One of the things I love about my metal model collection is how stunning they look on display. Their gleaming appearance, however, can quickly be spoiled if you don’t keep them clean. The mirror-like finish means they tend to attract greasy fingerprints when handled, and dust when simply left on a shelf. These are the two big enemies — fingerprints and dust. So …
How do you clean Metal Earth models? The easiest method to clean your models is with a Q-tip dipped in rubbing alcohol (otherwise known as isopropyl alcohol). Gently swabbing the surfaces, being careful not to damage small attached pieces, will remove most grease and dust and restore the original shiny finish.
There are some other things you can do as well, and (even better) there are some ways to reduce the amount of cleaning that your Metal Earth models will need. Less work sounds good, right?
Try these methods …
1.Finger cots to prevent grease
You may have thought of wearing latex surgical gloves while constructing or handling your models. Some people do this. The only problem is that gloves can feel clumsy, especially when working with very small parts.
Finger cots are a great compromise. I had never actually heard of them until I started building metal models. They have uses both in the medical field, and also in labs and electronics manufacturing where a very clean environment is needed.
Give them a try. You can wear just two or three on the fingers you use most for handling parts, or put them on every finger of both hands if you prefer.
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2. Rubbing alcohol to finish off your model
If you don’t like the idea of latex gloves or finger cots, just plan on thoroughly cleaning your Earth Metal models as the final part of the building process.
I mentioned Q-tips before, but you can also use paper towel or a makeup sponge. The alcohol really does a wonderful job, and will not leave streaks like soap and water or other cleaners can.
3. Renaissance wax for a high metal shine
Here’s a tip that someone mentioned on Reddit. I have not tried it myself, but it does sound interesting.
Renaissance wax is a brand of microcrystalline wax polish. It is sometimes used by re-enactors of historic swordsmanship to protect their armor and weapons. Colorless and odorless, it prevents the dreaded fingerprints on metal finishes.
One modeler suggests that you apply the wax before you even begin building a metal model, while the parts are still on their sheets. Then cut them off as normal and they should not show marks while you’re putting them together, or later on if handled when on display.
There may, however, be a downside. From all that I’ve read, while this product is excellent for reducing the fingerprint problem on metal, and even giving an increased shine, it also can tend to attract even more dust. And this dust may also be harder to wipe off the waxy surface than the regular Metal Earth finish.
4. A can of compressed air to remove dust
Some people solve the problem of greasy marks and prints by simply not handling them. You might even put them straight into a display case or cabinet as soon as you’ve finished building and cleaning them. The only real issue you will have to deal with in that case is dust. It doesn’t matter how airtight you think your display case is, there will still be some dust.
A simple solution for this is a can of compressed air — the kind they sell for cleaning computers (sometimes called “compressed air dusters”). You can simply blow the dust off your metal models with no residue and no real risk of damage. You will just need to be careful if your model has dangling or loosely attached small parts.
If there’s a downside to this method it’s that these cans of compressed air don’t last long. So if you’re cleaning a large Metal Earth collection, you may go through a number of cans.
Alternatively, if you happen to own a hobby airbrush, you could use this in a similar way. Just turn it on with no paint in the cup, blowing straight air. You’ll have a constant source of air and not have to buy cans.
5. Vinegar for general cleaning of Metal Earth models
Here’s another trick some modelers use. When you’ve finished building, spray your model with a mix of one part vinegar and two parts water. Or, alternatively, you can use a vinegar-based window cleaner (not an ammonia-based one). Then just allow the model to dry without handling it. Fingerprints should disappear, leaving a nice shine.
So, there are 5 ideas for how to clean Metal Earth models, and to keep them clean. It’s just a reality that, if you’re going to collect these beautiful models, you ARE going to need to clean them every so often.
If you’ve found another method to work well, share it with us! Leave a comment below.
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