the cotton gloves used to be essential. But like you, I also snagged on a model, this was a Yenko Nova, and ripped the foil "Nova" script right off. Fortunately, this was within the 30-day return window, so I exchanged it. But that and my broken propeller experience swore me off the gloves. Besides, I always felt like I was going to have the models slip out from my fingers with those on.

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Steve


When you wish upon a star, your dreams could come true. Except if it's a comet heading for Earth, then you and everybody else are pretty much hosed. Unless your wish was death by comet.

gospodin

Hey, I should have added, if you have any you want to trade, let me know, and I'll give a list of the ones I'm willing to part with.

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Steve


When you wish upon a star, your dreams could come true. Except if it's a comet heading for Earth, then you and everybody else are pretty much hosed. Unless your wish was death by comet.

B773ER

I have very few diecast cars these days. (Switched to model airplanes and can't have both.) A few FM and DM cars, and a couple West Coast Precision Diecast cars. WCPD models are very nice and I see their buildings look good, too.

1:200Freak

Thanks for the idea...but those can get real cold after spraying just a few bursts!

gospodin

That's why you just do a quick burst...it's to get any dust (if you have them on open display, like I do) that settles inside ducts and crevasses. I don't have to dust often, since I have them in a closed room with no carpet, and I change my A/C filter frequently. I use waxed wipes that Danbury Mint supplies for their models, little gray cloth squares that have a smooth side and a velvet side...really handy for these little planes. Don't ever use a paper towel, no matter how soft...it'll leave fine scratches. Also, if the model is very dusty, try to blow off as much dust first before using a soft cloth to wipe it.

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Steve


When you wish upon a star, your dreams could come true. Except if it's a comet heading for Earth, then you and everybody else are pretty much hosed. Unless your wish was death by comet.

C-Rex

Actually you won't believe this. A few months ago, I had a package came from a fellow collector from here (DAC) It contained 5 models, all were dusty, as if the model had been displayed and boxed, then sent to me. It can only been displayed, otherwise how could it get that dusty? Not a single thought from the seller about how I will recieve them, I was kinda shocked as this seller is a respected? and are pretty much involved very much in the DAC. I had to polish them and inspect the models, then put them in the display.

I don't really wear any gloves though I make sure they are dry...
Since Im so lazy to take all my models down, and wipe them for dust and stuff, I have something I used to dust off my cameras in the past.

It's called an arctic butterfly. It's an electric rotating duster.
http://www.beautiful-landscape.com/N...ning_Brush.jpg

I just wipe on the wings, the fuselage and tail, and those dustbunnies will blow off. If I notice any fingerprints, ofcourse I wiped them off with a special cloth.

1:200Freak

Yes fine scratches have occured...however not with a paper towel..sometimes with a soft cloth...

C-Rex

Sir Freak: yes, hence the special cloth. A silky cloth works a wonder. !

1:200Freak

I'm going to have to go for it...and thanks for the title "Sir"
(Enjoying your JAL 773ER I hope)

Roarer

Heck, this hadn't even occurred to me, I just wipe things off carefully with my finger.

What are these carnuba wax wipes and others of which you speak of??

Thanks.

dave wictor

I was referring to carnauba paste wax and applying it to your models with the Q-tip, lettiing it dry, follwed by a light buffiing with the silk. Be sure to be sure that the model is clean by blowingit off with a can of air.

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Dave

A Tupolev

I hand wash all of my planes in Woolite. Then I blow dry them with a hair dryer with the heat off. I like the idea of waxing them with Q-tip, I'll have to try that.

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More Tupolev planes please, Ty-114, Ty-134, Ty-144
My collection: http://www.diecastaircraftforum.com/...tion-3750.html

Roarer

Thanks.

Hairdryers eh??

I thought that sort of thing was reserved for poodles and the like!

A Tupolev

My planes are my pets.

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More Tupolev planes please, Ty-114, Ty-134, Ty-144
My collection: http://www.diecastaircraftforum.com/...tion-3750.html

Roarer

Ah right!

Certainly a bit less demanding than the stinky dog I have, that's for sure!

P.S. He isn't poodle, and he HATES baths.

Jao

Man....why did I stumble on this thread just now. Can you elaborate further what wax you're using? Do you have pictures or any links where we can see the item? I am doing a major cleaning of my collection after 3years of being out of the hobby.

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JAO

Please visit my webshots for more pictures.Thank you.
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