Model Prep - best method

[Leading Observer]

Hi folks,

Probably been asked on here before, but I don't know what keyword to search for [if you don't know how to phrase the question, you can't get the correct answer ], so here goes anyway what is the collective opinion on the best method to remove the grease/oil/release agents on injection moulded kits?

[Old Wombat]

Warm (maybe even tepid), soapy (don't get carried away) water & either a soft toothbrush or a nail brush (as used for cleaning under fingernails).

Scrub gently.

Rinse & let air dry (covered with a lint-free cloth if dust is a problem).

That's my method ........... when I'm not too impatient to remember.

[Dizzyfugu]

Same here - even though I only do this with short-run kits, and resin or vinyl parts. Esp. the latter can bear unpleasant surprises through silicone etc., while IP kits rarely (if at all) call for a soapy bath.

[darthspud]

warm , lightly soaped water, (two or three drops of fairy liquid) in a sink, soft clean cloth to wipe over and remove some excess then air dry for atleast 8 hours somewhere dust free, then a final wipe off with a half inch soft paint brush to get rid of any dust that might have collected.

[pyro-manic]

Resin gets a quick wash in slightly warm water with a dash of washing-up liquid. I don't bother with washing IP kits, and I've never had an issue.

[darthspud]

Hard learned lesson with some of my recent Airfix armour builds and land rovers.
Didn't clean one of the 1/76 hard top landrovers , and spent almost a week removing a really blotchy coat of paint.

The L/R looked like it had measles, paint had pooled and split all over and gone gloopy, wouldn't dry at all. Ended up using some oven cleaner to strip it all off.
I wash all my builds now.

[NARSES2]

As for the others, warm soapy water for resin. I.P. kits only get washed if they feel particularly oily, some Chinese manufactured kits definitely need a wash.

[luft46models]

For resin kits I generally leave the warm soapy water cleanup to the first PSR cycle, I know I will be doing a few cycles so it will be very clean by the time I get to the primer stage.

William in Oz
Currently wrestling with the Toad resins BV P202 - Dremeling away!